How to Reverse Mpesa in 2024: The Ultimate Guide

Mpesa is the most popular mobile money service in Kenya, with millions of users sending and receiving money daily.

However, sometimes you may make a mistake and send money to the wrong person or paybill number.

What can you do in such a situation? How can you reverse Mpesa and get your money back?

In this article, we will show you how to reverse Mpesa in 2024, using the latest methods and tips.

Whether you use the Mpesa app, the mySafaricom app, SMS, or USSD, we have you covered.

Read on and learn how to reverse MPESA in minutes.

How to Reverse Mpesa Using the Mpesa App

If you have the Mpesa app installed on your smartphone, you can use it to reverse Mpesa transactions easily. Here are the steps to follow:

Open the Mpesa app on your device and log in with your PIN.
Go to Mpesa and select Mpesa transactions.
Click on Mini statements and choose the transaction that you want to reverse.
Tap on the Reverse icon in the top right corner of the transaction details.
Confirm that you want to raise a reversal request and select the reason for the reversal.
The system will notify you that it has received your request and share an update within two minutes.
Reversal will also send you an SMS, telling you that they have started the reversal request and will share an update within two hours.
Safaricom will contact the recipient of the money and request them to reverse the transaction.
The recipient can reverse the money and Mpesa will send you a confirmation SMS.
If the recipient does not agree or is unreachable, the reversal will fail and you will receive an SMS informing you of the same.

How to Reverse Mpesa Using the mySafaricom App

If you have the mySafaricom app installed on your smartphone, you can also reverse Mpesa transactions. Here are the steps to follow:

Open the mySafaricom app on your device and log in with your PIN.
Go to Mpesa and select Mpesa statements.
Choose the transaction that you want to reverse and tap on the Reverse icon on the bottom right corner of the screen.
Confirm that you want to raise a reversal request and select the reason for the reversal.
You will receive a notification that your request has been received and an update will be shared within two minutes.
You will also receive an SMS from Reversal, informing you that the reversal request has been started and an update will be shared within two hours.
Safaricom will contact the recipient of the money and request them to reverse the transaction.
If the recipient agrees, the money will be reversed and you will receive a confirmation SMS from Mpesa.
If the recipient does not agree or is unreachable, the reversal will fail and you will receive an SMS informing you of the same.

How to Reverse Mpesa Using SMS

If you do not have the Mpesa app or the mySafaricom app, you can still reverse Mpesa transactions using SMS. Here are the steps to follow:

Open the SMS app on your device and find the message showing the transaction that you want to reverse.
Copy the entire message and start a new conversation.
Paste the copied message and send it to 456.
Reversal will respond to you, telling you that they have started the reversal request and will share an update within two hours.
Safaricom will contact the recipient of the money and request them to reverse the transaction.
If the recipient agrees, the money will be reversed and you will receive a confirmation SMS from Mpesa.
If the recipient does not agree or is unreachable, the reversal will fail and you will receive an SMS informing you of the same.

How to Reverse Mpesa Using USSD

If you cannot access the internet or SMS, you can still reverse Mpesa transactions using USSD. Here are the steps to follow:

Dial *334# on your device and select Mpesa services.
Choose Mpesa statements and enter your PIN.
Select Mini statement and choose the transaction that you want to reverse.
Select Reverse and confirm that you want to raise a reversal request and select the reason for the reversal.
You will receive a notification confirming the receipt of your request, and an update will be shared within two minutes.
Reversal will send you an SMS, notifying that the reversal request has been initiated, and an update will be provided within two hours.
Safaricom will contact the recipient of the money and request them to reverse the transaction.
If the recipient agrees, Mpesa will reverse the money, and you will receive a confirmation SMS.
If the recipient does not agree or is unreachable, the reversal will fail and you will receive an SMS informing you of the same.

Tips and Tricks for Reversing Mpesa

The guarantee of reversing Mpesa transactions is not always assured, as it relies on the recipient’s cooperation and the availability of funds in their account.

Therefore, it is advisable to avoid making mistakes in the first place by using the Hakikisha feature, which allows you to confirm the recipient’s name and number before completing a transaction.

However, if you do make a mistake, here are some tips and tricks that can help you reverse Mpesa successfully:

Act fast: The sooner you request a reversal, the higher the chances of getting your money back. Do not wait for hours or days, as the recipient may have already withdrawn or spent the money.
Call the recipient: If you have the recipient’s number, you can try calling them and explaining the situation. Be polite and respectful, and ask them to reverse the transaction. You can also offer to pay them a small fee for their cooperation.
Call Safaricom: If you do not have the recipient’s number, or they are not answering your calls, you can try calling Safaricom customer care on 100 or 234 and explain the situation. They may be able to help you contact the recipient and facilitate the reversal.
Report to the police: If the recipient refuses to reverse the transaction or is fraudulent, you can report the matter to the nearest police station and get a police abstract. You can then present the abstract to Safaricom and request them to reverse the transaction.