WhatsApp tests phone number visibility control in Android beta
The setting offers four options, defaults to Nobody and is limited to users who have a username, according to WABetaInfo.
WhatsApp is testing a new setting that lets users control who can see their phone number, according to WABetaInfo, the publication that discovered the feature in the beta version 2.26.45.1 of WhatsApp for Android.
The setting offers four options: Everyone, My contacts, My contacts except... and Nobody. The default option for the new feature will be Nobody.
The controls are limited to users who have a username, and phone numbers already known to a contact will still be visible in calls and chats.
The feature is not yet available to beta users and remains under development, so there is no indication of when, or whether, it will reach the wider app.
Usernames as the starting point
In June 2025, WhatsApp introduced its Username feature, which lets users communicate without sharing phone numbers, and users can already reserve usernames.
Quick answers
What options does the new WhatsApp phone number setting offer?
Four: Everyone, My contacts, My contacts except..., and Nobody.
Who can use the phone number visibility setting?
The feature is limited to users who have a username, and it is not yet available to beta users.
Will contacts still see my number?
Phone numbers already known to a contact will still be visible in calls and chats.