Google Pay, PhonePe, BHIM and more now support biometric UPI payments, here’s how to enable it

Small-value UPI payments could soon be completed without entering a PIN. Following National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) guidelines, leading payment apps including Google Pay, PhonePe, BHIM, SuperMoney and Navi now allow eligible transactions to be authorised using biometric authentication, such as a fingerprint or Face ID, in place of a traditional UPI PIN.

The feature is currently available for transactions of up to ₹5,000 and must be enabled individually for each supported UPI app and linked bank account.

How to enable biometric payments on Google Pay

Google Pay allows users to enable biometric authentication for individual bank accounts or RuPay credit cards. To activate the feature, user needs to open the app and tap on profile picture. Navigate to the linked bank account or RuPay credit card, select the account to configure, and tap Manage Biometrics. Turn on Use fingerprint or Face ID, tap Accept and set up, and enter the existing UPI PIN for verification. Complete the process by scanning the fingerprint or using Face ID. Once enabled, eligible transactions can be authorised using biometrics instead of a UPI PIN.

How to enable biometric payments on PhonePe

PhonePe also offers biometric authentication for supported bank accounts. User must open the app and tap on profile picture, then scroll to Manage Payments and select Biometric Pay. Choose the bank account to activate, tap Activate or Agree and Activate, and enter your UPI PIN. Finally, verify identity using fingerprint to complete the setup. The feature is currently available on Android devices, while iPhone support is being rolled out in phases.

Steps for BHIM, SuperMoney and Navi

BHIM, SuperMoney and Navi follow a similar activation process. User should open the app and go to Profile or Account Settings, then navigate to Payment Settings or Linked Bank Accounts. Select the active bank account and enable Biometric Authentication, Fingerprint UPI, or a similarly named option. Verify identity by entering the existing UPI PIN, then register the fingerprint or Face ID to complete the setup. The exact menu names and steps may vary slightly depending on the app version.

Things to know before using biometric UPI payments

Before enabling biometric UPI payments, users should be aware of a few important limitations. Biometric authentication is currently available only for UPI transactions of up to ₹5,000, while payments above this limit will continue to require a regular UPI PIN.

Availability also depends on the bank's support—if the UPI app indicates that the bank account is not eligible, it means that the bank has not yet enabled the feature. In addition, biometric authentication is linked to user’s phone security settings. If user adds or removes fingerprints, reset the device's biometric data, or switch to a new smartphone, user needs to set up biometric authentication again in each supported UPI app.

If fingerprint or Face ID verification fails repeatedly, the app will automatically revert to the standard UPI PIN, allowing you to complete the transaction securely.