WhatsApp is developing a new privacy feature that will give users greater control over who can view their phone numbers during chats and calls. The upcoming update is expected to make communication more private by introducing additional phone number visibility settings.
According to WhatsApp feature tracker WABetaInfo, the new functionality was discovered in WhatsApp beta version 2.26.45.1 for Android. The feature is part of the platform’s broader efforts to improve privacy and make it easier for users to communicate without revealing personal contact information.
The development builds on WhatsApp’s username feature, which was introduced in June. The username system is designed to allow people to connect and communicate without necessarily sharing their phone numbers with other users.
Although WhatsApp has not fully introduced the username feature to all users, people can already reserve their preferred usernames. The new phone number visibility controls are expected to complement this system by providing more flexibility over personal information.
How WhatsApp’s New Phone Number Privacy Feature Will Work
The feature is currently being tested with four different phone number visibility options. These settings will allow users to decide who can access their phone numbers while using the messaging platform.
The available options include:
- Everyone: Allows all users to see your phone number.
- My Contacts: Restricts phone number visibility to people saved in your contact list.
- My Contacts Except…: Allows users to hide their phone numbers from selected contacts while keeping them visible to others.
- Nobody: Prevents other users from viewing your phone number.
These options are designed to give WhatsApp users more control over their personal information. Instead of having limited privacy choices, people will be able to select settings according to their communication preferences.
For example, users who frequently communicate with unfamiliar people may prefer to restrict phone number visibility. Similarly, individuals who want to maintain greater privacy can select the option that prevents other users from viewing their numbers.
Connection With WhatsApp Usernames
WhatsApp’s upcoming privacy improvements are closely connected to its username system. Usernames are intended to provide an alternative way for people to find and communicate with one another without exchanging phone numbers.
This functionality could be particularly useful for users who interact with customers, business contacts, online communities or people they do not know personally.
The addition of phone number visibility controls would provide another layer of protection, allowing users to manage how much personal information they share.
Together, usernames and customizable visibility settings could change how people connect on WhatsApp while reducing the need to disclose private contact details.
When Will the Feature Be Available?
The new phone number privacy controls have been spotted in an Android beta version, meaning the functionality is still under development.
WhatsApp has not announced an official public release date or confirmed when the feature will become available to all Android and iPhone users.
As with other experimental features, the final version may undergo changes before its wider rollout. Users will have to wait for an official announcement regarding its availability.
The development highlights WhatsApp’s continued focus on privacy and user control. If introduced widely, the new settings could make it easier for millions of users to communicate while keeping their personal phone numbers private.