Aadhaar Biometric Lock & Unlock: Complete Guide
The biometric lock is a free UIDAI security feature that blocks anyone — including you — from using your Aadhaar fingerprints, iris, or face for authentication until you unlock them. It is one of the strongest protections against Aadhaar authentication misuse, and you can lock or unlock it in seconds from the myAadhaar portal or the new Aadhaar app.
How to lock your biometrics
Open the myAadhaar portal or app
Go to myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in → “Lock/Unlock Biometrics”, or open the new Aadhaar app's biometric-lock section.
Log in with OTP
Enter your Aadhaar number and verify with the OTP sent to your registered mobile number.
Enable the lock
Choose Lock Biometrics and confirm. The lock applies immediately — your fingerprint, iris, and face authentication are now disabled.
How to unlock (temporarily or permanently)
Log in the same way
On the portal or app, go to Lock/Unlock Biometrics and log in with your Aadhaar number + OTP.
Choose unlock
Select Unlock Biometrics. You can unlock temporarily — UIDAI's temporary unlock automatically re-locks after a short window — or disable the lock entirely.
Complete your authentication, then re-lock
Do what you needed (e.g. biometric KYC at a bank), then lock again immediately. Best practice: keep biometrics locked by default and unlock only for the minutes you need them.
Effects and limitations to know
- Locking is free and reversible at any time.
- While locked, services that need biometric authentication (some bank verifications, SIM re-verification) will fail until you unlock.
- OTP and demographic authentication are not affected by the biometric lock.
- If you lose access to your registered mobile number, you cannot unlock online — update your mobile number first.
- The new Aadhaar app also lets you manage the lock with face authentication for extra convenience.
Frequently asked questions
A free UIDAI feature that disables fingerprint, iris, and face authentication against your Aadhaar number until you unlock them. OTP and demographic authentication keep working.
On myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in (Lock/Unlock Biometrics) or in the new Aadhaar app: log in with your Aadhaar number + OTP and choose Lock Biometrics. It takes effect immediately.
Yes. UIDAI supports temporary unlocks that automatically re-lock after a short window — ideal when you need biometric KYC once and want protection the rest of the time.
No. The lock only blocks biometric modes (fingerprint, iris, face). OTP-based authentication continues to work normally.
No. Locking and unlocking biometrics is completely free.