How to lock or unlock your Aadhaar

With Aadhaar becoming a significant document for almost everything connected to the Government and utilities, safety of the information gains paramount importance. Biometric authentication is one of the safeguards built into Aadhaar . Though the transaction or authentication may not go through without biometric authentication, it is advised to open the biometric authentication only when needed.

There  are  three  ways  to  do  it.

Option 1: UIDAI mAadhaar app

The  first  is  the  mAadhaar  app .

Once  you  install  the  mAadhaar  app  and  login,  there  are  two  ways  to lock  or unlock biometrics.  

1. The  first  one  is  to  click  on  the  Biometrics  Unlocked  notification  at  the  bottom. 

2. You will be asked for the mAadhaar password.

3. Once authenticated (once again with an OTP sent and read automatically), your biometrics will be locked.  You  will  not  be  able  to  do  any  transaction  now.  

Whenever  you  have  to  transact  using  biometric  authentication,  you  will  have  to  follow  the  same  process. You will have to log in to the mAadhaar app and click on the Biometrics Locked - Unlock biometrics notification. The  biometrics  will  be  unlocked  once  you  enter  your  password.  The app may also send an OTP and read it while toggling biometrics lock.

Option 2: Use the toggle button in mAadhaar

1. The  other  way  to  lock  or  unlock  biometrics  is  to  click  on  the  three  dots  on  the  top  right  of the  mAadhaar app.

2. Clicking on Enable Biometric Lock can be toggled here.

3. When you click on the toggle button, the app will send an OTP to the mobile and automatically read it. 

ALSO READ: All you wanted to know about Aadhaar verdict

Option 3: Through the UIDAI official website

Another way is through the UIDAI website. Go to the biometric lock/unlock section here: https://resident.uidai.gov.in/biometric-lock

1. Once you give your Aadhaar number and the security code, you will be sent an OTP.

2. Enter the OTP or TOTP (generated from the mAadhaar app).

3.  You will be taken to the page that shows whether your Aadhaar is locked or unlocked.

4. You will be able to unlock (if locked) or lock (if unlocked) from this page.

5.Once you unlock the Aadhaar, it will be unlocked for ten minutes.

6. It will get locked automatically after 10 minutes.

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