Aadhaar has become one of the most trusted government documents, serving as both confirmations of identity and verification of address. The security of Aadhaar has recently been under fire, prompting UIDAI to enable the ability to lock/unlock Aadhaar biometric data online. This service is intended to assist users in preventing their biometric information from being misused in any way. It is worth mentioning that several agencies ask applicants to use the Aadhaar biometric authenticate facility to validate their information.
There are two ways to lock and unlock Aadhaar biometric data online: through the UIDAI portal and through the mAadhaar app, UIDAI’s official app.
How to lock Aadhaar Biometrics Online:
To lock biometrics online, you must take the following steps:
Step 1: Go to the UIDAI website and select “Lock/Unlock Biometrics” from the Aadhaar Services section.
Step 2: Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and security code, then click the Send OTP button.
Step 3: An OTP will be delivered to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number.
Step 4: Enter the OTP sent to your cell phone and click the Login button to lock your biometrics.
Step 5: Enter the four-digit security code displayed on the screen and press the “Enable” button.
Step 6: Your biometrics will be locked, and you will need to unlock them if you wish to use them again.
How to unlock Aadhaar Biometrics online:
You can also unlock Aadhaar biometrics.
Click the “Login” button to unlock your biometrics.
Step 1: In the space provided, enter your Aadhaar number and the security code.
Step 2: Next, press the “Transmit OTP” button to send the OTP to the registered mobile number.
Step 3: Enter this OTP into the appropriate field and click the “Login” button.
Step 4: Enter the security code and click the “Unlock” button to temporarily unlock the biometrics.
Your biometrics will be temporarily unlocked for 10 minutes. The panel displays the locking date and time, after which the biometrics will be automatically locked.
How to lock Aadhaar Biometrics via mAadhaar:
Another way to lock/unlock biometrics is through the mAadhaar app, which is administered by UIDAI.
To lock biometric details in Aadhar using the mAadhaar app, perform these steps:
Step 1: Open your mAadhaar app.
Step 2: In the app’s upper right corner, click the hamburger icon (three vertical dots)
Step 3: Go to the Biometric Settings menu and check the Enable Biometric Locking box.
Step 4: An OTP will be asked from your cellphone number and will be fed into the application automatically (There is no option to enter the OTP manually)
Step 5: After you approve it, your biometric is locked. It may, however, take up to 6 hours to activate the lock.
How to unlock Aadhaar Biometrics via mAadhaar:
When you need to authenticate Aadhaar using your biometrics, you can access your biometric information via the mAadhaar app. Here’s how to go about it:
Step 1: Launch your mAadhaar app and navigate to your profile.
Step 2: In the app’s upper right corner, click the three vertical dots and then select the Biometric Settings option.
Step 3: Uncheck the Enable Biometric Locking box and click the tick mark to finish the process.
Step 4: An OTP will be sent and automatically entered into the app.
Step 5: You must approve the process, following which your biometrics will be temporarily unlocked for 10 minutes.
