Lock Aadhaar Number - How to Lock and Unlock your Aadhaar Card Number Online?

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has launched a new feature that allows users to lock and unlock their Aadhaar numbers. It protects the user from biometric, and OTP-based verification cannot be used for KYC requirements, thus protecting you from fraudulent activities.

Key Highlights

• Purpose: It restricts biometric, demographic, and OTP-based authentication to shield the account holder from unauthorized or fraudulent KYC attempts. 
• Prerequisite: It requires the generation of a 16-digit Virtual ID (VID) before the locking process can be initiated. 
• Web Method: Can be handled securely through the 'Aadhaar lock/unlock' service under the 'My Aadhaar' tab on the official UIDAI portal.

How to Lock your Aadhaar Number?

There are two methods a user can use to lock their Aadhaar number:

i. Lock your Aadhaar number Via UIDAI portal

Step 1: Go to www.uidai.gov.in.

Step 2: Select the ‘My Aadhaar’ tab and click on the ‘Aadhaar lock/unlock’ option.

Step 3: Click on the option ‘Lock UID’ and fill in the necessary details.

Step 4: Now click on ‘Send OTP’, it will be sent to the registered mobile number.

Step 5: Enter OTP and click submit, now your Aadhaar number is locked.

ii. Lock your Aadhaar Number via SMS

A user can lock their Aadhaar number by means of SMS with the following steps:

Step 1: Send an SMS to 1947 from the registered mobile number. The format of the message should be:

GETOTP <Aadhaar NUMBER-last-4-digits>

Step 2: Users will receive a six-digit OTP from UIDAI by SMS.

Step 3: Now to lock your Aadhaar number, send a second message with the format 

LOCKUID <Aadhaar NUMBER-last 4-digits> <6-digits-OTP>

Note: If the same mobile number has been registered to multiple Aadhaar numbers, the user will have to send the last eight digits of the Aadhaar instead of the last four digits.

How to Unlock your Aadhaar number?

Similar to the locking of Aadhaar number, a user can unlock their Aadhaar number via both the UIDAI portal or SMS

i. Unlock your Aadhaar number via UIDAI portal

Step 1: Go to www.uidai.gov.in.

Step 2: Select the ‘My Aadhaar’ tab and click on the ‘Aadhaar lock/unlock’ option.

Step 3: Click on the ‘Unlock UID’ option and fill your Virtual ID and security code in the correct fields.

Step 4: Click on the ‘Send OTP’ option to receive the OTP on the registered mobile number.

Step 5: Enter the OTP and select ‘Submit’ to unlock your Aadhaar number.

ii. Unlock your Aadhaar Number via SMS

Step 1: From the registered mobile number, send an SMS to 1947 in the following format: 

GETOTP <Virtual-ID-last-6-digits>

Step 2: Users will receive a six-digit OTP via SMS.

Step 3: To unlock your Aadhaar number, send a second SMS to 1947 with the following format: 

UNLOCKUID <Virtual-ID-last-6-digits> <OTP-6-digits>

Final Word

In the case of locking the Aadhaar number, if there are multiple Aadhaar numbers associated with the same mobile number, the user will have to send the last 10 digits of their Virtual ID instead of six-digits. 

Note: Users cannot lock their Aadhaar number unless they have generated a virtual ID (VID). Hence, you need to first create your virtual ID  and then lock the Aadhaar number.