WhatsApp begins rolling out username reservations worldwide, letting users claim a unique username before the feature officially launches later this year. The company has been preparing for the introduction of usernames for an extended period, and the current rollout allows people to reserve handles in advance rather than wait until the feature is available in full.
Multiple outlets report that the reservations are now open for WhatsApp’s global user base, reflecting the scale of the service, which has billions of users. Because many popular names are likely to be in demand, users who want a specific handle are encouraged to reserve it early.
The outlets describe usernames as part of WhatsApp’s broader privacy-related updates. While the timing of the full rollout is described as later this year, the reservation process gives users an opportunity to secure names ahead of that stage. The reports include instructions on how to check eligibility and claim a username, but the core point across sources is that WhatsApp is enabling reservations now and planning to activate usernames later.
