UPI AutoPay: Meaning, Setup, Limits and How to Cancel It

Your OTT subscription renews on the 5th, your electricity bill is due on the 12th, and your insurance premium has another payment date.

Keeping track of every recurring payment can become difficult, especially when the amounts and dates are different.

That’s where UPI AutoPay comes in. It allows eligible recurring payments to be processed automatically according to the instructions you approve.

But before using automatic payments through UPI, you should know how much can be debited, when authentication is required and how to stop a payment you no longer need.

How Does UPI AutoPay Work?

UPI AutoPay allows merchants to initiate recurring payments through the UPI network using a pre-approved digital mandate. The payment request is processed through participating banks and payment service providers, subject to the mandate’s terms.

Here is how the UPI autopay system works-

1. UPI AutoPay Mandate Registration: Your approved payment instructions are registered through the UPI system operated by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI).
2. Payment Initiation: On the scheduled date, the merchant initiates a recurring debit request through the UPI network.
3. Mandate Validation: The payment request is checked against the approved amount, frequency and validity of the mandate.
4. Bank Account Debit: If the transaction meets the applicable requirements and sufficient funds are available, the linked bank account is debited.
5. Payment Confirmation: The transaction status is communicated through the participating payment services so you can verify whether the payment was successful.

Example: If you authorise a monthly OTT subscription of ₹499, eligible payments can be processed automatically without entering your UPI PIN every month, provided the mandate remains active and the transaction succeeds.

UPI Payment Failed but Amount Got Debited? Here’s What You Need to Do.

How to Set Up UPI AutoPay Step by Step?

To set up UPI AutoPay, you must choose the recurring payment option on a supported merchant platform, review the mandate request in your UPI app and approve it using your UPI PIN.

Here are the simple steps for initiating UPI AutoPay setup- 

1. Open the merchant’s app or website.
2. Choose the subscription or service you want to pay for.
3. Select UPI AutoPay as the payment method.
4. Choose a supported UPI app or enter your UPI ID.
5. Open the mandate request in your UPI app.
6. Check the maximum payment amount, debit frequency and validity.
7. Enter your UPI PIN to authorise the mandate.
8. Confirm that the mandate status shows as active.

The exact steps may vary depending on your UPI app, bank and merchant.

How to Cancel UPI AutoPay Online?

To cancel UPI AutoPay online, open a supported UPI app, find the relevant mandate, and select the available revoke or cancel option.

Here are the steps to cancel UPI AutoPay –

1. Open your primary UPI application.
2. Tap your Profile Picture or open the Settings menu.
3. Locate and select AutoPay, Mandates, or Recurring Payments.
4. Scroll through the directory and select the specific merchant mandate you wish to terminate.
5. Tap the Cancel Mandate, Revoke, or Delete button.
6. Enter your secure UPI PIN to authenticate the removal.
7. Verify that the mandate status instantly updates to “Cancelled” or “Revoked”

UPI AutoPay Transactions – Latest Rules

This table outlines how the automated payment system operates-

Are There Any UPI AutoPay Charges?

No, UPI AutoPay is completely free for customers. 

As per the latest NPCI and RBI’s 2026 framework, Banks and UPI apps are strictly prohibited from charging consumers any fee to create, modify, pause, or cancel a recurring mandate.

What Are the UPI AutoPay Limits?

The standard UPI AutoPay limit is ₹15,000 per transaction without additional authentication. For eligible insurance premiums, mutual fund subscriptions and credit card bill payments, the limit is ₹1 lakh per transaction. Payments above these thresholds require additional authentication.

Check UPI Transaction Limits for 2026!

What Are the UPI AutoPay Benefits?

UPI AutoPay simplifies recurring payments by reducing manual effort, supporting scheduled collections and giving users control over payment mandates.

1. Timely Payments: Schedule recurring bills, subscriptions and premiums to reduce missed due dates and potential late fees.
2. Convenient Transactions: Make regular payments without manually initiating each eligible transaction.
3. Higher Authentication Limits: Eligible insurance premiums, mutual fund subscriptions and credit card bill payments up to ₹1 lakh can be processed without additional authentication.
4. Flexible Payment Controls: Pause, resume, modify or revoke supported mandates through your UPI app.
5. Paperless Registration:  You can set up recurring payments digitally without physical forms or branch visits.
6. Advance Payment Notifications: Receive alerts before scheduled debits, helping you maintain sufficient funds in your account. Applicable exceptions may apply.
7. Flexible Payment Schedules: You get to choose supported recurring frequencies based on the payment arrangement.
8. Simplified Payment Collection: Businesses can manage regular billing and reduce the need for repeated payment reminders.

Want to Make Small UPI Payments Without Entering a PIN?

Discover how UPI Lite works.

Conclusion

UPI AutoPay can make managing regular expenses easier, but convenience should come with awareness. Review your active mandates periodically, check your bank statements and remove authorisations for services you no longer use.

FAQs

Source: https://www.npci.org.in/