How to Lock and Unlock Aadhaar Biometric Data Online?

Aadhaar Card is an essential document that serves as proof of identity and proof of address. The document has your vital details, such as the Biometrics (fingerprint scan of all 10 fingers, iris scan of both the eyes, and your photograph). These details are personal and crucial. The biometric data is unique and sensitive, whose access you can protect as per convenience. The biometric information is usually used for verification when you avail certain services.

The importance of Aadhaar Card has increased significantly past a few years. It is now mandatory to link this document with other documents such as PAN Card, and banking/financial services such as loans, investments, etc. This document contains both your biometric and demographic details.

Why to Protect the Biometric Details of Your Aadhaar?

Recently, it was revealed that several Aadhaar holders’ sensitive information such as personal details and Aadhaar numbers were leaked from the government portals. But, it was clarified that biometric details of the card holders did not encounter a cyber attack yet. Though this is good news, you need to be proactive, and protect your personal information from infringement or misuse.

It is important to keep the Aadhaar Biometric Data protected and safe from access to an unwanted party or agency. You can restrict anyone from misusing the Aadhaar Biometric data by locking the relevant details stored on the UIDAI servers. You can any time unlock the biometric data online so that it can be utilized for verification once again.

NOTE: To avail the service of locking and unlocking biometric details, your mobile number must be updated in the Aadhaar Card.

How to Lock Aadhaar Biometric Data Online?

Below, we have discussed how to lock your Aadhaar biometric data online.

• Visit the official website of UIDAI. Under ‘My Aadhaar’, go to tab ‘Aadhaar Services’. Select ‘Lock/Unlock Biometrics’.
• Tick off the consent statement. Click ‘Lock/Unlock Biometrics’.
• Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar Number as on your Aadhaar Card.
• Enter Captcha for verification.
• Click ‘Send OTP’. Enter the OTP you receive on your registered mobile number. Verify the OTP.
• After this step, you will see a message on the screen that indicates your Aadhaar number has been successfully locked. You may use VID (virtual ID) for authentication.

NOTE: Once you lock your Aadhaar card, then it is possible to authenticate biometric only through One Time Password sent to your mobile number. It is not possible to use the biometric as the primary authenticator. You will then need some other identity proof for verification.

How to Lock Your Aadhaar Number?

Another step to lock UID is also available on the UIDAI portal:

• By locking UID, you will not be able to do authentication with your Aadhaar number. But you can use virtual ID for authentication.
• Under ‘My Aadhaar’, go to ‘Aadhaar Services’ and select ‘Aadhaar Lock and Unlock Service’.
• Select ‘Lock UID’. Enter your full name and Pincode
• Enter the security code to complete the captcha verification.
• Click ‘Send OTP’ to receive the OTP on the registered mobile number.
• Enter the OTP and successfully lock your Aadhaar number.

How to Lock Aadhaar Number through SMS?

To get an OTP, you have to send SMS to 1947 from your registered mobile number.

• The SMS format should be: GETOTP Space last four digits of your Aadhaar number.
• You will receive the OTP via SMS. This will be six digits long
• Now you have to send one more SMS for Aadhaar number locking.
• The format for second SMS is: LOCKUID space last four digits of your Aadhaar number space the six digits of OTP that you received after sending the first SMS.
• When the SMS gets delivered to UIDAI, you will receive a confirmation text from their end about unlocking of Aadhaar number.

NOTE: You have to send the last eight digits of your Aadhaar number instead of only the last four digits of the same, if your mobile number is registered with more than one Aadhaar number.

How to Unlock Aadhaar Biometric Data Online?

• Visit UIDAI website. From ‘My Aadhaar’ section, go on the ‘Aadhaar Services’ tab. Click ‘Lock/Unlock Biometrics’.
• Enter Aadhaar Number (12-digit) as shown on your Aadhaar Card. You can also enter the virtual ID number, which is of 16-digits.
• For verification, enter the captcha.
• Select ‘Send OTP’. You will get the OTP on the mobile number registered on the Aadhaar database.
• Enter the OTP received and click ‘Submit’.
• After this, you will see a message on the screen which prompts that the biometric data is now unlocked and you can use it for verification.

How to Unlock Your Aadhaar Number?

Another step to unlock UID is also available on UIDAI portal:

• By unlocking UID, you will be able to use your Aadhaar number for authentication.
• Under ‘My Aadhaar’, go to ‘Aadhaar Services’ and select ‘Aadhaar Lock and Unlock Service’.
• Select ‘Unlock UID’ and enter your virtual ID (VID).
• Enter the security code for captcha verification.
• Click ‘Send OTP’ and get the OTP on your registered mobile number.
• Enter the OTP received to successfully unlock your Aadhaar/UID number.

How to Unlock Aadhaar Number through SMS?

You have to send SMS to 1947 from your registered mobile number.

• The SMS format should be: GETOTP last six digits of your VID.
• You will receive the OTP via SMS. This will be six digits long.
• Now you have to send one more SMS for Aadhaar number unlocking.
• The format for second SMS is: UNLOCKUID last six digits of your VID the six digits of OTP that you received after sending the first SMS.
• When the SMS gets delivered to UIDAI, you will receive a confirmation text from their end about unlocking of Aadhaar number.

How to Create a Virtual ID?

You need to create a Virtual ID for locking or locking Aadhaar biometric details. Here is the procedure for the creating a VID:

• Visit the official website of UIDAI. From under the ‘My Aadhaar’ tab, go to ‘Aadhaar Services’. Select ‘Virtual ID (VID) Generator’.
• Provide your 12-digit Aadhaar number and enter the captcha for verification.
• Select ‘Send OTP’ and enter the OTP you get on your mobile number.
• Click ‘Submit’.

You will receive the VID, which will be 16-digit long. It will be sent to you as a text message on the registered mobile number. Do note that the Virtual ID is temporary and a random 16 digits arrangement. It is a revocable number mapped for some time with your Aadhaar number. The use of VID is that you can use it instead of the Aadhaar number for authentication and e-KYC purpose. The agency or anyone with VID cannot retrieve your Aadhaar number directly.