WhatsApp users may soon see a change that makes finding people easier without exchanging phone numbers. Developers are testing a nickname feature within the app so people can search for friends using a chosen moniker rather than a direct phone contact. This updated approach could also enhance privacy because personal numbers would no longer be shared just to locate someone in chats.
Today, adding a contact on WhatsApp typically requires knowing the person’s phone number. The platform already offers a QR code option to quickly connect with others, but the new nickname system would shift how connections are made. Instead of asking for digits, a username could serve as a stable handle that stays consistent even if contact details change. This could be particularly beneficial for users who want to limit exposure of their primary phone number in broader social or professional networks.
The information about the feature’s progress comes from WABetaInfo, which notes that the nickname field appears in the latest Android version of WhatsApp. While the feature is still under active development, it is expected to arrive in a future app update. Historically, WhatsApp tends to roll out new features first on Android before bringing them to iOS, so users on Google’s platform may see the change ahead of their Apple counterparts. This pattern helps developers test performance and gather feedback across a broad user base before a global release.
Separately, in May, WhatsApp introduced a message editing option that allows users to modify a sent message within a 15-minute window. Previously, the editing feature did not exist, and users could only delete messages after sending them. This adjustment reflects WhatsApp’s ongoing effort to expand in-app functionality and improve real-time communication. The edit capability can be especially useful for correcting mistaken text, updating details, or refining a thought without creating a new message in the chat.
From a user experience perspective, the nickname feature could reshape how people manage contacts within WhatsApp’s ecosystem. If implemented well, it would reduce friction when adding new connections and may lower concerns about sharing personal data. At the same time, it will be important for the product team to ensure that nicknames are searchable and intuitive, and that privacy controls are clear and easy to manage. Canadian and American users, in particular, may value options to customize visibility and choose who can discover them by nickname. As with other identity-related changes, explanations about how nicknames map to actual contact information will be essential to maintain trust and avoid confusion in conversations. Observers will be watching how the feature handles edge cases, such as users who share the same nickname or scenarios where a nickname must be synchronized across devices.
Industry watchers emphasize that any move toward alias-based contact discovery sits at the intersection of usability and privacy. A nickname system can streamline adding familiar faces to chats, groups, and business pages, yet it also raises questions about how user data is stored and indexed. The ongoing development process is likely to include refinements to search logic, so that users can locate a person by nickname even if the underlying contact details vary. Finally, the broader impact on contact management within WhatsApp could extend to related features, such as profiles, status visibility, and cross-device synchronization, ensuring a cohesive experience across the platform for North American and other global markets.