Digital payments in India are about to change. Soon, you may no longer be able to send money by simply typing a UPI ID or mobile number.
To make online payments faster and safer, the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has introduced a major update to the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Until now, many people used the “UPI Collect” method, where they manually entered a UPI ID or mobile number to send money.
But this method is now being phased out in most situations.
What Was the UPI Collect Method?
UPI Collect was a payment system where users typed the UPI ID or mobile number of the person or business they wanted to pay.
After entering the details, the website or app would send a payment request to the user’s UPI app.
The user then opened the app, checked the request, and entered their UPI PIN to complete the transaction.
Because the receiving platform “collected” the payment request from the user’s UPI app, this method was called UPI Collect.
How Payments Will Work Now
From February 28, 2026, most online platforms will stop offering the manual UPI ID entry option.
Instead, users will see two simpler options:
UPI app icon – Clicking the icon will directly open the selected payment app on your phone.
QR code – You can scan the QR code with your UPI app and complete the payment instantly.
These options are designed to make payments faster, easier, and more secure, while also reducing errors caused by typing the wrong UPI ID.
Where the Old Method Will Still Work
Even though UPI Collect is being discontinued in many places, it will not disappear completely.
It will still be used in certain situations.
For example, if you are applying for an IPO or investing in the stock market, you may still need to enter your UPI ID or mobile number manually to approve payments.
Users of iPhone or other iOS devices may also see the older system when making purchases through some apps or web browsers.
In addition, if you have already set up auto-payments or recurring payments, you may still need to enter your UPI ID to modify or cancel those payments.
The same method may also be used for international payments when sending money to websites or businesses outside India.
Why This Change Matters
The move is aimed at making digital payments more reliable and secure
By encouraging QR code scanning and direct app linking, the system reduces the chances of typing mistakes, fraud attempts, and failed transactions.
With millions of people using UPI every day, this update is expected to make everyday payments simpler and safer for users across India.
