All Jio, Airtel, Vi & BSNL USSD Codes India — Balance, Data, Own Number & Offers
androfyi October 31, 2026 7 min read 4 viewsHere are the codes most people actually need, up front:
| Operator | Balance | Data balance | Your own number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jio | SMS BAL to 199 (most reliable) | MyJio app, or SMS MBAL to 55333 | *1# |
| Airtel | *123# | *121*2# (or *121# menu) | *282# |
| Vi | *199*2*1# | *199*2*2# | *199# menu (see Vi section) |
| BSNL | *123# | *124# | *888# or *222# (varies by circle) |
One honest warning before the full lists: USSD codes in India are slowly being retired. Operators — Jio most of all — now push everything into their apps, and many codes copied around the internet are years out of date. Every section below tells you both the code and the method that reliably works today, so you are never stuck staring at an error message. Codes can also differ slightly by telecom circle; if a code fails, use the app/SMS fall-back in that operator’s section.
USSD codes are free and need no internet connection — you just dial them from the SIM you want to check.
Jio USSD Codes and SMS Codes
Jio is the operator where the old USSD lists fail most often. Jio was built app-first, several of its historic USSD menus have been withdrawn, and current sources openly note that some Jio services (like emergency data loan) have no reliable USSD code anymore — the MyJio app is the intended route. Use SMS and the app as your primary methods, and treat the USSD codes as a quick try.
| What you want | Code / method | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main balance & validity | SMS BAL to 199 | Most consistently reported working method |
| Main balance (USSD) | *333# | Still listed by current sources, but does not work for every user/circle — if it fails, use BAL to 199 |
| Data usage | SMS MBAL to 55333 | Or MyJio app home screen for live daily data |
| Your current plan | SMS MYPLAN to 199 | |
| Postpaid bill amount | SMS BILL to 199 | |
| Your own Jio number | *1# | Also shown instantly in the MyJio app |
| Balance by missed call | Dial 1299 and let it disconnect | Jio sends your balance and validity by SMS |
| Everything in detail | MyJio app | Balance, daily data, validity, queued packs — this is Jio’s primary self-care channel |
Bottom line for Jio: install MyJio. Use BAL → 199 when you have no data connection.
Airtel USSD Codes
Airtel still has the best-working USSD system of the four. The two codes to remember are *123# for balance/validity and *121# for Airtel’s main self-care menu.
| What you want | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main balance & plan validity | *123# | Also try SMS BAL to 121 |
| Main menu: offers, data, packs, account | *121# | Menu-driven — reply with the number of the option you want |
| Data balance | *121*2# | If that fails on your circle, dial *121# and choose the data/balance option |
| Best offers for your number | *121*1# (or *121# menu) | “My offers” are personalised per number |
| Your own Airtel number | *282# | Works without balance or internet; fall-back is the *121# menu |
| Emergency talktime/data loan | *141# | Eligibility-based; not available on all numbers/plans |
| Last transactions / VAS details | *121*7# | Follow the menu after dialling |
| Customer care | Dial 121 (queries) / 198 (complaints) | Not USSD — a normal call |
Bottom line for Airtel: USSD still works well. The Airtel Thanks app is the better option when you want pack details, queued recharges and data history in one place.
Vi (Vodafone Idea) USSD Codes
Vi’s codes all run through the *199# menu family. Dialling *199# alone opens the main menu; the longer codes below jump straight to a section.
| What you want | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main balance | *199*2*1# | |
| Data balance / internet usage | *199*2*2# | |
| Offers and packs menu | *199# | Then follow the on-screen options |
| Current packs / validity info | *199*1*3# | Reported for pack and internet offer details |
| Your own Vi number | *199# menu | Sources disagree on a single direct “own number” code for Vi (an older *111*2# appears in dated lists). The reliable routes are the *199# menu, the Vi app, or calling yourself on another phone. |
| Stop a value-added service (VAS) | *199*3*1# | Handy if a charge you don’t recognise appears |
| Customer care | Dial 199 or 198 | Normal call from your Vi number |
Bottom line for Vi: use the *199# family for balance and data. For your own number and full pack details, the Vi app is more dependable than any single code.
BSNL USSD Codes
BSNL codes work, but BSNL is the operator where circle-to-circle variation is biggest — a code that works in Kerala may not work in UP (East). If the first code in a row fails, try the alternative, then the Selfcare app.
| What you want | Code | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Main balance & validity | *123# | The standard BSNL balance code across sources |
| Data balance | *124# | Alternatives reported by circle: *124*2#, *123*6#, *124*1# |
| SMS pack balance | *123*1# or *123*5# | |
| Prepaid offers | *444# | |
| Active plan details | *102#, or *124*8# / *124*5# | Menu results vary by circle |
| Your own BSNL number | *888# or *222# | Multiple number-check codes are reported (*1#, *785#, *555# in some circles) — if none work, use the BSNL Selfcare app or call 1503 |
| Balance by SMS | SMS BAL to 121 | Some sources list 123 as the SMS number in certain circles — if 121 fails, try your circle’s Selfcare app |
| Customer care | Dial 1503 (from BSNL) / 1800-180-1503 |
Bottom line for BSNL: *123# for balance is solid almost everywhere. For data balance and your own number, expect to try two codes — that’s a BSNL quirk, not a fault with your phone.
Which Method Should You Actually Use?
| Situation | Best method |
|---|---|
| No internet / feature phone | USSD code for your operator (Airtel, Vi and BSNL codes above; SMS BAL to 199 for Jio) |
| You want data left today, pack queue and expiry | Operator app — MyJio, Airtel Thanks, Vi app, BSNL Selfcare |
| A code returned an error | Don’t keep redialling variants from random sites. Switch to the SMS or app method in that operator’s section. |
| Checking a family member’s number | The code must be dialled from that SIM — USSD only works for the SIM in the phone |
A related trap to avoid: sites promising “free data” or “free recharge” USSD codes. No operator offers those. Legitimate loan/advance features (like Airtel’s *141#) are small, eligibility-based and repaid on your next recharge.
Go Deeper on Androfyi
- These operator codes are one family of dial codes. For phone-level codes, see our USSD codes and Android dial pad secrets guide — and if you own a Galaxy, our Samsung secret codes list (safe vs dangerous) is linked from that guide.
- Tweaks that make checking all of this faster: 7 Android settings that change everything.
- Power users can also surface usage stats through the hidden Android menus covered in our Developer Options guide.
FAQ
What Is the Jio Balance Check Code?
The method current sources say works most reliably is SMS — send BAL to 199 for balance and validity, and MBAL to 55333 for data usage. The USSD code *333# is still widely listed for main balance, but it doesn’t work for all users, which is why the MyJio app is Jio’s primary recommendation.
What Is the Airtel Data Balance Check Code?
Dial *121*2#, or dial *121# and pick the data balance option from the menu. *123# gives you main balance and validity. You can also SMS BAL to 121.
How Do I Check My Own Mobile Number by Code?
Airtel: *282#. Jio: *1#. Vi: use the *199# menu or the Vi app — there’s no single Vi own-number code that sources agree on. BSNL: try *888# or *222#; BSNL’s code varies by circle. The universal fall-back for any operator: call a nearby phone and read the number off its screen.
Why Does a USSD Code Show an Error or “Connection Problem or Invalid MMI Code”?
Usually one of three things: the operator has retired or changed that code, the code is different in your telecom circle, or you’re dialling it on the wrong SIM in a dual-SIM phone. Check you’ve selected the right SIM for the call, and then use the SMS/app method listed for your operator in this guide.
Are USSD Codes Free? Do They Need Internet?
USSD balance and menu codes are free and work without an internet connection — that’s their main advantage over apps. You do need network signal on that SIM, and the code must be dialled from the number you want to check.
Sources Checked for This Guide
Cross-checked against current operator-code round-ups including Paisabazaar and MoneyView’s Jio, Airtel and BSNL balance-check guides (updated mid-2026), GadgetSkool’s Airtel USSD codes list (Aug 2026 update), Gizbot’s Jio and Airtel code lists, and SafeTricks’ all-network USSD list. Where sources conflicted — most often on Jio USSD, Vi own-number and BSNL data/own-number codes — this article says so and gives the fall-back method instead of presenting one code as certain.
