{"id":5479,"date":"2026-09-23T10:31:37","date_gmt":"2026-09-23T10:31:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jumpp.finance\/blog\/?p=5479"},"modified":"2026-09-23T10:31:38","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T10:31:38","slug":"offline-upi-payment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jumpp.finance\/blog\/financial-wellness\/upi\/offline-upi-payment\/","title":{"rendered":"Offline UPI Payment: How to Pay Without Internet"},"content":{"rendered":"
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You are about to pay at a shop, but your mobile internet suddenly stops working. The QR code is right in front of you, but your usual UPI payment is not going through.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In such situations, you may still have ways to make a digital payment without relying on regular mobile data or Wi-Fi. India has offline UPI options that work differently depending on the type of phone and service you use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog, you will understand how offline UPI payments work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>What Is an Offline UPI Payment?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

An offline UPI payment allows you to make certain UPI transactions without using regular mobile internet or Wi-Fi. Depending on the method, the payment may work through USSD, a voice-based service or supported offline technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This can be useful in areas where mobile data is unavailable, slow or unreliable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>How Does Offline UPI Payment Work?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Offline UPI uses alternatives to the usual internet-based payment flow to initiate and authenticate transactions. For example, *99# communicates through USSD, while UPI 123Pay can use an IVR-based phone call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some supported smartphone payment features can also use technologies such as NFC for low-value transactions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/span>How to Make an Offline UPI Payment?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are different ways to make an offline UPI payment, so you can choose a method based on your device and available connectivity.<\/strong> Feature phones and smartphones may support different options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are the main methods you should know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Method 1: How to Use *99# for UPI Payment\u00a0<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

*99# lets you access banking and UPI-related services without mobile data or Wi-Fi.<\/strong> It works through the cellular network, so you can use it even on a basic phone where the service is supported.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To make a payment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Dial *99#<\/strong> from the mobile number registered with your bank.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Select your preferred language from the menu.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Follow the instructions to select or identify your bank account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. Choose Send Money<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. Select the available option for entering the recipient’s details.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  6. Enter the required details, such as the recipient’s UPI ID or other supported information.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  7. Enter the amount you want to send.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  8. Enter your UPI PIN<\/strong> to authorise the payment.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  9. Check the confirmation before closing the session.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    You do not need mobile data for *99#, but you still need cellular network connectivity for the USSD session to work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Method 2: How to Make an Offline UPI Payment Using UPI 123Pay Through IVR<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    To make a payment:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Call an official UPI 123Pay IVR number supported for the service.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Choose your preferred language.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. Follow the voice instructions to select your bank or linked account.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Choose the required payment or money-transfer option.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Enter the recipient or merchant details using your phone’s keypad.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Enter the amount you want to pay.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. Enter your UPI PIN<\/strong> when prompted.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    8. Wait for confirmation that the transaction has been completed.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Always use an official UPI 123Pay number and never tell your UPI PIN to another person. Enter it only when prompted by the authorised payment system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      UPI PIN vs UPI Number<\/a>– How do they differ?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      Method 3: How to Make an Offline UPI Payment Using Supported UPI Lite X (NFC) Features<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

      While regular UPI Lite helps you make quick payments with internet, UPI Lite X<\/strong> is specifically designed for times when you have absolutely no internet or cellular data<\/strong>. It allows two devices to transact entirely offline using Near Field Communication (NFC)<\/strong> technology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      To make a completely offline payment:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. Set up the UPI Lite\/Lite X<\/strong> feature inside your payment app while you still have active internet access.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      2. Add funds from your linked bank account to your digital on-device wallet.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      3. When making a payment in a zero-network zone, open the app and access your offline wallet feature.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      4. Enter the payment amount.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
      5. Tap your smartphone against the merchant\u2019s compatible NFC-enabled device or tag<\/strong> to transfer the money instantly without an internet connection.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Note: Individual wallet transactions do not require you to enter your UPI PIN.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

        <\/span>*99# vs UPI 123 Pay vs UPI Lite<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        *99#, UPI 123Pay and UPI Lite serve different purposes, even though each can make certain digital payments more accessible.<\/strong> The right option depends on your device, internet availability and the type of transaction you want to make.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        Feature<\/strong><\/td>*99#<\/strong><\/td>UPI 123Pay<\/strong><\/td>UPI Lite\/UPI Lite X<\/strong><\/td><\/tr>
        Main purpose<\/td>Banking\/UPI without mobile data<\/td>UPI access primarily for feature phones<\/td>Convenient small-value payments<\/td><\/tr>
        Regular internet required<\/td>No<\/td>No for supported IVR flow<\/td>Yes<\/strong> for regular UPI Lite \/ No<\/strong> for UPI Lite X (NFC) <\/td><\/tr>
        Device<\/td>Supported GSM phones<\/td>Primarily feature phones<\/td>Smartphone<\/td><\/tr>
        How it works<\/td>USSD<\/td>IVR and other supported methods<\/td>On-device UPI Lite functionality<\/td><\/tr>
        UPI PIN for payment<\/td>Yes<\/td>Yes<\/td>Generally not for individual UPI Lite payments<\/td><\/tr>
        Useful when<\/td>Mobile data is unavailable<\/td>Using a feature phone<\/td>Making frequent small-value payments<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

        <\/p>\n\n\n\n

        <\/span>What Are the Limits for Offline UPI Payments?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

        The transaction limit depends on the offline UPI method you use.<\/strong> There is no single transaction limit that applies to every type of offline UPI payment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

        For example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n