How To Use UPI Payments Offline: UPI payments have made digital payments speedy and easy. However, they usually require internet connectivity. What if you are asked to make a payment at a network-hostile or a network-less region? Well, without network data or WiFi, you are okay because there exists another mode of UPI payment without internet. Offline mode of UPI payment allows transactions to work extremely well even without mobile data or WiFi. In this article, we shall observe how this feature works and also see how to enable it.

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UPI Payments Without Internet: How It Works

UPI internet transactions are possible through the *99# facility, introduced by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI). This facility is provided through USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) so that customers can directly avail banking services from their phones. In contrast to normal UPI apps, this facility does not require a smartphone or internet connectivity. It has been activated on all the mobile networks and can be used to check balances, start fund transfers, and set/recover UPI PINs.

Steps To Do UPI Payments Offline

It is simple to implement this offline UPI facility. Here are the steps to be followed to make a transaction offline:

  1. Open the mobile phone dialer and type *99#.
  2. Select your choice of language from the options given.
  3. Tap on ‘Send Money’ from the menu that appears.
  4. Type the UPI ID, mobile number, or bank account of the recipient.
  5. Type the amount to be sent.
  6. Verify the transaction by entering the UPI PIN.

Once these are completed, the payment is instant, just like a regular UPI transfer. This makes for seamless transactions, whether on a feature phone or a smartphone.

Benefits Of Offline UPI Transactions

Offline UPI transactions have several advantages that make digital payments accessible to all:

  • Works Offline: The biggest advantage is transferring money without the use of mobile data or WiFi. It is, thus, convenient where connectivity is low.
  • Works with Feature Phones: Not everyone uses a smartphone, but this product is also employed on basic cell phones.
  • Safe Transactions: Since payment is by a UPI PIN, there is no compromise on security.
  • Simple and Quick: It is a simple transaction and does not require logging in to any app.

This facility is especially useful in rural regions where internet connectivity is not stable. It also assists during network failures, allowing payments to be made.

Limitations Of Offline UPI Payments

Though this process is helpful, there are some limitations:

  • Transaction Limit: The transaction limit for a single transaction is ₹5000.
  • Possible Charges: There might be a small charge by some banks for USSD-based services.
  • Mobile Balance Needed: Since the service is provided via USSD, very little mobile balance may be needed to avail of the service.

Despite all these limitations, the *99# facility remains a good choice for payments if an internet connection is unavailable.