For many Huawei and Honor phone users, a chilling realization has dawned: their UPI payment apps – Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, and others – have inexplicably stopped working. Attempts to make payments or even check balances are met with the frustratingly vague "Something went wrong" error message. This isn't a simple bug; it's a systemic issue with far-reaching consequences for users. This blog post will dissect the problem, clarify the misinformation circulating, and offer practical solutions.
The Misconception: UPI is Blocked
The claim that UPI is completely blocked on all Huawei and Honor devices is inaccurate and misleading. While widespread UPI payment failures are indeed occurring on many Huawei and Honor phones, it's not a blanket ban imposed by the UPI system itself. The issue stems from a deeper, more nuanced problem.
The Root Cause: The HMS-GMS Divide
The heart of the matter lies in the technological conflict between Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) and Google Mobile Services (GMS). Before the US trade restrictions, Huawei phones outside China relied on GMS, the framework that provides access to Google's essential apps and services, including those critical for UPI functionality.
The trade restrictions forced Huawei to build its own ecosystem, HMS. While HMS has grown, it hasn't completely replicated the breadth and depth of GMS integration. UPI apps, primarily designed to work seamlessly with GMS, encounter compatibility issues within the HMS environment. This leads to the "Something went wrong" error, masking the underlying incompatibility.
Currently people reported issues with Honor Play, Honor 7, Honor 8, Honor 9, Honor Pro, Honor X9B, Honor 90, Honor 200, Honor 200 Pro, Honor 200 Lite and Honor Magic6 Pro.
Why the Vague Error Message?
The unhelpful error message is a symptom, not the cause. It indicates a failure in communication between the UPI app and the necessary backend services, services which rely heavily on GMS APIs and infrastructure not fully replicated by HMS. Clarifying the Situation: It's Not a Ban, It's Incompatibility It's crucial to understand that no entity has blocked UPI on Huawei and Honor phones. The problem is a lack of full compatibility between the HMS ecosystem and the underlying infrastructure required by most UPI apps.
What are your options?
Unfortunately, a simple fix isn't available at this time. The solution requires either:
- App Developers adapting their UPI apps to work flawlessly with HMS: This requires significant coding adjustments and testing, a process that is dependent on the individual app developers.
- Huawei significantly enhancing HMS: Huawei needs to further develop HMS to mirror the functionalities of GMS required by UPI apps.
While waiting for these developments, your options are limited:
- Contact UPI app support: Reporting the issue to Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm, etc., is crucial. Providing details about your phone model and Android version can aid their developers in identifying and addressing the compatibility issues.
- Try alternative payment methods: Until the incompatibility is resolved, explore alternative payment methods such as online banking, debit/credit card payments, or other digital wallets that aren't directly dependent on UPI's GMS reliance.
- Consider a phone upgrade: This is the most drastic option. Switching to a phone that utilizes GMS (most brands except Huawei and Honor outside of China) will immediately resolve the UPI issue.
Conclusion:
The situation with UPI payments on Huawei and Honor phones highlights the complexities of global technology conflicts and their impact on everyday users. While a complete resolution requires concerted effort from both app developers and Huawei, understanding the root cause—incompatibility, not a ban—is the first step towards finding a practical workaround or a lasting solution. Until a proper fix arrives, users are advised to explore alternative payment methods or consider upgrading their devices.