Signal introduces Usernames, removing the need for phone number sharing for connections

As announced a few months ago, Signal is now introducing usernames as a new feature, currently in its beta stage. This addition allows users to create unique identifiers, removing the need to share a phone number with others in order to connect with them. However, it should be noted that users still need to register with a phone number, and these usernames are solely for connecting without sharing said phone numbers.

The platform will display a user's profile name, not the username, to other users, so the usernames are not really searchable and can only be used for connection if it has been shared explicitly. For this reason, the exact username is required to connect as Signal does not offer a searchable directory.

Users can change or delete their username as needed. Alongside this, Signal is also launching a new privacy setting that lets users control who can find them via their phone number, and this one will no longer be visible to everyone by default. The username feature is expected to roll out to all users in the forthcoming weeks, and you can find all the details in the official announcement here.