Meta-owned chat app WhatsApp has started reserving username slots for its 3 billion users. Users can now claim a username that they can start using whenever the feature becomes active this year.

To reserve your username, go to Settings > Account and tap on the Username option under the ‘Your Account’ section. If you're setting up your username for the first time, you'll get a ‘Create username’ option where you can type in and choose your preferred handle. WhatsApp will suggest some variations if the chosen one is not available.

While usernames are being reserved for public figures and entities, users with Facebook or Instagram usernames can log into those services to reserve their handles as WhatsApp usernames too. Once set, users can edit or delete their username at any time by tapping on the ‘Edit’ button in the same menu.

For added security, WhatsApp allows an extra layer of protection through a username key. This means that people who know your username will also need to type in a four-digit key before contacting you for the first time. Users can save or generate a new key at any time from the username menu.

The username feature is set to go live in the coming weeks, but until then, users are only allowed to claim their usernames to avoid duplication.