WhatsApp Business is getting an important update: the ability to find businesses and start conversations using a short, unique username. This is a public WhatsApp address (starting with @) that customers can use to find your business without needing a phone number. The username is assigned to your account and becomes a permanent identifier. Attractive and short options sell out quickly, so we strongly recommend reserving them now.
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What Is a Username?
WhatsApp, like other Meta services (Instagram, Facebook), is introducing a system of unique usernames. This is the public name of your account that allows customers to easily find you in the messenger.
Key Features
- Privacy. Your username hides your phone number. Customers see only the username (e.g., @green-api), not the digits. There is no separate people search by name in the app, so your username won’t be found accidentally — only by those you share it with.
- Uniqueness. The name is tied to your account and becomes your permanent identifier. Two businesses cannot have the same username.
- Protection from name squatting. If you already use a name on Instagram or Facebook, you can verify ownership through the Meta Accounts Center, and it will be reserved for you. The system prevents name hijacking.
Important: Don’t Confuse These Terms
Username — the public name by which customers find your business (this is what this article is about).
Business account name — set when connecting to WABA and serves as the internal account name (e.g., “Sales Department”). It is not visible to customers.
Display Name — the name customers see in the chat header. It is configured separately in the settings.
Why You Should Reserve Your Username Right Now
The feature will soon become available to a wide range of businesses, and a rush for short and memorable names will begin. As is often the case with new Meta features:
Beautiful, simple, and brand-aligned names are taken within the first days.
Names matching well-known companies are grabbed instantly.
The longer you wait, the lower your chances of securing exactly the name you want.
If you already have a business account on Instagram or Facebook with a recognizable name — this is your chance to secure it on WhatsApp as well. Later may be too late.
Tip: Reserve your name now while it’s still available. The process takes just a few minutes, and the benefits will stay with you for years.
How to Choose Your Username
If your desired name is already in use on Instagram or Facebook, you cannot simply take it — Meta protects owners from name hijacking. But there is a legitimate way:
Link your Instagram and/or Facebook accounts through the Meta Accounts Center.
Confirm ownership of these profiles (this is a standard procedure in Meta Business Suite settings).
Once confirmed, the system will recognize you as the owner of the name and allow you to reserve it in WhatsApp Business.
What if the name is already taken by another business? If the name is taken but you believe you have the right to it (e.g., it’s your registered trademark), contact Meta support through official channels.
Where to Set Your Username
The username field is located on the Profile tab in the WhatsApp Business connection settings.
How to Set or Change Your Username
Enter a name manually following Meta rules, or choose one of the suggested options.
To select a suggested name, simply click on it — it will be inserted into the field.
Click “Save Changes”.
If the name passes validation and is not already taken, it will be saved. If it doesn’t meet the rules or is already taken, an error will appear, and the field will be cleared or revert to its previous value.
Username Rules
When entering a name manually, follow Meta rules:
3 to 35 characters long
Only Latin letters (A–Z, a–z), numbers (0–9), dot (.), and underscore (_)
At least one Latin letter is required
Letters like ñ, é, ü are not allowed
Cannot start or end with a dot, or contain consecutive dots
Cannot start with “www”
Cannot end with a domain or extension (e.g., .com, .org, .net, .html, etc.)
If You Can’t Reserve the Name
If the name is already taken by another account, a pop-up error will appear when saving, a “Name is taken” hint will show below the field, and the field will be highlighted with a red border and cleared. In this case, enter or select a different name.
Conclusion
The introduction of usernames in WhatsApp Business represents a new standard of communication between businesses and customers. A short, memorable name that allows customers to find your company without a phone number builds trust, simplifies contact, and makes your brand more recognizable.
Now is the time to reserve your name while it’s still available. Beautiful options are taken instantly, and the reservation process takes just a couple of minutes. If you already have a name on Instagram or Facebook — verify ownership through the Meta Accounts Center and secure it for yourself.
At GREEN-API, we monitor all WhatsApp updates to bring you the latest news and solutions for automating your business processes. Stay with us to stay informed about all the latest developments!