How to create a UPI ID

A UPI ID is a short address people send money to, like 9876543210@ybl or rakesh@okhdfcbank. It sits in front of your bank account, so nobody needs your account number. To create one, install any UPI app, verify the mobile number your bank has on file, choose your bank account and set a UPI PIN. It's free, takes a few minutes, and you can have several.

What you need

A bank account. UPI sits on top of one; nearly all Indian banks support it.

The mobile number registered with that bank, as a SIM in the phone you're setting up. This is the step that trips most people up: the app verifies your number by sending an SMS from your phone.

A way to set your UPI PIN: your debit card (last six digits and expiry date), or an Aadhaar OTP if your bank offers it.

The steps

They're broadly the same in every app:

1. Install a UPI app from the official app store: your bank's own app, or Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm or BHIM.
2. Verify your mobile number. The app sends an SMS from your phone; allow it. On a dual-SIM phone, pick the SIM registered with your bank.
3. Pick your bank from the list. The app finds the accounts linked to your number.
4. Choose the account to link.
5. Set a UPI PIN using your debit card or Aadhaar. It's 4 or 6 digits, depending on the bank.
6. Your UPI ID is ready. Find it on your profile or settings screen.

The ID works immediately.

Setting your UPI PIN

The UPI PIN approves payments from your account. It's separate from your ATM PIN, though you can choose the same digits.

With a debit card: enter the last six digits and the expiry date, then the OTP your bank sends, then choose your PIN twice.

With Aadhaar OTP: if your bank supports it, choose the Aadhaar option, enter the Aadhaar digits the app asks for, then the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile, then choose your PIN. It works most smoothly when your Aadhaar and bank mobile numbers match.

With your face: in October 2025, NPCI announced Aadhaar face authentication for setting or resetting a UPI PIN, along with optional fingerprint or face approval for payments on your own phone. Apps are adding these; look for the option in yours.

Never tell anyone your UPI PIN. No bank, app or support agent ever needs it, and you never use it to receive money, only to pay and to check your balance.

Which app should you use?

For receiving money it barely matters: every UPI ID can be paid from every app.

Your bank's own app gives you a handle that names your bank, like @sbi or @kotak.

Google Pay, PhonePe or Paytm are what most of your customers already use, and quick day to day.

You can do both. Several UPI IDs on one account is normal, and all of them receive.

Your UPI number

Many apps also let you use your mobile number as a "UPI number". It's linked to your UPI ID in NPCI's database, so anyone can pay you by entering your number in any UPI app. The money goes to the account that was your primary account when the number was linked. If you'd rather not share your number, share your UPI ID instead.

More than one bank account

Most UPI apps let you add several bank accounts, each with its own UPI ID. For a shop, link your business account and put that UPI ID on your QR, so takings stay out of your personal statement.

New phone or new SIM

UPI is tied to your phone and SIM for security. If you change either, your UPI app asks you to verify again.

Forgot your UPI PIN?

Open your UPI app, go to the linked bank account, and choose the option to reset a forgotten UPI PIN. You set a new one with your debit card or Aadhaar, the same way as the first time. To change a PIN you remember, use the change-PIN option in the same place.

If it doesn't work

"No account found": the SIM in your phone isn't the number your bank has. Update the number at your branch or in net banking.

SMS verification fails: the app is using the wrong SIM on a dual-SIM phone, or the SIM can't send SMS. Check both, and make sure the SIM has network and balance for an SMS.

Your bank isn't listed: most are live, but some small co-operative banks aren't. Ask your branch.

Debit card rejected: the expiry date entered in the wrong format, or a new card that hasn't been activated yet. Activate it in your bank's app or at an ATM, then try again.

Aadhaar OTP doesn't arrive: the mobile number on your Aadhaar is different from the one on your bank account. Use the debit card method instead.

Setting up safely

Download only from the official app store, and check the developer name. Fake UPI apps exist.

Never share an OTP with anyone who calls you, even if they say they're from your bank.

No one genuine will ask you to install a screen-sharing app to help you set up UPI.

After it's created

Copy it, don't retype it. Handles are easy to misremember. Use the copy button in the app whenever you share it.

Test it. Ask someone to send you ₹1.

Expect a lower limit at first. For 24 hours after you register, you can send only ₹5,000 in total. The normal limit applies after that. The limit is on what you send, not what you receive.

Then make your QR, and scan it with your own app before printing anything.

→Make your QR

→Where to find your UPI ID later

→No UPI ID? Use your bank account number