How to Lock and Unlock Aadhaar (Aadhar) Biometrics, UID and VID?

Which lock do you need?

There are three tools, and they do different jobs. Answer one or two questions to find yours.

What does each option block?

A UID lock locks your whole Aadhaar number. A biometric lock locks only your fingerprints, iris and face. A VID is not a lock at all: it's a stand-in number that keeps your real Aadhaar number private.

The UID lock blocks checks made with your Aadhaar number, its UID token and your VID. UIDAI's FAQ adds: locking is free, can be done any number of times, needs your registered mobile, and has no automatic expiry. There is no single-use unlock: once you unlock, the Aadhaar stays unlocked until you lock it again. A lock is not the same as deactivation; see Aadhaar deactivated? Fraud through fingerprints is explained in Aadhaar fraud and scams. To learn how each kind of check works, see OTP, face and biometric authentication.

How do you get a Virtual ID (VID)?

A VID is a 16-digit number linked to your Aadhaar. Only you can create it. Where a service accepts it, give it instead of your Aadhaar number. Agencies are not allowed to store it.

• Only one VID is valid at a time. Making a new one replaces the old one.
• It has no expiry. You can make a new one after at least one calendar day, and a new VID cancels the old one at once. Generating a VID is free and needs your registered mobile.
• You need one before a UID lock, and the latest one to unlock.

1. Use your registered mobile

   The SMS must go from the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar. No OTP is needed to create or get a VID.

2. Send GVID to 1947

   Type GVID, a space and the last 4 digits of your Aadhaar. Example: for Aadhaar 9876-5432-1987, send GVID 1987 to 1947. The SMS helper builds it for you.

3. Forgot your VID? Send RVID

   RVID 1987 gets your current VID again. Use it when you've lost the latest VID.

   You'll know it worked when an SMS with a 16-digit VID arrives. No reply? Check you sent it from the registered SIM. If it still fails, contact your mobile operator.

You can also create or find your VID online on UIDAI's VID page. It also works with e-Aadhaar: you can download e-Aadhaar with a VID instead of the Aadhaar number.

How do you lock and unlock your biometrics?

A biometric lock stops anyone from using your fingerprints, iris or face to prove they are you. A blocked attempt returns error 330. You choose how to do it:

• UIDAI's Aadhaar App: it has a one-tap biometric lock and unlock. To register, you need your Aadhaar number, an OTP, a face check in good light and a 6-digit PIN. The app needs Android 9 or newer, or iOS 16 or newer.
• SMS to 1947: two messages from your registered mobile. No app or internet needed.
• Unlocking can also be done online, at an enrolment centre or at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra. You need your registered mobile.

The app's menu names may change between versions, so we don't list exact button names here. Look for the biometric lock option in your profile.

Lock your biometrics

Unlock your biometrics for a fingerprint check

A fingerprint check may be asked for at bank e-KYC, ration shop e-KYC or LPG biometric authentication. Unlock first, finish the check, then lock again.

UIDAI's SMS page also lists a temporary biometric unlock: GETOTP + last 4 of Aadhaar (or last 6 of VID), then UNLOCKBIO + the same digits + the OTP, for example UNLOCKBIO 1987 012345. Build it with our SMS command generator. Or unlock as above and lock again after the check.

mAadhaar is retired. The old app was removed from the Play Store, and its data doesn't move to the new Aadhaar App. Register again in the new app. See the new Aadhaar App.

How do you lock your Aadhaar number (UID)?

1. Get and save your VID

   A VID is a must before locking. Send GVID + last 4 digits of Aadhaar to 1947, or use UIDAI's VID page. Write the 16 digits down somewhere safe.

2. Open the lock page

   Go to resident.uidai.gov.in/aadhaar-lockunlock. UIDAI's FAQ describes it under the My Aadhaar tab as Aadhaar Lock & Unlock services. UIDAI is moving services to myAadhaar, so the link may redirect and the labels may differ.

3. Choose UID Lock and enter your details

   Select the UID Lock option. Enter your UID (Aadhaar) number, full name and PIN code exactly as they appear in your latest Aadhaar details.

4. Confirm with the OTP

   Type the security code (captcha), choose Send OTP, enter the 6-digit OTP from your registered mobile and choose Submit.

   You'll know it worked when the page confirms the lock. From now on, every Aadhaar check fails until you unlock.

By SMS instead: save your VID first. Then send GETOTP 1987 to 1947 (last 4 digits of your Aadhaar). When the OTP arrives, send LOCKUID 1987 012345 (last 4 digits of your Aadhaar, then the OTP). This is the format on UIDAI's SMS page; LOCKUID takes your Aadhaar digits, not VID digits. Our team has had the lock SMS fail. If 1947 replies with an error or nothing, don't keep resending it: lock on the website or in the Aadhaar App, or call 1947. Use the SMS helper to build both messages.

How do you unlock your Aadhaar number (UID)?

Unlocking needs your latest 16-digit VID. Your Aadhaar number won't work. If you made a new VID after an older one, only the newest works.

1. Find your latest VID

   Forgot it? Send RVID 1987 (last 4 digits of your Aadhaar) to 1947 from your registered mobile.

2. Open the unlock page

   Use UIDAI's unlock link below. The page asks "I want to:" with Lock Aadhaar and Unlock Aadhaar; choose Unlock Aadhaar. You can also unlock in the Aadhaar App. Labels may change.

3. Enter your VID and confirm with the OTP

   Enter your latest 16-digit VID and the captcha, press Unlock Aadhaar, then confirm with the 6-digit OTP sent to your registered mobile. The Aadhaar stays unlocked until you lock it again.

   You'll know it worked when the page confirms the unlock and your bank KYC or OTP check goes through.

4. Site down? Unlock by SMS

   Send GETOTP 876543 (last 6 digits of your VID) to 1947. Then send UNLOCKUID 876543 012345 (last 6 digits of the VID, then the OTP). Build both with the SMS helper.

Which SMS commands lock and unlock Aadhaar?

Send each SMS to 1947 from your registered mobile. Example numbers used on this page: Aadhaar 9876-5432-1987 (last 4 digits: 1987), VID 9876-5432-1987-6543 (last 6 digits: 876543), OTP 012345.

• Every lock or unlock is 2 SMS: first GETOTP, then the command with the 6-digit OTP. GVID, RVID and GETOTP are single messages.
• Locking needs a VID made beforehand. LOCKUID uses the last 4 digits of your Aadhaar; unlocking the UID works only with the VID. Our team has had the lock SMS fail, so keep the website and the Aadhaar App as your other routes.
• Biometric commands don't work while the UID is locked.
• Two family members on one mobile? If their Aadhaar numbers end in the same 4 digits, use the last 8 digits of Aadhaar in SMS 2. If their VIDs end in the same 6 digits, use the last 10 digits of the VID. This applies to SMS 2 (LOCKUID, UNLOCKUID, ENABLEBIOLOCK, DISABLEBIOLOCK, UNLOCKBIO), never to GETOTP. GVID and RVID also accept the last 8 digits.

UIDAI's online services page lists only GETOTP, LOCKUID, UNLOCKUID, GVID and RVID. The biometric commands (ENABLEBIOLOCK, DISABLEBIOLOCK, UNLOCKBIO) are on UIDAI's SMS service page. Every task, including the short biometric unlock, is in our SMS command generator. No reply to your SMS? Contact your mobile operator.

Does a biometric lock stop AePS fraud?

AePS lets people take cash at a micro-ATM with an Aadhaar number and a fingerprint. Fraudsters take the number from photocopies. They copy the fingerprint from property papers or with a silicone clone. No OTP is involved, so you get no warning.

Gujarat Cyber Crime advises three things: lock your biometrics, share only masked copies, and report fast. With the lock on, a fingerprint check on your Aadhaar fails with error 330.

• Money already gone? Call 1930 or report on cybercrime.gov.in within the "golden hour". Then lock your biometrics.
• Check your authentication history in the Aadhaar App. It shows the last 6 months.
• Know which bank account gets your Aadhaar payments. See bank seeding and DBT.

Full steps after a fraud are in Aadhaar fraud and scams.

What goes wrong when locking or unlocking, and how do you fix it?

When should you visit an Aadhaar centre?

• No registered mobile: app, SMS and website routes all need OTPs. Update the mobile at a centre for ₹75; no document is needed.
• Unlocking biometrics without a phone route: UIDAI says biometrics can be unlocked at an enrolment centre or an Aadhaar Seva Kendra. Take your Aadhaar and your registered mobile.
• Fingerprints keep failing: retry, clean your finger and the scanner, and try other fingers. If it still fails, a biometric update at a centre costs ₹125. Agencies must offer another way, such as OTP, iris or face, so you aren't denied a benefit.

Still stuck? Call UIDAI's helpline. See UIDAI helpline 1947 for hours and tips.

Bottom line

Lock your biometrics for everyday safety and unlock them only for a fingerprint check. Keep the UID lock for rare cases, and save your latest VID before you use it. If the website is down, keep the SMS route as your backup; in our experience it worked when the website did not. For help, UIDAI's free helpline is 1947.