WhatsApp is working on a new privacy feature that could give users greater control over their phone number visibility. The upcoming update will allow people to decide who can see their numbers during chats and calls. Consequently, users will have more flexibility when communicating with others without revealing personal contact details.
The feature appeared in WhatsApp beta version 2.26.45.1 for Android. It builds on the username feature introduced in June, which allows people to connect without sharing their phone numbers.
Although WhatsApp has not introduced usernames to everyone, users can already reserve their preferred usernames.
WhatsApp Tests Four Phone Number Privacy Settings
The upcoming feature will introduce four options for controlling phone number visibility. These settings will help users decide who can access their contact information.
The available options include:
- Everyone: Allows all WhatsApp users to see your phone number.
- My contacts: Restricts phone number visibility to people saved in your contacts.
- My contacts except…: Allows users to hide their numbers from selected contacts.
- Nobody: Prevents other users from viewing your phone number.
These controls will apply to phone number visibility during WhatsApp calls and chats. Therefore, users will have greater control over their personal information when communicating through the platform.
However, the feature comes with an important limitation. Users must first create a WhatsApp username to access these additional privacy controls.
Moreover, people who already know a user’s phone number will continue to see it. The new settings will not conceal numbers from individuals who already have that information.
Phone Numbers Will Remain Hidden by Default
WhatsApp currently allows people to hide their phone numbers when others initiate contact through usernames.
The upcoming update will make this privacy arrangement easier to manage. In particular, the default visibility option will be set to “Nobody.”
This means users who prefer keeping their numbers private will not need to adjust their settings manually. Instead, WhatsApp will automatically apply the most restrictive visibility option.
However, people who want to share their contact details can choose another setting. This flexibility could benefit users who communicate with customers or business contacts through WhatsApp.
The additional controls will also give users more choices when managing their privacy across personal and professional conversations.
When Will WhatsApp Introduce the New Feature?
WhatsApp’s phone number privacy controls remain under development. Currently, the feature is not available even to beta testers.
Furthermore, WhatsApp has not announced an official release date. The company is expected to introduce the feature to beta users before expanding access to the general public.
For now, users will have to wait for further updates. Once released, the feature could make username-based communication more flexible by giving people greater control over their phone number visibility.
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