WHATSAPP is getting ready to let fans create usernames for the first time ever.
The app maker teased the upgrade – and its two big perks – in a surprise post.
Currently when you add a contact to your phone, it will appear inside WhatsApp too.
So if you want to add a contact, you'll need to use your primary iPhone or Android – even if you're using another device.
That means if you're on WhatsApp Web at your desktop, there's no way to add and manage a contact exclusively for WhatsApp.
But in the "coming weeks and months", WhatsApp will let you manage contacts via other devices.
That means you'll be able to use WhatsApp Web or the Windows desktop app to add or manage WhatsApp Contacts.
And you'll be able to save contacts exclusively to WhatsApp.
"Until now, the only place you were able to add contacts was from your mobile device, by either typing in a phone number or scanning a QR code," WhatsApp explained.
"Soon, you’ll be able to add and manage contacts from the comfort of your keyboard on WhatsApp Web and Windows – and eventually other linked devices.
"We’re also introducing a new choice to save a contact exclusively to WhatsApp.
"These WhatsApp contacts are ideal for when you are sharing your phone with others or if you want to separate personal and business contacts when managing more than one WhatsApp account on your phone."
WhatsApp says this is handy for three different types of situations.
First up, it's useful if you're sharing your phone with other people.
Secondly it's handy if you have work and personal WhatsApp accounts on a single phone – and want to have two separate contact lists.
And thirdly, it's useful if you lose your phone or change devices, because contacts you've saved to WhatsApp will be restored.
These updates will also make it possible to eventually manage and save contacts by usernames.
WhatsApp
WhatsApp says this feature will be "rolled out gradually over the coming weeks and months".
Perhaps the bigger news is that WhatsApp says this upgrade allows the app to get ready for the introduction of usernames.
The details are very vague, but WhatsApp says that it's definitely in the works.
It'll have an advantage of giving users extra privacy (by not having to share phone numbers), and it'll make it easier to remember someone's contact details.
Here's the official guide from WhatsApp...
You can turn on the chat lock feature from your Android or iPhone to add an extra layer of privacy to specific chats by locking them. Any chats you have locked will be kept separate from your other chats in a Locked Chats folder.
In order to read or send messages, you’ll need to unlock your chats using device authentication, such as your phone passcode, Face ID, fingerprint, or with a secret code that you can set up. When chats are locked, the notification content and contact are hidden. The notification will show as WhatsApp: 1 new message.
To turn chat lock on or off:
After turning chat lock on, you can choose to lock your chats with a secret code that's different from your phone passcode.
To create a secret code:
You can change or turn off your secret code at any time by going to your Locked Chats folder > Locked Chats > Settings > Secret code.
You can view your locked chats by scrolling down on your chat list and tapping Locked Chats.
WhatsApp explains: "These updates will also make it possible to eventually manage and save contacts by usernames.
"Usernames on WhatsApp will add an extra degree of privacy so that you don’t need to share your phone number when messaging someone.
"Today’s just one crucial step to making that reality possible and we’ll have more to share when it’s ready."
Sadly there's no definitive release date for the feature.
But the roll-out of the contacts update will need to happen first before WhatsApp can add usernames.
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