How to Claim a WhatsApp Business Username

A WhatsApp business username (Business Username) is a unique name associated with a business sending number. Once the username has been claimed and activated, customers can search for and contact the business on WhatsApp using the complete username without saving the business phone number.

A business username is different from a WhatsApp display name and does not indicate Meta Official Business Account (OBA) verification. Claiming a business username also does not prevent the business phone number from being displayed in WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business.

Before you start

Before claiming a username, make sure that:

1. The target phone number is registered with the WhatsApp Business Platform and has been added to the corresponding WhatsApp Business Account (WABA).
2. The Meta account currently signed in has permission to manage the relevant business asset, WABA, or phone number.
3. If you want to claim a username that Meta has reserved based on a Facebook Page or Instagram business account, link that Page or account to the target phone number first and make sure the current account has the required permissions.

Note: Meta is rolling out business usernames to accounts and regions in phases. If the Username option is not yet available in Meta, wait for Meta to enable the feature. EngageLab cannot enable it in advance.

Three ways to claim a username

Meta provides the following three ways to claim a business username:

Method 1: Meta Business Suite

1. Sign in to Meta Business Suite and open Settings.
2. Go to Accounts > WhatsApp Accounts, and select the target WABA.
3. Open the Phone numbers tab and select the phone number whose username you want to set.
4. Open the phone number's Profile page. In the Username section, click Create. If a username is already set, the option may appear as Edit.
5. Enter your preferred username or select one that Meta has reserved or suggested for your business, and click Save.
6. Return to the phone number's profile and confirm that the username appears in the Username section.

Method 2: WhatsApp Manager

1. Sign in to Meta Business Suite and open WhatsApp Manager.
2. Go to Phone numbers and select the phone number whose username you want to set.
3. Open the phone number's Profile page and locate the Username section.
4. Click Create. If a username is already set, the option may appear as Edit.
5. Enter your preferred username or select one that Meta has reserved or suggested for your business, and click Save.
6. Return to the phone number's profile and confirm that the username appears in the Username section.

Method 3: Meta API

If your business has development resources, follow the Meta documentation and use Meta's Business Username API to claim or change the business username for a specific phone number.

Before making the request, prepare the target phone number ID and a Meta access token with the required permissions. Also confirm that the Meta app and account are authorized to manage the phone number. Refer to the Meta documentation for the latest request parameters, permission requirements, responses, and error handling.

Important: This method calls the Meta API, not the EngageLab API. EngageLab does not currently provide an API for claiming or changing business usernames, and does not store or use customers' Meta access tokens on their behalf.

Meta may change its menu names, page locations, and API requirements. Refer to the actual Meta interface and the latest Meta documentation.

Username requirements

A business username must meet the following requirements:

• It must contain 3–35 characters.
• It may contain only English letters, numbers, periods (.), and underscores (_), and must contain at least one English letter.
• It cannot start or end with a period or contain two consecutive periods.
• It cannot start with www or end with a domain suffix such as .com, .org, or .net.
• English letters are not case-sensitive. For example, MyBrand and mybrand are treated as the same username.
• A phone number can have only one business username at a time, and that username cannot be used by another personal or business account on WhatsApp.

Choose a username that matches your brand and is easy for customers to recognize and enter. Do not promote the username externally until it has been successfully claimed and confirmed as active.

Frequently asked questions

Why can't I claim the username I want?

The username may already be used by another WhatsApp account or reserved for another business based on its business assets. Try one of Meta's suggested usernames or choose another unique name that is similar to your brand name.

If you are claiming a reserved username that matches a Facebook Page or Instagram business account, check that the relevant business asset is linked to the target phone number and that the current Meta account has the required permissions.

Why does EngageLab show Reserved?

Reserved means that the username has been reserved for the current sending number, but Meta has not yet made it visible to WhatsApp users. It does not mean that the claim failed or that the username is undergoing a standard name review. Once Meta enables and activates the username, its status will change to Active.