PhonePe Rolls Out Biometric UPI Payments — Pay with Fingerprint or Face ID
New Delhi, February 19, 2026: India’s popular digital payments app PhonePe has started rolling out a new biometric authentication feature for UPI transactions, allowing users to authorize payments with fingerprint scans or facial recognition instead of entering their UPI PIN — for eligible transactions.
Under the latest update, PhonePe users on supported devices can complete UPI payments of up to ₹5,000 using biometric authentication. Transactions above that value will still require the traditional UPI PIN, in line with regulatory guidelines.
Faster and More Convenient Payments
Traditionally, every UPI transaction — whether sending money to friends or paying at a merchant — required users to enter their UPI PIN. With the new biometric option, PhonePe aims to make everyday payments quicker and smoother, especially for smaller purchases.
PhonePe spokespersons have described the upgrade as part of the company’s efforts to blend convenience with robust security. Biometric authentication uses secure device features such as fingerprint sensors or face unlock supported by the smartphone’s operating system.
"Users who opt in can authenticate eligible payments simply by scanning their fingerprint or using face recognition, eliminating the need to type the UPI PIN every time."
How It Works
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Availability: The feature is currently rolling out to Android users whose devices support fingerprint or face-unlock authentication.
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Setup: Users can enable the option by navigating to the PhonePe app and activating biometric payments in settings.
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Limits: Biometric authentication can be used for UPI transactions up to ₹5,000. Transactions above this threshold must be approved using the UPI PIN.
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Fallback: If biometric verification fails — due to sensor issues or unregistered fingerprints/facial data — users can still complete the payment by entering their UPI PIN.
The approach uses biometric authentication as a secure form of two-factor authentication — combining something owned (the registered phone device) with something inherent (the user’s biometric data).
Supported Devices and Future Plans
While the feature is currently available on compatible Android devices, PhonePe has indicated that support for iOS devices may be introduced in a future update, subject to platform capabilities and regulatory compliance.
Security and Regulations
The rollout aligns with the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) guidelines that permit the use of device-level authentication for UPI transactions up to ₹5,000. Regulators have increasingly encouraged innovations that maintain secure payments while enhancing user experience.
Security experts note that biometric authentication may reduce friction for users and lower the risk of PIN compromise, as fingerprints and facial data are stored securely on the device and never transmitted to the app or servers.
Customer Impact
For everyday users, the upgrade means:
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Quicker checkouts at shops and online
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Reduced dependence on memorizing PINs
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Convenient auth for recurring small transactions
Industry analysts say the move builds on broader trends in digital payments where technology is helping streamline UPI usage without weakening security protections.
As India’s UPI ecosystem continues to grow — with billions of transactions processed monthly — features like biometric pay are expected to push more users toward cashless and contactless payment behaviour.