Who can claim a username?
Only admins can claim a username.
What do I need before getting started?
A few things to check before claiming a username:
One username per phone number — each WhatsApp number can hold only one username at a time
Usernames are unique across all of WhatsApp — no two phone numbers, business or personal, can share the same username
Your phone number stays visible — adopting a username does not hide your number from contacts. It will still appear on your business profile
If the username you want is already associated with your Facebook Page or Instagram account, you will need to link your WhatsApp phone number to that page or account before you can claim it. You can do this in Meta Business Suite or WhatsApp Manager, or by adding your phone number directly via your Facebook Page or Instagram account. To link your number you need either full control of the page or account, or partial access with the manage_phone permission.
How do I claim a username?
Go to Settings and open the settings for your WhatsApp channel
Scroll to the Phone number section and click the Username field
The Claim a username modal opens. If Meta has reserved usernames for your business, they appear under Suggested
Select a suggested username, or click Load more to see additional options
To use a username not in the list, type it into the Enter your own username field instead
Once a selection is made, the Claim username button becomes active — click it to submit
Claimed usernames are submitted to Meta for approval. The username becomes visible to WhatsApp users once approved and the feature is generally available.
What are WhatsApp's requirements for usernames?
Usernames must follow these rules set by Meta. A username:
May only contain English letters (a-z), digits (0-9), periods (.) and underscores (_)
Must be between 3 and 35 characters in length
Must contain at least one English letter
Must not start or end with a period, or contain two consecutive periods
Must not start with www
Must not end with a domain extension (for example, .com, .org, .net, .gov, .edu, .us)
Non-English characters are not supported and will cause the submission to fail
Note: letter case is ignored, so 'myBrand' and 'mybrand' are the same username. Periods and underscores are not interchangeable — 'mybrand', 'my.brand', and 'my_brand' are three distinct usernames.
What are suggested usernames?
When you open the claim modal, Superchat shows a list of usernames that Meta has reserved for your business based on your business name and profile. These have a higher chance of being approved quickly.
You are not required to choose one — you can type any username that meets the requirements above. If no suggestions appear, Meta has not reserved any for your account, but you can still claim a username by entering one directly.
What does my username status mean?
After submitting, your username will show one of the following statuses:
Reserved — approved by Meta and reserved for your number, but not yet visible to WhatsApp users. It becomes active once Meta makes the feature generally available
Approved — the username is live and visible to contacts searching in WhatsApp
You can view the current status in your WhatsApp channel settings at any time.
FAQs
FAQs
Can I change my username after claiming it?
Yes. You can update your username at any time from your WhatsApp channel settings.What happens if my chosen username is already taken?
You will need to choose a different username. No two WhatsApp numbers can share the same username across the entire platform.Why are some characters not allowed in usernames?
This is set by Meta's policy. See the Username requirements section of this article for the full list of rules.Do I need to link my Facebook Page before claiming a username?
Not necessarily. However, if the username you want is already associated with your Facebook Page or Instagram account handle, you will need to link your WhatsApp number to that page or account first before claiming it.Will my phone number be hidden once I have a username?
No. Your phone number remains visible on your business profile even after adopting a username.How long does Meta take to approve a username?
The approval timeline is not fixed and can vary. You can check the current status of your username at any time in your WhatsApp channel settings in Superchat.