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Lock Unlock Aadhaar Biometric Data

The Aadhaar program was launched in the year 2009 with the primary goal to provide universal identity to every Indian resident. Today, Aadhaar has become one of the main government documents which holds utmost importance to every Indian Citizen. It was launched to help citizens avail various government subsidies and welfare schemes, to provide a unique identity to the citizens of India and to serve as a nationally accepted identity and address proof.

There were lot of questions raised initially regarding the security of Aadhaar which compelled UIDAI to come up with the facility of locking/unlocking Aadhaar biometric data online. This service will also help the Aadhaar holders to ensure their biometric details are secure and not misused in one way or another. Today, many companies and government agencies require citizens to verify their details through the Aadhaar biometric authentication facility.

Aadhaar biometric data can be unlocked in two ways – through mAadhaar app or through UIDAI’s online portal. It is safe to use both the methods and they can be accessed by the user anytime in a day to keep the Aadhaar biometrics secure.

Features of Aadhaar Biometric Locking

Aadhaar has become one of the most convenient and quickest ways to get the identity verified. It is used by the banks and telecom service providers for providing services.

UIDAI has made provisions for the Aadhaar holders to lock or unlock their biometrics online anytime to prevent its misuse.
If the biometrics are locked or disabled, authentication through the biometric method will not be possible.
Under the lock feature, the Aadhaar holder fingerprint and iris will not work for authentication. It can be unlocked as and when required by the user.
In the lock feature, the user will get a 10 minute window when the biometrics details are unlocked to get the authentication work done.
After 10 minutes, the biometrics details will get locked automatically, hence ensuring the safety.
If the user does not want his/her biometrics details locked, then they can also disable the lock.
The user will not have to unlock the biometrics details for identity authentication purpose if the lock function is disabled.
To keep the biometrics details secured, the user will need to use the lock or disable feature.
The user will need to login to the maadhaar app or UIDAI online portal to lock/unlock or disable the lock feature.
The registering or linking of a mobile number is required to avail the online Aadhaar facility.
The Aadhaar portal can be accessed by using the OTP (One Time Password).
A new OTP is generated for the user to ensure secure login to the UIDAI portal.
If a mobile number is not registered, then the user will not be able to use the online portal facility.
Mobile number will be required to be linked with Aadhaar to avail this facility.
There are no charges or fee applicable to use the lock, unlock or disable the biometric details.

How to Lock /Unlock or Disable Biometrics Online

Locking/unlocking biometrics details is a very easy and simple process. The user will need to follow the steps mentioned below to lock/unlock biometrics online:

Go online and visit UIDAI’s online portal to lock or unlock your biometrics
You will need to select the “Lock/Unlock Biometrics” from the Aadhaar Services section
You will be asked to enter the 12-digit Aadhaar number and the online security code
Then click on the Send OTP option on the same page
An OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number with Aadhaar
You will need to enter the OTP sent to your mobile number and then click on the Login button
On successful login, you will be able to lock your biometrics details
Then, enter the 4 digit security code mentioned on the page and click on the “Enable” button
This will lock your biometrics details and you will need to unlock it in case you want to use your biometrics details again for verification purpose.
To unlock the biometrics you will need to click on the “Login” button again
You will have to again enter your Aadhaar number (12 digit code) and the security code in the space provided.
Then select and click on the “Send OTP” button
An OTP will be sent to the registered mobile number with Aadhaar
You will need to enter this OTP in the space provided and click on the “Login” button
If the user wants to unlock the biometrics temporarily, he/she will need to enter the security code and click on the “Unlock” button
The biometrics details will be unlocked temporarily for 10 minutes
The user will be able to see locking date and time on the login page. The biometrics will be automatically locked after the 10 minutes
If the user does not want to keep the biometrics locked, he/she can disable the lock permanently.
Biometric lock disabling feature can be accessed through the online portal only.
In order to disable the lock feature, the user will need to login to the UIDAI portal using the Aadhaar
The user will need to enter the 12 digit Aadhaar and the security code
After entering the security code, simply click on the “Disable” button
This will unlock Aadhaar biometrics permanently till the user decides to lock it again

How to Lock/Unlock Biometrics through mAadhaar

As mentioned above, another method to lock/unlock biometrics details is through the mAadhaar app which is UIDAI’s official app. The user will need to follow the steps mentioned below to unlock biometric details in Aadhaar through the mAadhaar app:

First download and install the mAadhaar app in your smart phone
You will need to add your profile in the app
Once the profile is added, you will need to open your Aadhaar profile in the app
You will see three vertical dots on right hand corner – click on those
Then select the Biometric Settings option
You will need to click on the Enable Biometric Locking option
After clicking on the above option, an OTP will be sent to your mobile number registered with Aadhaar
The OTP will be verified automatically as there is no option to enter OTP manually
The biometric details will be locked after you approve the task
The lock feature activation may take upto 6 hours

When you verify Aadhaar using your biometrics, you will be able to unlock your biometric details through the mAadhaar app. Follow the steps below:

You will first need to login to your mAadhaar app
Then open your profile in the app
Once the profile is added, then you will need to open your Aadhaar profile in the app
You will see three vertical dots on right hand corner – click on those
Then select the Biometric Settings option
Undo the Enable Biometric Locking option in the app
Then, you will need to click on the tick mark to complete the process
An OTP will be generated and fed in the app automatically
You will need to approve the process
Once the process is approved, your biometrics will be unlocked temporarily for 10 minutes
You can use the 10 minute window to authenticate using your biometric details
The biometrics details will be locked again automatically after 10 minutes
mAadhaar does not have the feature till now to disable the biometric lock permanently
If you want to disable the biometric lock permanently, you will be required to visit the official UIDAI portal

FAQ's on Lock Unlock Aadhaar Biometric Data

How can I lock my biometric data in Aadhaar card?

Biometric data in Aadhaar card can be locked using the official portal of UIDAI (uidai.gov.in/ ) or through the mAadhaar app using smart phone.

What is locking unlocking biometric in Aadhaar?

Locking and unlocking biometric in Aadhaar is a feature to protect the misuse of biometric details of an Aadhaar card holder. If the user locks his or her biometric details, then fingerprint or iris scanner verification will not work.

Should we lock Aadhaar biometric?

It is up to the user to choose to lock Aadhaar biometric details. In order to ensure that there is no compromise on the security of your Aadhaar data, it is recommended to lock Aadhaar biometric.

What happens when biometrics is locked?

When the biometrics is locked, the iris and the finger print verification will be disabled and no one can access the data. This secures the data from being misused.

What is lock/unlock biometrics in aadhaar?

Lock/unlock biometrics in Aadhaar is a feature available to disable the iris and fingerprint verification service. This facility was provided by UIDAI after concerns were raised on the security and protection of the Aadhaar data.

How can I lock my Aadhaar card data?

Aadhaar data can be locked by logging on to the UIDAI online portal or through the mAadhaar app from your smart phone.

How can I unlock my Aadhaar card PDF?

You can unlock your Aadhaar card PDF by visiting the official website of UIDAI and login to your respective account. There, you can download your e-Aadhaar card by using your 12 digit Aadhaar, name, year of birth, enrolment number and virtual ID.

How can I check my biometric status in Aadhaar card?

You will need to login to your account on the UIDAI portal or through mAadhaar app to check your biometric status in Aadhaar card.

Can someone misuse my Aadhaar card?

While it is a possibility, UIDAI has made robust provisions to ensure there is no breach of data security. It also provides added security features to users like lock/unlock biometric data from being misused.