PhonePe rolls out biometric UPI payments, users can now pay with fingerprint or face ID

If you use PhonePe for UPI payments, you may no longer need to enter your PIN for smaller transactions.

The fintech platform on Thursday announced that it is introducing biometric authentication for UPI payments, allowing users to approve transactions using their smartphone’s fingerprint scanner or facial recognition. The feature enables a faster “one-touch” payment experience for transactions up to Rs 5,000.

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Under existing regulatory guidelines, biometric authentication can be used as a secure two-factor authentication method for UPI payments up to Rs 5,000. For transactions above this limit, users will still need to enter their UPI PIN.

Where you can use it

The feature works across everyday payment use cases, including:

• Sending money to friends and family
• Scanning QR codes at shops
• Making online payments
• Checking bank balances

By using device-level biometric verification, the app eliminates the need to manually type in a PIN, which can be inconvenient in crowded places and increases the risk of someone seeing your PIN.

PhonePe said the move is aimed at improving both convenience and security. Apart from saving time, the feature could also reduce transaction failures caused by incorrect or forgotten PIN entries.

If biometric authentication does not work due to issues like poor lighting or sensor errors, users can instantly switch back to the standard UPI PIN option.

Also Read: NPCI collaborates with Nvidia to advance India's sovereign AI infrastructure for digital payments

How to enable biometric payments

To turn on the feature:

• Open the PhonePe app
• Go to Profile
• Tap on Manage Payments
• Select Biometric Pay
• Enable Biometric Authentication for your bank account
• Complete the one-time setup using your UPI PIN and biometric verification

The feature is currently available for Android users with fingerprint and face recognition support. An iOS rollout is expected soon.