WhatsApp Tests New Phone Number Privacy Controls for Users With Usernames

WhatsApp is developing another privacy improvement that will give users greater control over who can see their phone numbers when communicating through usernames. The upcoming feature is expected to introduce dedicated phone number visibility settings, allowing users to decide whether their numbers should be visible to everyone, saved contacts, selected people or nobody.

The new controls were spotted in WhatsApp's Android beta version 2.26.45.1. According to a report by WABetaInfo published on November 7, 2026, the feature is still under development and has not yet been released to beta testers.

The development builds on WhatsApp's username system, which is designed to let people connect without immediately sharing their personal phone numbers.

WhatsApp Introduces More Control Over Phone Number Visibility

WhatsApp usernames are intended to provide an alternative way for people to connect without revealing their phone numbers to new contacts. However, the messaging platform is now working on additional controls to give users more flexibility over how their numbers are displayed.

Currently, users with usernames can hide their phone numbers from people who contact them through their usernames and do not already have their numbers saved.

The upcoming privacy setting could make this system more flexible by allowing users to choose exactly who can view their phone numbers during chats and calls.

The new option is expected to appear in WhatsApp's Privacy settings, alongside existing controls for profile photos, last seen and online status.

Four New Phone Number Privacy Options Expected

According to the feature details shared by WABetaInfo, WhatsApp is developing four visibility options for users who have set up a username.

Other users will be able to see your phone number.

2. My Contacts

Your phone number will only be visible to people saved in your contacts.

3. My Contacts Except…

You can exclude selected contacts from viewing your phone number.

4. Nobody

Your phone number will remain hidden from other users under the new visibility setting.

These options are expected to give users more control over their personal information. For example, someone who uses WhatsApp for professional communication could make their number visible to selected contacts while keeping it private from everyone else.

How the New Setting Will Work

The phone number visibility controls are expected to appear in WhatsApp's Privacy settings. Users will be able to select their preferred option depending on how much personal information they want to share.

The feature is also expected to include a confirmation message when users change their visibility preferences.

According to the reported development, changing the setting may reset previously configured exceptions. WhatsApp is expected to display a warning so users understand that people they previously excluded could gain access to their phone numbers after changing the main visibility option.

This confirmation step could help prevent users from accidentally exposing personal information.

People Who Already Have Your Number May Still See It

There is an important detail users should understand: hiding a phone number through the upcoming privacy controls does not necessarily make an existing number unknown to everyone.

People who already know and have saved your phone number may continue to recognise or see it. The new controls are primarily intended to manage number visibility when communicating through usernames.

This means usernames can provide an additional privacy layer, but they do not completely remove the connection between a WhatsApp account and its registered phone number.

WhatsApp Usernames Are Designed to Protect Personal Information

WhatsApp announced its username feature in June 2026 as a way to help users connect with others without immediately sharing their phone numbers.

The company explained that users would be able to reserve unique usernames before the wider rollout. The system is designed without a public username directory or automatic suggestions, meaning people will need to know the exact username to contact someone for the first time.

WhatsApp has also introduced the concept of an optional username key. This additional security layer requires someone to know both the username and its associated key before starting a conversation with a user who has enabled it.

According to WhatsApp, usernames can contain Latin characters, numbers, periods and underscores, with a length of three to 35 characters.