What Is lid in WhatsApp Groups?

Understanding @lid: WhatsApp's New Group Identifier Format

WhatsApp is introducing major changes in how group participants are identified, with privacy and anonymity in focus. One of the most important updates is the appearance of @lid — a new type of internal identifier used in groups and communities. This article explains what @lid is, why it appears, and how it affects message handling and user visibility.

What is lid?

lid stands for Link ID — a new participant identifier format introduced by WhatsApp in 2025. Traditionally, participants were identified by their Jabber ID (JID), which included their phone number, such as:

• User ID: [e-mail]

With the new model, WhatsApp uses an anonymous identifier for some users in group chats:

• Participant ID: 1524746986546@lid (no phone number)

This change is being rolled out gradually and is already active in many group sessions and community channels.

Why is lid used?

The appearance of @lid is part of WhatsApp's privacy enhancement strategy. When group admins enable “Hide phone numbers” or when the group is part of a Community with stricter privacy settings, participants' phone numbers are not exposed to others in the group. Instead:

• WhatsApp replaces the phone number with a lid in all message events.

• Only the system and admins retain access to the actual number.

• Other participants see only a name (push name or username) and a @lid.

This protects personal contact details from being shared publicly in large groups or unfamiliar environments.

Example of a contact whose number is not available to you

Towards usernames and full anonymity

WhatsApp is also working on support for usernames — similar to Telegram. When this feature is fully deployed, users will be able to:

• Communicate without exposing their phone number;

• Share their username instead of their number;

• Maintain stronger control over their visibility and privacy.

The current use of @lid is a transitional phase toward that model.

In the future:

• WhatsApp will display a user’s username or push name in the UI;

• Messages will be attributed to @lid, not a phone number;

• Internally, delivery is still routed to the actual number — it’s just no longer visible.

Don't worry — you can still engage with @lid contacts

Seeing a @lid instead of a phone number may feel limiting at first — but it doesn’t mean you’ve lost the ability to communicate. Messages from @lid users can still be answered, and replies will reach them directly through WhatsApp, just like with traditional contacts.

At Whapi.Cloud, we're continuously adapting to this new format. We're working to make interaction with @lid users as seamless and actionable as with regular JIDs — helping you engage leads without disruption, even as WhatsApp moves toward greater privacy.

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@lid is WhatsApp’s step toward more private, anonymous group communication. It’s important for developers and teams using automation to be aware of this shift, as it changes how participant identities are handled in group-related events.

For integration-specific concerns or help handling lid in your automation logic, feel free to contact our support team.