UPI works on bank-defined parameters, not app-defined. Each bank has a daily as well as per-transaction limit depending on their risk assessment, customer profile and regulatory guidance. Google Pay, PhonePe and Paytm only apply what your bank allows. This is why one person can send only Rs 25,000 while another, with a different bank, can send Rs 1 lakh in a single go.
Check your bank's limits before trying to increase them.
This is because most apps only show the final allowed limit and don't give out the logic behind the limit. Open your bank app and look for limits listed under the UPI or fund-transfer section. If your bank allows Rs 1 lakh a day, then your UPI apps will automatically match that amount. If it caps it at a threshold lower than that, the apps will not be able to override it.
How limits are revised inside UPI apps
Google Pay and PhonePe allow you to see your current cap and refresh it in case a recent security block dropped your limit temporarily. Paytm opens a similar “Bank account details” screen where you can see if your limit has been dropped due to failed PIN attempts, device changes, or inactivity. On all apps, raising the limit generally triggers a security check where you re-enter your UPI PIN to confirm your identity.
Why your bank may not allow an immediate increase
The limit upgrades depend on your risk profile, transaction history, and whether your mobile number, device, or SIM has changed of late. Banks usually trim limits after suspicious activity, repeated login failures, or UPI PIN resets. Sometimes, high-value transfers are allowed only after a cooling-off window, especially if you have recently added a new beneficiary or changed your device.
If the UPI app denies the increase, try increasing with the bank app.
Some banks allow limit edits via their app only. You might see a “Manage UPI limits” option under fund transfer or security settings. Once the bank approves a higher limit, all linked UPI apps update automatically in a few minutes. If the feature is missing, the limit is most likely fixed by the bank's internal risk policy and cannot be changed.
When even a higher limit fails to work
Even after an upgrade, you may hit caps during large festival periods or after back-to-back high-value payments. Banks sometimes impose temporary ceilings for fraud control, and apps follow them. In these cases, shifting the payment to net banking, IMPS, or RTGS is faster than retrying UPI several times.
The bottom line
Increasing your UPI limit is basically about knowing who has control of the ceiling, and that is your bank. Once you know your bank's cap and refresh it on your preferred UPI app, most high-value transfers go through without friction.
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