Paytm Clarifies UPI Notice: QR Payments, Transfers Safe; Subscription Users Must Update

Paytm has reassured users that its UPI services remain fully operational after a Google Play notification sparked concerns about a potential shutdown.

The fintech company clarified that day-to-day UPI transactions—including payments to merchants, QR code scans, and peer-to-peer transfers—will continue as usual. Only a small segment of users relying on recurring subscriptions need to take action.

The confusion arose when Google Play sent a notice warning that “@paytm UPI handles will be deprecated” from August 31, 2025. Without further context, many users feared that Paytm’s entire UPI system was shutting down. In reality, the change affects only recurring payment mandates, such as subscriptions to YouTube Premium or Google One.

Paytm founder Vijay Shekhar Sharma emphasized, “There will be no disruption for users when they make UPI payments on Paytm. Both consumer and merchant transactions will remain seamless.” The update is part of regulatory compliance with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), enabling Paytm to continue operating as a Third Party Application Provider (TPAP).

For affected users, recurring payment mandates need to be updated to new bank-linked Paytm handles, such as @pthdfc, @ptaxis, @ptyes, or @ptsbi, depending on their bank. Alternatively, subscriptions can be migrated to other UPI apps or paid via debit/credit cards. The deadline for these updates is September 1, 2025.

Paytm called the alert “a storm in a teacup,” noting that millions of users rely on the app for daily transactions. “This is a simple update to ensure uninterrupted recurring payments, while all other UPI transactions on the app continue without any change,” the company said.