Android Users Can Now Use Fingerprint or Face Recognition for UPI Payments on the PhonePe App, iOS Rollout Soon

By Divya Dhingra Published on February 19, 2026, 23:26 IST

PhonePe, one of India’s leading mobile payment platforms, has introduced a new feature that enables users to make seamless payments using their device’s biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or facial recognition.

With this feature, users can complete transactions within the PhonePe app using biometric authentication instead of manually entering their UPI PIN. However, this functionality is currently limited to transactions of up to ₹5,000. For payments exceeding this amount, users will still be required to enter their UPI PIN to authorise the transaction.

According to PhonePe, the feature leverages device-level biometric verification to ensure secure transactions, even in crowded public spaces. By doing so, it helps eliminate the risk of “shoulder-surfing” or accidental PIN exposure.

The company also states in its press release that biometric authentication is expected to improve transaction success rates compared to manually entering the UPI PIN. This applies across various use cases, including peer-to-peer transfers, QR code payments, in-store and online transactions, as well as checking bank balances.

At the moment, the feature is available only for Android users. The company has stated that it will roll out the feature for iOS users soon. If you are using an Android device, here’s how you can activate it:

Open the PhonePe app.
Go to Profile.
Tap on Manage Payments.
Tap on the Biometric Pay Icon.
Enable Biometric Authentication for UPI Payments for respective Bank accounts.
Confirm using your UPI PIN and Biometric for a one-time setup.

Phonepe