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How to Use UPI Offline via USSD (*99#)
The *99# USSD code remains one of the most practical ways to use UPI entirely offline, without internet data, on any mobile phone regardless of whether it is a smartphone or a basic feature phone. Here is a complete walkthrough of exactly what the menu offers and how each option works.
How to Access the *99# Menu
Dialing *99# from your registered mobile number opens a menu-driven session over your regular mobile network, similar to checking your prepaid balance, without requiring any internet data connection or a smartphone app of any kind. This works on any GSM-enabled phone.
Walking Through the Main Menu Options
1. Send Money lets you transfer funds to a mobile number, UPI ID, account number, or Aadhaar number linked to a bank account.
2. Check Balance displays your linked account's current balance directly within the session.
3. My Profile shows your registered UPI ID and linked account details.
4. Pending Requests displays any collect requests awaiting your approval or decline.
5. Transactions provides a mini statement of your recent UPI activity.
Additional Read: What is My UPI? Finding and Managing Your Virtual Payment Address
Setting Up *99# for the First Time
First-time setup requires selecting your bank from the menu, then verifying your identity using your debit card's last six digits and expiry date, the same verification approach used for app-based UPI registration, before setting a UPI PIN you will use for every subsequent *99# session.
The Send Money option through *99# works identically to any other UPI transfer, including one that eventually settles a credit card bill payment, since it routes through the same underlying NPCI infrastructure regardless of the interface used to initiate it.
Limitations Compared to a Full App
*99# does not support QR code scanning, since there is no camera or screen capable of displaying one, and the overall feature set is deliberately more limited than a full graphical app, focused on core transfer, balance, and request functions rather than richer features like bill splitting or merchant discovery.
Cost Considerations for USSD Sessions
Telecom operators are permitted to charge a small fee per USSD session, unlike a standard app-based UPI transaction which carries no such session charge. This fee is generally modest, but it is worth being aware of, since a feature-phone-based UPI session may not be entirely free the way an app-based transfer typically is.
For anyone managing recurring bills through this channel, Stashfin's Recharge and Bill Payment service covers electricity, gas, and mobile recharge across more than 100 vendors with zero convenience fees, complementing routine *99# transfers well.
Troubleshooting a Session That Fails to Connect
If *99# returns an error or times out, the most common cause is that your telecom operator has not enabled USSD-based banking on your specific SIM or plan, rather than any issue with your bank's own UPI registration. Confirming with your operator, checking you are dialing from your exact registered number, and restarting your phone before retrying are the first sensible steps.
Why This Remains Relevant Even as Smartphone Penetration Grows
Even as smartphone ownership continues rising across India, *99# retains genuine relevance as a dependable fallback during a lost phone, a temporary network data outage, or a trip to an area with patchy internet coverage, situations where a fully app-based user would otherwise find themselves unable to transact at all. NPCI continuing to actively maintain this parallel channel reflects a deliberate commitment to keeping UPI genuinely accessible regardless of a person's specific device or connectivity situation at any given moment. It is worth periodically confirming your *99# registration still works, particularly if you rarely use it, since an unused registration occasionally needs re-verification after an extended period of inactivity.
For anyone with access to a smartphone, Stashfin's UPI service offers the fuller app-based experience, letting you scan and pay to any mobile number or UPI ID, or move money to your own bank account, funded through your Stashfin Credit Line, RuPay credit card, or a standard bank transfer, with the richer interface a graphical app provides over a basic USSD menu.
Key Takeaways
Dialing *99# opens a menu-driven UPI session over any mobile network, without needing internet data or a smartphone.
The main menu covers Send Money, Check Balance, My Profile, Pending Requests, and Transactions.
First-time setup requires selecting your bank and verifying with your debit card details, similar to app-based registration.
*99# does not support QR scanning and offers a more limited feature set than a full graphical UPI app.
Telecom operators may charge a small fee per USSD session, unlike a standard app-based UPI transaction.
