Noticed unexplained UPI debits from your bank account?:Here’s how to deactivate your UPI ID on Google Pay; a step-by-step guide

If you have noticed money being debited from your bank account and cannot figure out why, checking your bank statement and transaction history is usually the first step. But what if you have gone through the details and still do not recognise a transaction? In such a situation, some users may decide to stop using UPI altogether or remove their bank account from Google Pay. However, there is an important distinction between deleting a UPI ID, removing a bank account from Google Pay, and completely deactivating UPI for a bank account. First, check the suspicious transaction If you notice an unexplained debit, don’t immediately delete your UPI ID. First, check your bank statement and transaction history to find out whether the payment was made through UPI. Look for details such as the transaction amount, date, recipient information, and UPI transaction reference number. You should also check the transaction history in Google Pay. If you still do not recognise the transaction, contact your bank and report it as soon as possible. Google Pay also advises users to contact their bank regarding disputed UPI transactions and keep the UPI transaction reference ID available. What exactly happens when you deactivate UPI? Before removing anything, it is important to understand what you are actually deactivating. A UPI ID is an identifier linked to the bank account that allows you to send and receive money through UPI. It is different from your actual bank account. So, there are three different actions you can take: This distinction is important because deleting a UPI ID or removing a bank account from Google Pay does not necessarily deactivate UPI for the bank account itself. How to delete your UPI ID on Google Pay If you only want to remove your UPI ID from Google Pay, you can do it through the app. Follow these steps: Google provides the option to delete UPI IDs created through Google Pay. However, remember that this only deals with the UPI ID. Your bank account itself remains active. How to remove your bank account from Google Pay If you want to completely stop using a particular bank account through Google Pay, you also need to remove that bank account from the app. Go to: There is an important condition here. Google says you may first need to unlink active UPI AutoPay mandates or UPI Lite associated with the account before you can remove the bank account. So, if you have subscriptions, recurring payments, or other active UPI mandates, check those before removing the account. Also read: Getting a ‘storage full’ pop-up while opening WhatsApp: Here’s how to free up space without deleting chats; a step-by-step guide

Does removing the bank account from Google Pay deactivate UPI completely? This is one of the most important things to understand. Removing your bank account from Google Pay only removes it from Google Pay. It does not necessarily deactivate UPI services for that bank account. For example, suppose you have the same HDFC Bank account linked to: If you remove the account from Google Pay, you may still be able to use the same bank account for UPI through the other apps. Similarly, simply uninstalling Google Pay or signing out of the app does not deactivate your UPI ID. Therefore, if your intention is to completely stop UPI transactions from that bank account, you should contact your bank and specifically ask them to deactivate or deregister UPI for the account. Whether this can be done digitally or requires a branch visit depends on the bank. What happens to the UPI ID after it is deleted? Once you delete a UPI ID from Google Pay, that particular ID is no longer available for you to use through the app. For example, if you previously used: yourname@okbank and delete it, you should not assume that people can continue sending money to you using that same UPI ID. If you later set up UPI again, you may receive a new UPI ID. However, Google says that in certain circumstances you may be able to retrieve your previous UPI ID if you use the same phone number, device, bank account, and Google Account. If these details have changed, the old UPI ID may not be retrievable. Can I reactivate UPI after deleting my UPI ID? Yes. Deleting your UPI ID does not permanently disable UPI. You can re-add the same bank account to Google Pay, verify it using your registered mobile number, and set up UPI again. If the old UPI ID is unavailable, you can create a new one. Do I need to create a new UPI ID? If you remove your bank account from Google Pay and later add it again, you can set up UPI again. However, whether you get the same UPI ID or a new one depends on the circumstances. If the old UPI ID is not available for restoration, you will need to use a new UPI ID. This means users should not delete an old UPI ID assuming they can definitely get exactly the same ID back later. Also read: Want foldable phone experience but find iPhone Duo too expensive?: 5 alternatives to consider instead; from Samsung to Motorola

What happens to money already received through the old UPI ID? Deleting a UPI ID does not delete your bank account or erase your previous banking transactions. However, if you stop using an old UPI ID, people who have saved that ID may no longer be able to use it to send you money. If you set up a new UPI ID later, share the new ID with people who regularly send you payments. Your previous transactions remain part of your banking/payment records; deleting the UPI ID does not wipe your transaction history. Be mindful So if you want to stop using a particular bank account on Google Pay, remove the bank account itself from the app. But if you want UPI to be completely disabled for that bank account, removing it from Google Pay is not necessarily enough. Contact your bank and ask for UPI deactivation or deregistration. And if you change your mind later, you generally do not need a new bank account. You can set up UPI again using your existing bank account, although you may have to use a new UPI ID if the previous one cannot be restored.