Syed Saif Ul Hassan 
Oct 17, 2025
Widely popular messaging platform WhatsApp is introducing usernames, and now it's open to let users reserve their preferred ones ahead of the official rollout of the WhatsApp username system on iOS.
WhatsApp usernames' reservation feature was first spotted in the Android beta version 2.25.29.14, aiming to help users secure their favourite usernames early, preventing conflicts when the system launches.
How to reserve WhatsApp usernames
Once the feature is available, iOS users will have the opportunity to reserve usernames during an early-access period.
During this time, users can choose usernames in compliance with WhatsApp’s guidelines, ensuring that once a username is reserved, it is linked to their account and protected from being claimed by others. This will make it easier for users to obtain unique identifiers while keeping the system fair.
How to create WhatsApp usernames?
WhatsApp has established clear rules and regulations for username creation. Usernames must contain at least one letter, consist of lowercase letters (a-z), numbers (0-9), underscores, and periods, and be between 3 and 30 characters long.
WhatsApp username cannot start or end with a period or include consecutive periods, nor can they begin with “www.” or end with domain suffixes like “.com” or “.net.”
Furthermore, the tech giant is also developing a privacy feature called the username key to add a unique code that must be known before anyone can contact you.
This balances discoverability with privacy, allowing users to choose usernames that reflect their preferences.
