Purpose: This study examines intrinsic motivations and antecedents that affect millennial mobile impulsive shopping in markets with the technology acceptance model (TAM) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: The study has been conducted by collecting data from 367 regular mobile shopping millennials, which was analyzed by structural equation modeling. Findings: The findings reported that the perceived ease of use correlates positively with perceived usefulness. Similarly, perceived ease of use, usefulness, perceived utilitarian value and hedonic value significantly impacts shoppers' trust and attitude toward impulsive mobile shopping. Perceived trust was found to exhibit a positive association with mobile shopping. Finally, perceived usefulness, ease of use, utilitarian value, hedonic value, trust and attitude significantly positively impacted millennials' impulsive mobile shopping. Practical implications: This study's results will help e-retailers establish novel techniques and efforts to enhance market volume and build solid connections with mobile customers by ensuring secure purchase habits. The results would also help companies develop customer satisfaction-focused business strategies. Originality/value: This study contributes to the body of literature by finding a significant impact of attitude, trust and shopping values on impulsive mobile shopping. These constructs have not been explored as factors impacting mobile impulsive shopping, especially when it comes to a pandemic.