How to lock Aadhaar biometrics to help reduce misuse risk

New Delhi: UIDAI provides Biometric Locking/Unlocking, which allows an Aadhaar holder to keep biometrics locked and unlock them when required.
Once biometric locking is enabled, biometrics remain locked until the Aadhaar holder unlocks it (temporary) or disables the locking system.

Key highlights

• Critical action: Keep biometrics locked by default, and temporarily unlock only when you need biometric authentication.
• Who is affected: Any Aadhaar holder with a registered mobile number who wants tighter control over biometric usage.

Core facts

UIDAI states biometric unlock can be done by visiting the UIDAI website, an enrolment centre, an Aadhaar Seva Kendra (ASK), or through mAadhaar.
UIDAI notes that a registered mobile number is essential to avail the biometric unlock service, and if the mobile number is not registered with Aadhaar, the resident should visit the nearest Enrolment Centre/Mobile Update End Point.

How to do it

Option 1 (Portal/app): Use UIDAI’s resident services (website) or the mAadhaar app to access Biometric Lock/Unlock and complete the required verification steps.

Option 2 (SMS to 1947): UIDAI’s “Aadhaar Services on SMS” allows residents to use Aadhaar services (including biometric lock/unlock) by sending an SMS from the registered mobile number to 1947 in the specified formats.​

• Get OTP (Aadhaar): GETOTP <Aadhaar-last-4>; UIDAI example: GETOTP 9123.​
• Get OTP (VID): GETOTP <VID-last-6>; UIDAI example: GETOTP 340123.​
• Enable biometric lock: ENABLEBIOLOCK <Aadhaar-last-4> <OTP> or ENABLEBIOLOCK <VID-last-6> <OTP>.​
• Disable biometric lock: DISABLEBIOLOCK <Aadhaar-last-4> <OTP> or DISABLEBIOLOCK <VID-last-6> <OTP>.​
• Temporarily unlock biometrics: UNLOCKBIO <Aadhaar-last-4> <OTP> or UNLOCKBIO <VID-last-6> <OTP>.​

Option 3 (In-person): UIDAI lists enrolment centres and Aadhaar Seva Kendras (ASK) as supported routes for biometric unlock.

Monitoring with authentication history

UIDAI states that an Aadhaar number holder can check Aadhaar Authentication History from the UIDAI website https://myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in/ or through the mAadhaar app by using Aadhaar Number/VID, entering the security code, and following the mentioned procedure.
UIDAI notes that a registered mobile number is mandatory to avail Aadhaar Authentication History.

Important official note on temporary unlock

UIDAI’s Circular No. 09 of 2020 states that if a resident unlocks biometrics just before performing authentication, the biometrics are temporarily unlocked for 10 minutes.

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