Launched back in 2016, USSD 2.0 was proposed as a convenient way for feature phone users to transfer money in India without an internet connection. Fast forward to 2021, the service now has over 80 partner banks, 13 languages, and four telcos (Airtel, BSNL, MTNL, Vodafone Idea) under its belt. So if you ever want to transfer money and don’t have a steady internet connection, you can use this nifty solution. We will teach you how to use the *99# service to send and receive money using UPI without an internet connection in India.
Transfer Money Using UPI Without Internet (2021)
The code to access NPCI’s USSD-based mobile banking service is *99#. To get started, open your phone’s dialer, enter this code and press the call button, and wait for the list of services to appear. The total amount you can send per UPI transaction is capped at is Rs. 5,000. The charge for the USSD service may vary based on the network operator, but TRAI has set a maximum limit of Rs. 0.50 per transaction. With that out of the way, let’s have a look at this Internet-free UPI money transfer service.
List of Options Available in *99# Service
- Send Money
- Request Money
- Check Balance
- My Profile
- Pending Transaction
- Transaction
- UPI PIN
Send Money Using UPI Without Internet
1. Dial *99# and type ‘1’ to access the option to send money to others. You can send money by entering the mobile number, UPI ID, picking the saved beneficiary, or the account number with IFSC code. Type the number corresponding to the method you want to use and hit the ‘Send’ button. For instance, I will be choosing ‘3’ for UPI ID here.
2. Enter the UPI ID of the recipient and press ‘Send’. On the next screen, add the amount you would like to transfer to their account using UPI. Here, I have entered Re. 1 for demonstration.
3. Add a remark if you prefer or type ‘1’ to skip. When the next pop-up appears, enter your UPI PIN to initiate the transaction.
4. You will now see a confirmation pop-up indicating that you have successfully transferred the money to the recipient, all without having internet access. Yeah, it’s that easy.
Request Money Using UPI Without Internet
Apart from the ability to send money using UPI without an internet connection, you can also use the *99# USSD service to request money from others. Here’s how it works:
1. Choose ‘Request Money’ by entering ‘2’ in the *99# pop-up and enter the mobile number or UPI ID of the person you would like to request money from on the next screen.
2. Enter the amount you would like to request and optionally add a remark if you prefer.
3. Up next, you will see a screen that asks you to confirm the payment request. Send ‘1’ to confirm. You will then see a message stating that you have successfully initiated the collect request.
Check Bank Account Balance Using USSD
Another convenient option under the *99# service is the ability to check your account balance. After you dial *99#, send ‘3’ from the main pop-up menu, and you will see the balance of the bank account linked to your phone number. Even if you are not interested in the ability to send money using UPI, the ability to check your bank account balance without an active internet connection is a nifty addition to the USSD service.
Manage Your Profile
From the ‘My Profile’ section, you will see a plethora of options, and we have listed them all down below:
- Change the bank account linked to your UPI number,
- Change language,
- Manage beneficiary,
- Check your UPI ID,
- Merchant features, and more.
Pick the number corresponding to the options listed above to manage your profile accordingly.
Check Recent Transactions
You can also see a list of your recent transactions using this USSD service. Send ‘6’ from the home menu to view your recent transactions. However, do keep in mind this only applies to UPI transactions (money you send and receive) via the USSD service without internet. Other transactions from UPI apps or different payment modes are not recorded here.
Change UPI PIN
Lastly, you can use the *99# USSD code to change your UPI PIN without an internet connection. Send ‘7’ from the main menu to set, reset, or change your UPI PIN. As you can see in the image below, there are separate options to change or reset your UPI PIN.
Make UPI Transactions Without Internet in India
So that’s how you can send and receive money without an internet connection using UPI in India. If you prefer using a dedicated app for all your UPI payments, do not forget to go through our list of the best UPI apps in India. One likely issue that you may run into while using the service is the “External application down. Please try later” error. However, trying the service after a few minutes fixed it on my end. In case you face any other trouble using the *99# service, let us know in the comments below. We will try to help you out.