What is UPI ID: How to Create, Change and Find UPI ID on Apps
UPI (full form – Unified Payment Interface), regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), enables immediate and simple fund transfers without any charges between two bank accounts using a mobile application. With a record 7.82 billion transactions in December 2022, the UPI facility is available round the clock throughout the year. Read more to know what a UPI ID is, how it works with different apps and the benefits of making UPI payments.
What is UPI ID?
A UPI ID is your identification address in the UPI system, which is typically yourname@bankname or mmyy@ybl where ‘mmyy’ can be your name, the first half of your email address, or even your mobile number, and ‘@ybl’ is the initials of your bank, as per your UPI mobile application.
UPI ID is also known as a Virtual Payment Address (VPA), and you can create your unique UPI ID on your preferred UPI application (like Google Pay or PhonePe, etc.) in only a few simple steps.
Do note, your bank account number or any other confidential information is unrelated to your UPI ID. Also, you can have multiple eligible UPI IDs on different UPI apps, and you don’t need to visit your bank branch to create your UPI ID.
UPI ID Example
- johndoe@okhdfcbank (where “john doe” is the customer name, and “okhdfcbank” is the bank id.
- 9XXXXXXX99@ybl (where “9XXXXXXX99” is your registered mobile number, and “ybl” is the bank id).
How to Create UPI ID?
There are a number of UPI mobile applications available on Google Play Store and App Store. Here’s a guide to create UPI id according to your UPI mobile application.
1. How to Create UPI ID on BHIM App?
- Step 1: Download the BHIM app from Google Play store or App Store
- Step 2: Open the app, select preferred language and click on “Proceed” (allow necessary permissions like SMS, call and location)
- Step 3: The BHIM app will now send an SMS from your smartphone to verify your mobile number
- Step 4: After successfully verifying mobile number, select bank from the list
- Step 5: On selecting your bank, the app will automatically fetch your account number and IFSC linked to your mobile number (if you have multiple accounts linked to your number, chose the one you wish to link)
- Step 6: Confirm your bank details and set up 4 or 6 digit PIN to transact safely
2. How to Create UPI ID on Google Pay?
- Step 1: Download and open the Google Pay app
- Step 2: Click on Profile Picture on the top right corner
- Step 3: Click on Bank account
- Step 4: Click on the bank account you added to Google Pay
- Step 5: Click on Edit next to ‘UPI ID’
- Step 6: Click Plus+ to create your UPI ID
3. How to Create UPI ID on PhonePe?
- Step 1: Download, open the PhonePe app and register
- Step 2: Under ‘My Money’, click on Bank Accounts under Payments, and select bank account
- Step 3: On the next page, choose extension from dropdown menu and click on “+” next to the chosen extension
- Step 4: Tap on “Create” to enter your selected UPI ID
- Step 5: Click on “Activate”
Create UPI ID through *99#
- Step 1: Dial *99# on your phone and call
- Step 2: Select preferred language
- Step 3: Enter bank name or first four digits of your branch’s IFSC Code
- Step 4: Select your bank account
- Step 5: Enter your debit card’s last six digits and expiry date
- Step 6: Confirm your UPI PIN
Also Read
How to Find UPI ID?
1. Find UPI ID on Bhim App
- Step 1: Login to your BHIM app with your password
- Step 2: Select “Profile” from the dropdown menu, and view your UPI ID with your QR Code.
2. Find UPI ID on Google Pay
- Step 1: Open Google Pay after entering PIN, and tap on your photo on the top right corner
- Step 2: View UPI ID along with registered phone number and QR code
3. Find UPI ID on PhonePe
- Step 1: After logging in to PhonePe, click on your profile picture on the home screen
- Step 2: Tap ‘UPI IDs’ under the ‘Payment Setting’ section to view your UPI IDs
How to Change UPI ID?
1. Change UPI ID on BHIM app
- Step 1: Open the BHIM app and click on your profile
- Step 2: Click on Settings
- Step 3: Edit your UPI ID
- Step 4: Click on Confirm after making changes to your UPI ID
2. Change UPI ID on Google Pay
- Step 1: Open Google Pay and click on Payment Methods
- Step 2: Click on the bank account, and the corresponding UPI ID you want to change
- Step 3: Click on ‘+’ to edit preferred UPI ID
3. Change UPI ID on PhonePe
- Step 1: Open PhonePe and click on your profile on the top left corner
- Step 2: Click on ‘My UPI ID’ followed by ‘Activate’ against the extension you wish to change
Generating UPI PIN
Your UPI PIN is a 4 or 6 digit number that you must enter to authenticate or process a UPI transaction. It is extremely important as your UPI PIN could play a key role in avoiding fraudulent fund transfers and transactions. However, never share your UPI PIN with anyone, just like your ATM PIN.
How to Set UPI Pin?
- Step 1: Launch your smartphone’s UPI app. Choose ‘Add Bank Account’ and then select your bank from the list offered by the application.
- Step 2: After selecting a bank, you will receive an SMS on your registered cell phone number.
- Step 3: Once your bank account and phone number have been verified, your smartphone (device) will be registered.
- Step 4: Set up your UPI PIN.
- Step 5: Generate the mPIN, which can be between 4 – 6 digits long.
UPI service is now ready to use, and you can now transfer funds and make payments after your UPI PIN has been generated.
How to Transfer Money Using UPI ID?
- Step 1: On your preferred UPI app, enter the recipient’s UPI ID, phone number or account number. You can also scan the QR code of your recipient
- Step 2: Enter the amount to be transferred
- Step 3: Enter your UPI PIN to initiate the transaction
- Step 4: (Optional): Check transaction status and history on your chosen UPI app
Features and Benefits of UPI ID
1. Safe and Secure
UPI transactions using UPI IDs are extremely safe and secure as you’re not required to share confidential details like account number, credit card number or debit card details in order to transfer money. Besides, there are a number of backend security measures like facial recognition in place. Just ensure you don’t share your UPI PIN with anyone.
2. Free of Cost
Neither senders or receivers need to pay anything extra to send or receive funds via UPI due to the government’s zero-fee UPI framework
3. No Waiting in Transferring Money
UPI transactions can take place almost instantaneously; hence there’s absolutely no waiting required to send or receive funds via UPI
4. All Banks Covered
UPI now covers all eligible banks in India and users can choose between a wide range of UPI apps as per their convenience
5. No Minimum Limit to Transact via UPI
There are no restrictions whatsoever in terms of minimum UPI transaction amount. Thus, this is a super-convenient method for big and small transactions alike
6. Not Just Money Transfers
Besides seamless money transfers, UPI could be conveniently used for a wide range of online payments like shopping, ride sharing, food ordering, investments, insurance premiums, mobile recharges, etc.
Final Word
Nothing has revolutionised the digital payments space in India like UPI as the country increasingly embraces digital payments over cash transactions. The fact that India saw a whopping 2,348 UPI transactions every second in 2022 is a testament to that end. However, while creating or modifying UPI IDs could be extremely easy, due caution must be taken to not share the key details like UPI PIN with anyone to minimise frauds.
FAQs
Yes, you can connect multiple bank accounts to your ID/virtual address.
For various apps, UPI IDs typically vary. Your UPI ID can be different depending on the bank you’ve linked the account to.
You need a bank account with a member bank to use UPI, meaning your bank should permit you to use UPI services. Additionally, your cellphone number needs to be linked to your bank account.
UPI ID means Unified Payment Interface Identity.
Yes, on the UPI app itself, a complaint can be lodged.
Ensure you share your UPI ID only with confirmed individuals or merchants and never share your UPI ID with unknown numbers to avoid any fraud.
You’ll typically need a bank account to use UPI. However, some third party apps can give you an option to receive UPI funds on your e-wallet subject to terms and conditions.
No. You can use UPI without a debit card. However, you’ll need your Aadhaar that is linked to your bank account and your registered mobile number.
No. A UPI ID is not given your bank and is independent of your account number or any other personal details.
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This article has been prepared on the basis of internal data, publicly available information and other sources believed to be reliable. The information contained in this article is for general purposes only and not a complete disclosure of every material fact. It should not be construed as investment advice to any party. The article does not warrant the completeness or accuracy of the information, and disclaims all liabilities, losses and damages arising out of the use of this information. Readers shall be fully liable/responsible for any decision taken on the basis of this article.
