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Bumble Adds Handles for Private Connections
14 Oct
Summary
- Bumble launched user handles for connecting without sharing personal contact info.
- Handles allow discovery but require mutual interest to start conversations.
- The new feature rolled out shortly after Bumble's $1.3 billion acquisition.
As of October 14, 2026, Bumble has launched a new feature called "Bumble Handles." This allows verified users to create custom handles for connecting with others on the app without sharing direct contact information like phone numbers or social media profiles. The feature aims to bridge private and professional networks with dating life, offering a new avenue for initial interactions.
Whitney Wolfe Herd, the founder, emphasized that while handles facilitate discovery, they do not guarantee accessibility. Users must still express mutual interest to initiate conversations, and Bumble has implemented additional protections against misuse. This rollout follows significant recent changes, including a shift in messaging protocols for heterosexual matches and the app's announcement of its acquisition by Ithaca Holdings for $1.3 billion.
Bumble Handles are currently available to verified iOS users in the United States. The new feature comes as co-CEOs Ravi Gupta and John Hegeman take over leadership from Wolfe Herd following the acquisition.
