e-Aadhaar or the Aadhaar app: which one you need
Most people searching for an Aadhaar download want one of two things. The first is e-Aadhaar: a password-protected PDF of your Aadhaar card, digitally signed by UIDAI, that you can print or keep on your phone. The second is UIDAI's official Aadhaar app, which stores your Aadhaar on your phone, lets you share verified details with a QR code and supports face authentication.
e-Aadhaar is accepted wherever a physical Aadhaar card is, because it carries UIDAI's digital signature. It's the quickest way to replace a lost card or get a copy for a form. The app is more convenient if you're asked to show Aadhaar often, for example at hotels, airports or offices that verify identity with a QR code.
How to download e-Aadhaar
Use only UIDAI's official myAadhaar portal (myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in), linked above. Downloading e-Aadhaar there is free. You'll need access to the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar, because the download is confirmed with a one-time password (OTP).
- Open myAadhaar and choose Download Aadhaar.
- Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number, your 28-digit Enrolment ID (EID) from your enrolment slip, or your 16-digit Virtual ID (VID), plus the captcha.
- Enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
- Choose whether you want a masked Aadhaar, which shows only the last four digits of the number, and download the PDF.
What is the e-Aadhaar PDF password?
The e-Aadhaar PDF is protected with an 8-character password: the first four letters of your name as printed on Aadhaar, in CAPITAL letters, followed by your year of birth. For example, if your name is Suresh Kumar and you were born in 1989, the password is SURE1989. If your name has fewer than four letters, use the whole name.
If the PDF says the password is wrong, check spelling against your Aadhaar exactly, including initials, and make sure you typed the year of birth, not the full date.
What is a masked Aadhaar?
A masked Aadhaar hides the first eight digits of your number. It's valid for most identity checks, like hotel check-ins and travel, and it's safer to hand over because the full number isn't exposed. UIDAI recommends using it whenever the full number isn't required by law.
Never share your Aadhaar OTP with anyone, including callers who claim to be from a bank or UIDAI. UIDAI will never ask for it. You can also lock your biometrics in the myAadhaar portal or the app, so your fingerprints can't be used for authentication until you unlock them.
Can I download e-Aadhaar without a linked mobile number?
Without a registered mobile number, you can't receive the OTP needed to download e-Aadhaar or log in to the app. Updating your mobile number needs a visit to an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or enrolment centre, because it requires biometric verification. Book an appointment through the myAadhaar portal to avoid waiting.
For a sturdier physical card, you can order an Aadhaar PVC card through myAadhaar for a small fee. It's sent to your registered address by post.
Avoid fake Aadhaar apps and sites
Search results and app stores include plenty of unofficial “Aadhaar download” apps and websites. Some only show ads, and some collect your Aadhaar number and OTP. The only official sources are uidai.gov.in, myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in, and UIDAI's own app listing on Google Play and the App Store, which shows Unique Identification Authority of India as the developer.
Using the Aadhaar app
After installing UIDAI's Aadhaar app from Google Play or the App Store, you register with your Aadhaar number and an OTP sent to your linked mobile number, then confirm with face authentication using the phone's camera. You can add Aadhaar profiles for family members who share the same registered mobile number.
The app shows your Aadhaar details and a secure QR code. Instead of handing over a photocopy, you can let a hotel, airline or office scan the QR code, and choose which details to share. That's both quicker and safer than leaving a copy of your card with strangers.
How do I check an Aadhaar card is genuine?
Every printed Aadhaar, e-Aadhaar and PVC card has a secure QR code that can be scanned with UIDAI's app or a verified QR scanner to check the details are real and haven't been altered. Use this if you're a landlord, employer or business that needs to verify someone's identity. Don't rely on the look of the card alone, because edited images are easy to make.