How to Use PhonePe:- PhonePe is one of India’s leading digital payment platforms, offering a fast, safe, and seamless way to transfer money, pay bills, recharge mobiles, book tickets, and shop — all from a smartphone. Backed by Walmart, PhonePe uses the UPI (Unified Payments Interface) system to connect directly to users’ bank accounts, enabling instant, secure transactions.
In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how to use PhonePe in 2025 — whether you’re a first-time user or want to explore advanced features like investment options, merchant QR payments, and more.

🔹 1. What Is PhonePe?
PhonePe is a leading Indian digital payments and financial services platform that enables users to make instant, secure transactions directly from their bank accounts using UPI (Unified Payments Interface). Launched in 2015, PhonePe has transformed how individuals and businesses manage money—offering services like mobile recharges, bill payments, QR code-based merchant payments, online shopping, and investment options such as mutual funds, digital gold, and insurance.
With a user-friendly interface and support for multiple Indian languages, PhonePe caters to both urban and rural audiences. It eliminates the need for wallets or credit cards, allowing seamless money transfers via mobile numbers, bank details, or UPI IDs. Backed by Walmart and integrated with platforms like Flipkart, PhonePe is trusted by over 500 million users and accepted by more than 3 crore merchants across India. Use PhonePe Guide
PhonePe is a digital payments and financial services app that enables users to:
- Transfer money using UPI
- Recharge mobiles, DTH, and FASTag
- Pay utility bills (electricity, gas, water)
- Shop online and offline
- Book flights, buses, and train tickets
- Invest in gold, mutual funds, and insurance
- Earn rewards and cashback on transactions
Launched in 2015, PhonePe has over 500 million registered users and works across 100+ banks.
🌟 2. Key Features of PhonePe
- 💰 UPI Payments: Instant money transfer via mobile number or UPI ID
- 🔄 Bank Account Linking: No wallet loading needed
- 📲 QR Code Payments: Pay merchants anywhere in India
- 📤 Bill Payments: Water, electricity, credit card, gas, etc.
- 📶 Recharge: Mobile, DTH, data cards
- 🎁 Cashback & Rewards: Earn PhonePe coins and scratch cards
- 💹 Investments: Gold, tax-saver funds, SIPs
- 🏥 Insurance: Health, life, and accidental
- 🛍️ Shopping: Flipkart and partner integrations
🏦 3. Supported Banks and Services
PhonePe works with all major Indian banks:
- SBI
- HDFC
- ICICI
- Axis Bank
- Punjab National Bank
- Bank of Baroda
- Canara Bank
- Kotak Mahindra Bank
- and 100+ more
Supports:
- UPI
- Debit cards (for setup/reset PIN)
- Mobile wallets
- Netbanking (for select services)
📥 4. How to Download and Install PhonePe
For Android:
- Open Google Play Store
- Search for “PhonePe – UPI, Recharges, Investments”
- Tap Install
- Once installed, open the app
For iOS:
- Open Apple App Store
- Search “PhonePe”
- Tap Get
- Launch the app after installation
🧾 5. How to Set Up PhonePe for the First Time
- Open the app
- Enter your mobile number (must be linked with your bank)
- Allow app permissions (contacts, SMS, location)
- OTP will be auto-read to verify your number
- Set your 4- or 6-digit app password or enable biometric login
📌 Tip: Keep the SIM with your registered mobile number in SIM slot 1.
🏦 6. How to Link Bank Account & Set UPI PIN
- Tap on your profile icon
- Go to “My Money” → Bank Accounts
- Tap “Add Bank Account”
- Choose your bank from the list
- PhonePe will fetch your account linked to the mobile number
- Tap “Set UPI PIN”
- Enter your debit card details
- Create a 4- or 6-digit UPI PIN
✅ Once the UPI PIN is set, your account is ready for transactions.
💸 7. How to Send and Receive Money
To Send Money:
- Tap “To Contact”, “To Bank/UPI ID”, or “To Self”
- Enter amount and note
- Tap Send
- Enter your UPI PIN to confirm
To Receive Money:
- Share your PhonePe UPI ID (e.g., yourname\@ybl)
- Or generate and share a QR code
- Tap “Collect” to send a payment request (optional)
📷 8. How to Scan QR Codes for Payments
- Tap the QR code icon on the home screen
- Point your camera at the merchant’s QR
- Confirm name, enter amount
- Enter your UPI PIN to pay
💡 Tip: Save frequently paid QR codes as “favorites” for faster access.
🔌 9. How to Recharge Mobiles and Pay Bills
- Tap Recharge & Pay Bills
- Choose:
- Mobile Recharge
- DTH Recharge
- Electricity
- Gas
- Water
- Broadband, etc.
- Enter account number/customer ID
- View bill and tap Pay Now
- Choose payment method (UPI, wallet, card)
📌 You can also set up AutoPay for recurring bills.
🛍️ 10. How to Use PhonePe for Online Shopping
PhonePe is accepted by:
- Flipkart, Myntra, Swiggy, Zomato, MakeMyTrip, and 1000+ other websites.
Steps:
- Shop as usual on the partner site
- Choose PhonePe as payment method at checkout
- You’ll be redirected to PhonePe app or web
- Approve payment using UPI PIN
- Done!

💹 11. How to Use PhonePe for Investments
Available Options:
- Digital gold
- Mutual funds (lumpsum or SIP)
- Tax-saver ELSS
- Liquid funds
- Insurance plans
How to Invest:
- Go to Wealth tab
- Choose the instrument (e.g., Gold or SIP)
- Enter investment amount
- Set up recurring payments if required
- Confirm with UPI PIN
📌 Note: PAN verification may be required.
🧾 12. How to Track Transactions and Refunds
- Go to “History” on home screen
- Tap any transaction to view status
- Refunds usually appear within 7 working days
- Use 24×7 support chat for failed transactions
🏪 13. PhonePe Business & Merchant Mode
PhonePe supports merchant QR setup with:
- Instant settlement to bank
- Payment sound box
- Business analytics dashboard
- Credit line and cashback offers
- GST invoices
To register:
- Download PhonePe for Business
- Sign up using PAN and bank details
- Verify location and documents
💼 14. PhonePe Wallet vs UPI
Feature | UPI | PhonePe Wallet |
---|---|---|
Fund Source | Bank account | Prepaid wallet |
Transfer Limits | ₹1 lakh/day (varies) | ₹10,000/month |
Withdrawable? | Yes | No (only usable on PhonePe) |
Refund Credits | Yes | Yes (faster) |
Offline Use | No | Yes (for select services) |
🔐 15. Privacy and Security Features
- 🔒 2FA UPI PIN and app lock
- 🔐 Fingerprint or Face ID login
- 🔐 Encrypted transactions
- 📩 SMS/email alerts for each transaction
- 🔐 Logout from all devices remotely
📌 Never share your UPI PIN or OTP with anyone!
⚠️ 16. Common Issues & Troubleshooting
Problem | Solution |
---|---|
Payment failed | Retry after 30 mins or check transaction history |
Cannot link bank | Ensure SIM is in slot 1 with SMS balance |
Forgot UPI PIN | Reset with debit card |
Refund not received | Wait up to 7 days or contact support |
App not working | Clear cache or update app |
❓ 17. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is Use PhonePe safe?
Yes. It’s backed by RBI regulations, NPCI, and bank-grade encryption.
Q: Is there any fee for using PhonePe?
No. UPI payments, recharges, and bill payments are free.
Q: Can I link multiple bank accounts?
Yes. But only one can be the primary for sending money.
Q: Can I Use PhonePe abroad?
Only if you have an Indian mobile number and bank account. International use is limited.

✅ 18. Final Thoughts
Whether you’re recharging your phone, paying your electricity bill, investing in a mutual fund, or sending money to a friend, Use PhonePe makes every transaction effortless. With its powerful mix of features, business tools, and ease of use, it’s no surprise that PhonePe continues to lead India’s digital payments revolution.
By following this guide, you’re now equipped to make the most of Use PhonePe in 2025 — securely, efficiently, and rewardingly.Use PhonePe
One thought on “How to Use PhonePe: A Complete Guide for Beginners to Experts (2025 Edition)”