WhatsApp is working on a new privacy feature that will allow users to decide who can see their phone numbers in chats and calls. The development builds on the platform’s Username feature, which was introduced in June to let people communicate without having to share their phone numbers.

Although the Username feature has not been fully rolled out, users can already reserve their preferred usernames. Now, WhatsApp is taking another step towards improving privacy by testing more detailed controls over phone number visibility.

According to WABetaInfo, the feature was discovered in WhatsApp beta version 2.26.45.1 for Android. It will reportedly offer four visibility options: Everyone, My contacts, My contacts except… and Nobody. These settings will allow users to choose exactly who can see their phone numbers during calls and conversations.

However, the new privacy control will only be available to users who have a username. It also won’t hide phone numbers from people who already know them, meaning existing contacts who have saved a user’s number will continue to see it in chats and calls.

Under the current system, WhatsApp automatically hides phone numbers from people who contact users through their usernames. With the upcoming feature, the default visibility setting will reportedly be Nobody, ensuring that users who prefer to keep their numbers private won’t need to make any additional changes.

Those who use WhatsApp for business or other purposes and want their phone numbers to remain visible will still be able to adjust the setting to allow others to see them.

The new phone number privacy feature is still under development and is not yet available to beta testers. WhatsApp is expected to introduce it through a future beta update before making it available to the wider public.