UPI is something that most of us use almost every day, yet it can get you into trouble at the worst times. You are standing at a shop, perhaps there is a queue of people behind you, you have already scanned the QR code, and just as you are about to complete the payment, you realize that you cannot remember your PIN correctly. You try once, maybe twice, and suddenly what should have been done in a few seconds seems awkward and unnecessarily stressful.
This is one of those small but well-known situations that most people face, even if they don’t want to admit it. BHIM app is trying to make this experience a little easier. It now allows payments up to Rs 5,000 using fingerprint or face unlock. So that you don’t always have to rely on remembering your UPI PIN – at least not for small, everyday transactions.
What has actually changed?
Till now, every UPI payment required a PIN, no matter how small the amount. Now, for transactions up to Rs 5,000, you can use your phone’s biometric authentication. This means an instant fingerprint scan or face unlock can replace the PIN entry process. This is a small change, but it makes instant payments much easier and smoother.
How does this work?
There is nothing complicated in this process. You open the app, enter payment information like you normally would, and when it comes time to approve the payment, you get the option to use your fingerprint or Face ID instead of typing your PIN. Once this happens, the payment is completed just as it normally would – without any additional steps or complications. This is what makes the whole experience easier and less stressful at that time.
what things will be needed
This feature largely depends on your phone, so first check if your device supports fingerprint or face unlock, and whether you have already set it up and use it regularly. You will also have to enable biometric authentication by going to the settings of the BHIM app, as it is not enabled by default. Apart from this, also keep in mind that this option is available only for transactions up to Rs 5,000. You will still need your UPI PIN for any transaction exceeding this amount.
Why is this important?
Apart from this, also keep in mind that this option is available only for transactions up to Rs 5,000. You will still need your UPI PIN for any transaction exceeding this amount. For everyday transactions, you no longer need to stop and remember your PIN every time. When you’re making payments in a hurry or handling multiple tasks at once, this can make a big difference. Also, for larger payments, the system still requires a PIN. This provides an additional layer of security when larger amounts are at stake.
Important thing regarding safety
This feature is directly linked to your phone’s biometric lock, so the security of your device becomes more important than ever. If someone else unlocks your phone, they can accept small payments without a PIN. Therefore, it is important to make sure that your phone is properly secured and that you do not casually share it with anyone else. For everyday use, this is a really useful upgrade. Due to this, payments are made faster and you do not need to remember the PIN again and again, while the entire system remains secure to a great extent.