Lock Unlock Aadhaar Biometric Data

Locking/unlocking biometrics is a very simple and easy process. You have to follow these simple steps to lock/unlock biometrics online:

1. Visit UIDAI’s online portal to lock or unlock your biometrics
2. Select the “Lock/Unlock Biometrics” from the Aadhaar Services section
3. Enter the 12-digit Aadhaar number and the security code
4. Click on the Send OTP option
5. An OTP will be sent to your mobile number registered with Aadhaar
6. Enter the OTP sent to your mobile number and click on the Login button
7. This feature will allow you to lock your biometrics
8. Enter the 4 digit security code mentioned on the screen and click on the “Enable” button
9. Your biometrics will be locked and you will have to unlock it in case you want to access it again
10. You can unlock the biometrics as well. To unlock your biometrics, click on the “Login” button
11. Enter your Aadhaar number and the security code in the space provided
12. Now click on the “Send OTP” button
13. An OTP will be sent to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar
14. Enter this OTP in the space provided and click on the “Login” button
15. In case you want to temporarily unlock the biometrics, enter the security code and click on the “Unlock” button
16. Your biometrics will be unlocked temporarily for 10 minutes
17. The locking date and time is mentioned on the screen after which biometrics will be automatically locked
18. When you do not want to have a lock on your biometrics, you can disable the lock permanently.
19. Biometric lock disabling is available only through the online portal.
20. To disable the lock, login to the UIDAI portal using your Aadhaar card
21. Enter your Aadhaar number and the security code
22. Enter the security code and click on the “Disable” button
23. Your Aadhaar biometrics will be disabled permanently till you lock it again

Another method to lock/unlock biometrics is through the mAadhaar app that is the official app managed by UIDAI. You have to follow these steps to unlock biometric details in Aadhar through the mAadhaar app:

• Download and install the mAadhaar app
• Add your profile in the app
• Open your Aadhaar profile in the app
• On the top right corner of the app, click on the three vertical dots
• Select the Biometric Settings option
• Tick the Enable Biometric Locking option
• Now click on the tick mark
• An OTP will be requested from your mobile number
• UIDAI sends the OTP to the mobile number
• The OTP is fed automatically in the application
• There is no option to enter the OTP manually
• Your biometric is locked after your approve the task
• However, it may take up to 6 hours to activate the lock

When you have to verify Aadhaar using your biometrics, you can unlock your biometric details through the mAadhaar app. Here’s how to do it:

• Login to your mAadhaar app
• Open your profile in the app
• On the top right corner of the app, click on the three vertical dots
• Select the Biometric Settings option
• Unselect the Enable Biometric Locking option
• Now click on the tick mark to complete the process
• An OTP will be sent and fed automatically in the app
• You will have to approve the process
• Once approved, your biometrics will be unlocked temporarily for 10 minutes
• During this time you can authenticate using your biometric details
• Your biometrics will be locked automatically after 10 minutes
• There is no provision to disable biometric lock through the mAadhaar app
• In case you want to disable your biometric lock, you will have to visit UIDAI’s portal.

• Banks, telecom service providers and other such agencies ask users to verify their identity using Aadhaar authentication.
• To prevent misuse of biometric authentication, UIDAI has made provisions through which users can lock their biometrics from being used for authentication.
• This means that until and unless the biometrics is unlocked or disabled, authentication will not be possible through the biometric method.
• Under this service, the user’s fingerprints and iris scan is locked.
• The biometric lock can be unlocked temporarily for authentication.
• When unlocked, the user gets a window of 10 minutes during which he can authenticate his biometric details.
• The biometric authentication will not be possible after 10 minutes as the data is locked automatically.
• In case you do not want to keep your biometrics locked, you can disable the biometric lock.
• You do not have to unlock your biometrics once you have disabled the lock.
• In order to protect your details again, you have to lock your biometrics.
• You will have to login to UIDAI’s portal to either lock, unlock Aadhaar biometrics or disable the lock
• Your mobile number should be registered with Aadhaar to avail this facility
• An OTP is sent to your mobile number registered with Aadhaar
• You have to enter the OTP to login to your account at the UIDAI’s portal
• In case your mobile number is not registered with UIDAI, you will not be able to avail this service
• You will have to first link your mobile number with Aadhaar to avail this facility
• You do not have to pay a fee to lock, unlock or disable the biometric lock