Starting June 29, 2026, businesses that use the API can claim their username in advance through WhatsApp Manager, Meta Business Suite, the Cloud API, or the WhatsApp Business app.
Reserving a username does not mean it is activated; usernames that have been claimed will only be activated when the feature launches in that country. Businesses will be notified within the product when their username is activated.• Names that have not been pre-reserved are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
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WhatsApp proactively reserved usernames for:1. Entities at high risk of identity theft (e.g., government entities, institutions, public figures, prominent brands, and companies).
2. Businesses on the WhatsApp Business Platform with approved Display Names & OBAs.
3. Existing Meta Verified accounts on the WhatsApp Business app, Facebook, and Instagram.
4. Active business usernames (handles) on Facebook or Instagram.
WhatsApp has also reserved similar name variations for categories 1 through 3 mentioned above.• All other usernames will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
In addition, to help businesses maintain a consistent brand identity, WhatsApp has temporarily reserved Facebook and Instagram usernames, allowing current owners to claim them as WhatsApp usernames for a limited time. ** Prerequisites: You must have linked your phone number to the corresponding Facebook Page or Instagram account so that WhatsApp can verify ownership of the @handle.
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To set the username your business will use on WhatsApp, a user with administrator access must perform this task.
Remember to keep the following guidelines in mind for your business username:- Minimum 3 characters, maximum 35.
- Only letters [a-z], numbers [0-9], periods, and underscores. Spaces are not allowed.
- It cannot start or end with a period, nor contain consecutive periods.
- It cannot start with www. or end with extensions such as .com, .org, .net, among others.
- You can have one username per phone number.
Here are all the steps:1. Log in to Meta Business Suite or WhatsApp Manager.
2. Go to All Tools.
3. Then go to WhatsApp Manager.
4. Navigate to Account Tools.
5. Go to Phone Numbers.
6. Select the WhatsApp Business account for which you’ll create the username.
7. Once there, go to the Profile section.
8. You’ll see the “Username” heading.
9. Below that is the “Create” button.
Meta is rolling out this change gradually, so if you don’t see it yet, don’t worry.10. If you see it, click that button.
11. Clicking it will open a panel where you can type the username you want, and below that you’ll see a suggestion from Meta.
12. Type the username of your choice or select the suggestion.
13. Then, click Save and Close.
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You can also check the documentation:• How to reserve and manage usernames on WhatsApp Business Platform | WhatsApp Help Center
• Company-Specific User Identifiers | Developer Documentation
• WhatsApp Usernames: What You Need to Know
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Below, you’ll see a step-by-step example.