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Chat on WhatsApp without revealing your phone number thanks to nicknames#

June 24, 2025

Nicknames in WA

WhatsApp is working on a new feature that will allow users to choose unique nicknames to improve privacy!

The latest WhatsApp beta for iOS 25.17.10.70 has been found to be developing a feature that will allow users to specify a nickname to hide their phone number.

Table of contents#

How it will work#

In a future update, users will be able to enter a unique nickname that meets certain criteria.

To ensure security and consistency, WhatsApp has set clear rules for choosing nicknames:

  • Cannot start with “www.”
  • Must contain at least one letter
  • Only lowercase letters (a–z), numbers (0–9), periods, and underscores are allowed
  • Cannot use a nickname that is already saved in the user’s contacts or taken by someone else
  • Cannot end with a domain (such as .com or .net)
  • Cannot start or end with a period, and cannot have two periods in a row
  • Must be between 3 and 30 characters long (this requirement may change in the future)

Why it is needed#

These rules are necessary to protect users from fakes and scams that often occur on messaging platforms.

After selecting a nickname that meets all the criteria, a screen will appear confirming that the nickname has been successfully linked to the user account.

From now on, people who do not have your phone number will see your nickname when starting a new conversation and in group chats.

Nickname change notifications:

WhatsApp will automatically generate a system message in the chat when someone updates their nickname. These events will be displayed in real time to all participants in the conversation so that everyone is aware of the new nickname.

An update is also planned for the web client, where users will be able to check the availability of the desired nickname.

Availability#

The feature of choosing a nickname to protect the privacy of your phone number is in development and will be available in a future update of the application.

Conclusion#

Nicknames are an important step towards greater privacy in WhatsApp. Now you will decide for yourself whether to share your phone number or not.

The official release date of the update has not yet been announced. We at GREEN-API are following the news and will inform you about all significant innovations in WhatsApp, follow our blog. We will follow and keep you updated on the news about the appearance of this feature in WhatsApp for iOS.