Our Aadhaar card holds a lot of important information, and keeping it secure is crucial. But did you know you can add an extra layer of protection to your Aadhaar by locking its biometric data? This feature, offered by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI), allows you to temporarily disable fingerprint and iris scan authentication for your Aadhaar.

This guide will walk you through the steps of locking and unlocking your Aadhaar biometrics on both your PC/laptop and mobile phone, giving you more control over your Aadhaar information. Let’s dive in!

Understanding Aadhaar Biometric Locking

Before we jump into the steps, let’s understand what locking your Aadhaar biometrics means. When you lock your biometrics, fingerprint and iris scan authentication for your Aadhaar will be temporarily disabled. This essentially means that even if someone gets hold of your Aadhaar number, they won’t be able to use your fingerprints or iris scans to misuse it.

Here are some key points to remember:

Locking your biometrics is temporary. You can unlock them anytime you need to use fingerprint or iris scan authentication for Aadhaar services.
While your biometrics are locked, you can still use your Aadhaar number for verification purposes. However, you’ll need to use a one-time password (OTP) received on your registered mobile number for authentication.
Locking your biometrics is a good security measure if you suspect any misuse or simply want added peace of mind.

Locking and Unlocking Aadhaar Biometrics on PC/Laptop

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s get down to the steps! Here’s how to lock and unlock your Aadhaar biometrics using the UIDAI website on your PC/laptop:

Locking Biometrics:

Head over to the UIDAI website: https://uidai.gov.in/en/17-english-uk/resident.html
Click on “My Aadhaar” in the top menu.
Under “Aadhaar Services,” select “Lock/Unlock Biometrics.”
A pop-up will appear explaining what locking biometrics entails. Read it carefully and tick the checkbox indicating your understanding.
Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and the captcha code displayed on the screen.
Click on “Send OTP” to receive a one-time password on your registered mobile number.
Enter the received OTP and click on “Submit.”
Finally, click on the “Lock” button to disable your fingerprint and iris scan authentication.
You’ll see a confirmation message on your screen stating that your Aadhaar biometrics are successfully locked.

Unlocking Biometrics:

Follow steps 1 to 4 mentioned above for locking biometrics.

Instead of clicking “Lock,” click on “Unlock” this time.
You’ll receive an OTP on your mobile number. Enter it and click on “Submit.”
A confirmation message will appear stating that your Aadhaar biometrics are now unlocked.

Locking and Unlocking Aadhaar Biometrics on Mobile Phone

If you prefer using your mobile phone, you can lock and unlock your Aadhaar biometrics using the mAadhaar app. Here’s how:

Download and Install mAadhaar App:

For Android users, download the mAadhaar app from the Google Play Store.
For iPhone users, download it from the Apple App Store.

Locking Biometrics:

Open the mAadhaar app and enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number.
You’ll receive an OTP on your registered mobile number. Enter it to verify your identity.
Set up a 4-digit PIN for secure login within the app.
Once logged in, navigate to the “Lock/Unlock Biometrics” section within the app.
You might see a warning message about the temporary nature of locking biometrics. Read it carefully and tap “Proceed” if you’re sure.
The app will request confirmation. Tap on “Lock” to disable your fingerprint and iris scan authentication.
You’ll receive a confirmation message stating that your Aadhaar biometrics are locked.

Unlocking Biometrics:

Open the mAadhaar app and enter your PIN.
Navigate to the “Lock/Unlock Biometrics” section.
Tap on “Unlock” to re-enable fingerprint and iris scan authentication.
The app will request confirmation. Tap on “Unlock” again to proceed.
You’ll receive a confirmation message stating that your Aadhaar biometrics are unlocked.

Important Reminders

Keep your registered mobile number updated with UIDAI for receiving OTP