Big changes are coming to how you pay on Google Play. Starting August 31, @PayTM UPI handles will stop working as a payment option. According to Google Pay, the decision follows directions from the National Payment Corporations of India (NCPI).
Vodafone and Idea Users Lose Mobile Billing
It’s not just PayTM that’s affected. From August 31, 2025, Vodafone and Idea customers will no longer be able to use mobile billing on Google Play. Until now, many people simply added app or subscription charges to their monthly phone bill and paid them off hassle-free.
For instance, someone paying Rs 129 each month for YouTube Premium through mobile billing will need to find another way. If they don’t update in time, YouTube Premium will stop automatically – no ad-free videos, no offline downloads.
What You Need to Do
Google Play has advised users to switch their payment methods to keep subscriptions active:
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Add another UPI handle such as Google Pay, PhonePe, or BHIM.
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Use a debit card, credit card, or net banking.
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Manually update every subscription one by one. Just changing the payment at the account level won’t fix everything. Apps like YouTube, Google Drive, games, dating platforms, and fitness trackers each need to be updated separately.
The official note from Google Pay makes it clear: “To avoid interruptions to existing subscriptions, please add a different accepted payment method or UPI handle to your Play account and update any existing subscriptions to use the new payment method or UPI handle.”
Related Updates
This payment shake-up comes at a time when several other financial and digital updates are rolling out:
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Crypto Updates: The Google Play Store has set new licensing rules for custodial crypto wallet developers.
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The NPS Vatsalya scheme has already registered 1.30 lakh minor subscribers as of August 3, 2025.
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From August 1, 2025, new UPI rules came into effect, bringing daily limits, time slots, and tighter controls.
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An Income Tax Bill is also scheduled to be tabled in Parliament on August 11, 2025, outlining important changes for taxpayers.
