Digital payments in India are set to become faster and more convenient. Popular UPI platform PhonePe has introduced a new biometric authentication feature that allows users to make payments of up to ₹5,000 without entering their UPI PIN every time.

With this update, users can complete transactions using their smartphone’s fingerprint or face recognition, making everyday payments quicker while maintaining high security standards.

What Is the New Biometric Payment Feature?

According to PhonePe, the biometric option uses the phone’s in-built security system to authenticate UPI transactions. For safety reasons, payments above ₹5,000 will still require manual entry of the UPI PIN.

The feature works like an additional layer of two-factor authentication. PhonePe has also provided a fallback option—if biometric verification fails due to low light, sensor issues, or any other reason, users can instantly switch back to the traditional PIN-based payment method.

Faster and Hassle-Free Payments

UPI is widely used for small, frequent payments such as grocery shopping, food orders, and QR-code-based merchant transactions. Entering the PIN repeatedly can sometimes be inconvenient. With biometric payments enabled, users can now complete transactions in seconds without typing the PIN, reducing delays and failed transactions caused by incorrect PIN entries.

Currently, this feature is available for Android users. The company has confirmed that support for iOS users will be rolled out soon.

How to Enable Biometric Payments on PhonePe

Activating biometric UPI payments on PhonePe is simple. Follow these steps:

1. Open the PhonePe app and go to your Profile section.
2. Tap on Manage Payments and select Biometric Pay.
3. Turn on biometric authentication for your linked bank account.
4. Complete the setup using your UPI PIN and biometric verification.

Once enabled, you can use fingerprint or face unlock for eligible payments.

Focus on Security and Convenience

PhonePe’s payments leadership has stated that the new feature is designed to simplify digital transactions without compromising on security. Users can also use biometric authentication for checking bank balances and merchant payments, making UPI usage smoother than ever.