Vodafone Idea (Vi) allows eligible prepaid customers to share mobile data with family members through the Vi App, even when they are in different states or telecom circles. The feature lets users transfer 500MB of eligible data at a time without changing the individual recharge plans or service validity of family members.
However, Vi imposes specific restrictions on how often data can be transferred, which data balances are eligible and when the transferred data expires. Customers must also ensure that both the sender and recipient have active service validity.
Vi prepaid family data sharing: Limits at a glance
| Condition | Vi’s published terms |
|---|---|
| Data per transfer | 500MB |
| Daily limit | Once a day |
| Weekly limit | Up to twice a week |
| Monthly limit | Four times per calendar month |
| Shared data expiry | 11:59 PM on the transfer date |
| Minimum eligible sender balance | 600MB in one eligible main data bucket |
| Sender’s service validity | Active pack required |
| Recipient’s service validity | Active pack required |
| Maximum family size | Four members, including the primary member |
| Geographic restriction | Sharing allowed across states and telecom circles |
These limits apply to Vi’s prepaid family data-sharing feature. The eligible balance displayed in the Vi App determines whether a transfer can be made.
How to create a Vi prepaid family
Eligible customers can create and manage a prepaid family group through the Vi App. The person who creates the group becomes the primary member and can invite other eligible Vi prepaid users.
Follow these steps:
- Open the Vi App and go to the Family tab on the home screen.
- Select Create Family.
- Choose a contact or manually enter the eligible Vi prepaid mobile number you want to add.
- Complete the required OTP verification for the invited member.
- Once the member joins, manage the group through the Family dashboard.
A group can contain up to four members, including the primary member. Each member retains their own prepaid recharge and service validity, so joining the group does not move everyone to a common recharge cycle.
Only eligible Vi prepaid connections can participate. Vi’s prepaid family arrangement is separate from its postpaid family plans.
How to transfer 500MB of data using the Vi App
Once the family group is active, eligible members can transfer data through the Family dashboard.
- Open the Vi App and select the Family tab.
- Check the available data balance and pack validity of the relevant members.
- Open the data-sharing or transfer option.
- Select the family member who needs additional data.
- Choose the eligible 500MB transfer and follow the on-screen instructions.
- Ask the recipient to check the updated balance and notification.
Vi says the recipient receives an in-app notification and an SMS after the transfer. The feature is intended for members of the same registered prepaid family, not for transferring data to any Vi number.
Before initiating the transfer, confirm that the sender has sufficient eligible data and that both numbers have active service validity.
When does shared data expire?
One of the most important restrictions is the expiry time. Data transferred through Vi prepaid family sharing remains valid only until 11:59 PM on the day of the transfer.
This is not a fresh 24-hour validity period.
For example, if a member transfers 500MB at 9 PM, the recipient has only a few hours to use the data before it expires that night. A transfer made earlier in the day provides a longer usable period.
Customers should therefore transfer data when the recipient needs it and has enough time to use it. Any unused portion expires at the end of the specified period.
Which data balance can be shared?
Vi does not allow users to transfer every type of data benefit associated with their prepaid recharge. The sender needs at least 600MB in an eligible main data bucket, such as a fixed-data or daily-data balance.
Data from separate buckets cannot be combined to meet the minimum balance requirement for a transfer. For example, a customer cannot simply add the remaining balance of two different data buckets to reach 600MB if neither eligible bucket independently meets the requirement.
Vi identifies several types of data that cannot be shared:
- Data purchased through add-on data packs.
- Weekend Data Rollover benefits.
- Data Delight benefits.
- Free night data under eligible Hero plans.
- Free data benefits under Super Hero plans, including applicable unlimited-data periods.
- Data received through OTT-linked add-ons.
- Unlimited add-on data packs that do not include service validity.
For eligible unlimited-data packs that include service validity, sharing is subject to Vi’s applicable commercial usage policy limit.
The practical rule is to check the shareable balance shown in the app instead of assuming that the total data displayed against a number can be transferred.
Do both family members need an active recharge?
Yes. Vi’s published terms require both the sender and the recipient to have an active service-validity pack.
If either number lacks active service validity, the data-sharing option will not be available through the Family dashboard. Having some unused data balance alone is not sufficient to make a transfer.
Each family member continues to use their own prepaid plan. The family feature does not automatically extend the validity of a recharge, combine individual balances or replace the need to maintain an eligible plan.
Can Vi prepaid family members share data across states?
Yes. Vi allows eligible members of the same prepaid family to share data across different states and telecom circles in India.
For example, a member in Karnataka can share eligible data with another member in Maharashtra, provided both are part of the same eligible prepaid family and meet the service-validity and transfer conditions.
The feature is therefore useful for families whose members live, study or work in different cities.
Vi prepaid family: Membership and recharge discounts
Vi’s prepaid family offering also provides eligible recharge discounts and other offers through the Vi App. The company advertises discounts of up to 10% on eligible recharges, subject to the applicable offer terms.
The precise discount depends on the recharge and eligibility displayed at checkout. Customers should check the Family dashboard and the final payment screen rather than assume that every plan receives the maximum discount.
There are also membership conditions to consider. Vi’s published FAQ says a member cannot leave the prepaid family for 90 days after joining. The FAQ describes OTP-based exit and removal processes separately, so customers should check the current in-app terms if they need to leave or change their family group.
Is Vi prepaid family data sharing useful?
The feature can be helpful when one family member runs short of mobile data while another has an eligible balance available. It also works across telecom circles, which makes it more flexible for families living in different parts of India.
However, the 500MB transfer limit, frequency restrictions, 600MB minimum eligible balance and same-day expiry mean it is not a substitute for a shared monthly data pool.
Before transferring data, check the eligible balance, remaining transfer allowance and the recipient’s active service validity. Most importantly, make the transfer early enough for the recipient to use the data before 11:59 PM.
Plan conditions checked on 26 October 2026. Vi may revise eligibility and offer terms. Check the current Vi App and official FAQ before using the feature.
