The UIDAI online portal at uidai.gov.in is the official gateway for every self-service Aadhaar function available to residents. Through this portal you can download your e-Aadhaar, update your address or name, check enrollment and update status, order a PVC card, generate a Virtual ID, lock or unlock your biometrics and Aadhaar number, review your authentication history, locate enrollment centers, and raise grievances.
Understanding how to navigate and use this portal efficiently gives you full control over your Aadhaar record without needing to visit any office for most tasks. There is no traditional username-and-password login system on the UIDAI portal. Every service is authenticated using your 12-digit Aadhaar number and an OTP sent to your UIDAI-registered mobile number. This design means your Aadhaar number itself combined with OTP access to your registered mobile is the authentication credential for every portal function.
Keeping your registered mobile active and accessible is therefore the prerequisite for using every service the portal offers. This guide explains every major portal section, how OTP authentication works, and how to use each key feature.
How Portal Authentication Works
The UIDAI portal uses OTP-based authentication for all services. There is no persistent login session or saved password. Each service independently authenticates you before allowing access. When you initiate any service — download, update, PVC order, lock/unlock — the portal asks for your Aadhaar number or Virtual ID.
After you enter it and a captcha, the portal sends an OTP to the mobile number registered against that Aadhaar in UIDAI’s database. You enter this OTP to authenticate. The service then becomes accessible. The OTP is valid for a short window — typically 10 minutes — after which it expires and must be resent. If you do not have access to your registered mobile, none of the portal services are available until you visit an enrollment center to update the registered number.
My Aadhaar — The Main Service Hub
The My Aadhaar section of the portal is the primary hub for all resident-facing services. Access it by clicking My Aadhaar in the top navigation of uidai.gov.in. The section is organized into logical groups of related services. Download Aadhaar leads to the e-Aadhaar download process.
Update Aadhaar Online leads to the Self Service Update Portal (SSUP) for address, name, DOB, and email updates. Order Aadhaar PVC Card initiates the PVC ordering flow. Check Aadhaar Status checks fresh enrollment status. Check Aadhaar Update Status tracks submitted update requests. Retrieve Lost UID/EID helps find your Aadhaar number or enrollment ID using your registered mobile. Enrollment Center Locator shows centers near you. Generate Virtual ID and Manage Virtual ID handle VID creation and management.
Self Service Update Portal — SSUP
The SSUP (Self Service Update Portal) is the dedicated section for making changes to your Aadhaar demographic information. It is accessible from the Update Aadhaar Online link in the My Aadhaar section.
After OTP authentication with your Aadhaar number and registered mobile, you see your current Aadhaar details and a list of fields available for online update — Address, Name, Date of Birth, and Email.
Select the field you want to change, enter the corrected information, upload the supporting document (for address, name, and DOB updates), review the preview, and submit. A URN is generated for tracking. The portal guides you through document requirements for each field and accepts files in PDF or JPEG format up to 2 MB.
Virtual ID Generation and Management
The Virtual ID (VID) is a 16-digit temporary identifier that can be used in place of your actual 12-digit Aadhaar number for most authentication services. Using a VID prevents your real number from being transmitted or stored by the service provider, enhancing privacy. To generate a VID, go to the Generate Virtual ID section on the UIDAI portal.
Enter your Aadhaar number and authenticate with your registered mobile OTP. Select Generate New VID. Your 16-digit VID is sent to your registered mobile via SMS. VIDs expire after a period of time or when a new one is generated. Use the Manage Virtual ID section to check whether your VID is active, generate a new one, or retrieve the last VID sent to your mobile.
Biometric Lock and Unlock
The UIDAI portal allows you to lock your biometric data — fingerprints and iris — to prevent any fingerprint or iris-based authentication from succeeding against your record until you unlock it. This is a powerful security feature that should be used by anyone who is not regularly using biometric authentication at bank branches, hospitals, or government offices.
To lock biometrics, go to My Aadhaar and select Lock/Unlock Biometrics. Enter your Aadhaar number, authenticate with OTP, and select Lock. Unlocking follows the same process. Biometrics can also be locked and unlocked through the mAadhaar app, which is faster for routine use.
Aadhaar Number Lock and Unlock
The Aadhaar number lock is a more comprehensive security measure that prevents any form of authentication — OTP-based or biometric — from succeeding using your actual 12-digit Aadhaar number. When locked, only your Virtual ID can be used for authentication services that would otherwise require your Aadhaar number.
This feature is recommended for anyone who has reason to believe their Aadhaar number has been compromised. Lock your Aadhaar number through the Lock/Unlock Aadhaar section of the portal. Unlock when you need to authenticate using the actual number directly. Note that locking the Aadhaar number does not affect VID-based authentication — services using your VID continue to work normally even when the actual number is locked.
Authentication History Review
The authentication history section of the UIDAI portal shows the last 50 authentication events against your Aadhaar, including the date, time, type of authentication (biometric, OTP, or demographic), and the name of the requesting entity. Review this list periodically — ideally once a month — to confirm that every listed authentication corresponds to a service you actually used.
Authentication types you recognize include bank eKYC during account opening, telecom SIM verification, OTP download events, and government portal logins. If you see any authentication event you do not recognize, lock your biometrics and Aadhaar number immediately and report to UIDAI at 1947 with the specific date, time, and requesting entity shown for the suspicious event.
Retrieve Lost Aadhaar Number or EID
If you have lost your Aadhaar card and do not remember your 12-digit number, or if you have lost your acknowledgement slip and cannot remember your EID, the UIDAI portal can help through the Retrieve Lost UID/EID section. Enter your registered mobile number and full name. An OTP is sent to that mobile.
After entering the OTP, UIDAI sends your Aadhaar number (UID) or Enrollment ID (EID) to the registered mobile via SMS. This retrieval service works only if your registered mobile number is active and accessible. If the mobile is also lost or inactive, you must visit an enrollment center in person with identity proof to retrieve your details.
Enrollment Center Locator
The Enrollment Center Locator in the My Aadhaar section allows you to find authorized Aadhaar centers near your location. Enter your state and district, optionally narrow by sub-district, and the portal returns a list of active centers with their full address, operating hours if available, and contact phone number.
Use the contact number shown to call ahead and confirm current availability before visiting — operating hours can vary from the portal’s listed times due to local factors. The mAadhaar app’s GPS-based locator is a faster alternative when you are searching for a center while on the move.
Grievance and Feedback
The UIDAI portal includes a Grievance and Feedback section where you can report issues including unauthorized authentication events, unresolved update requests beyond 30 days, lost or undelivered physical cards, incorrect operator behavior at enrollment centers, and any other Aadhaar-related complaint.
Enter your Aadhaar number, describe the issue, provide any reference numbers (URN, EID, order number), and submit. UIDAI acknowledges grievances and typically responds within 30 working days. For urgent issues, the 1947 helpline is faster than the portal grievance form.
Navigating the UIDAI Portal on Mobile Devices
The UIDAI portal at uidai.gov.in is designed to be accessible on mobile browsers as well as desktop browsers. Most services work correctly on Chrome and Firefox on Android, and Safari on iOS.
However, some services — particularly those involving PDF download and file upload for update requests — work more reliably on desktop browsers because mobile browsers handle file operations differently across devices and operating systems.
For pure OTP-based services like status checks, VID generation, and lock/unlock operations, the mobile browser experience is smooth. For update submissions that require document uploads, use the mAadhaar app for a purpose-built mobile interface, or switch to a desktop browser for the SSUP portal update flow.
If the portal appears broken or displays a blank page on your mobile browser, try clearing the browser cache, switching to a different browser app, or using the mAadhaar app as an alternative interface for the same service.
Using TOTP When SMS OTP Is Not Accessible
A commonly overlooked feature of the UIDAI authentication system is TOTP — Time-based One-Time Password — generated by the mAadhaar app. Unlike an SMS OTP that requires your registered mobile to receive a message, TOTP is generated locally on your phone every 30 seconds without any network connection. It uses a cryptographic seed stored in the mAadhaar app during setup.
This makes TOTP the correct authentication choice when you have poor mobile signal, are roaming internationally without your Indian SIM, have temporarily lost access to your registered SIM while the replacement is being processed, or are in any other situation where SMS delivery is unreliable.
The mAadhaar app’s TOTP option appears on the UIDAI portal’s OTP entry screen as an alternative to the standard SMS OTP. Enter the 8-digit code shown in your mAadhaar app before it refreshes every 30 seconds.
Grievance Redressal Through the Portal
The UIDAI portal’s grievance mechanism is one of the most important but least-used features available to Aadhaar holders.
If an update request is rejected without a clear reason, if a center operator behaved improperly or demanded unauthorized fees, if your physical card was not delivered within the expected timeframe, or if you suspect unauthorized use of your Aadhaar, the grievance portal is the structured channel to raise the issue.
File a grievance with your Aadhaar number, a description of the problem, and any reference numbers you have — URN, EID, order number. UIDAI acknowledges grievances and assigns a case number. Resolution typically happens within 30 working days.
For urgent cases — suspected unauthorized authentication or improper operator conduct — call 1947 immediately and follow up with a written grievance through the portal for documentation purposes. Keeping a record of your grievance number helps if escalation to UIDAI’s regional office becomes necessary.
Setting Up mAadhaar Before You Need It
The most common scenario where people discover they need the mAadhaar app is during an emergency — at a hospital, at an exam center, or while traveling without wallet documents. Setting up the app before any such emergency ensures it is ready when needed. Install mAadhaar from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Register using your Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to your registered mobile. Set a 4-digit PIN that is easy to remember but not predictable.
After setup, enable the TOTP feature — this is the setting that allows the app to generate authentication codes without mobile network. The TOTP seed is stored securely on your device after setup. Test it by looking at the 8-digit code that refreshes every 30 seconds and confirming it is visible. This one-time test confirms the TOTP is working before you are in a situation where SMS OTP delivery is unreliable.
Store the app PIN somewhere secure but separate from your phone — a note in your wallet or a trusted password manager. If you forget the PIN and cannot unlock the app, you will need to re-register from scratch, which requires your Aadhaar OTP via SMS. Having a PIN recovery reference prevents this inconvenience.
UIDAI Portal Security Best Practices
When using the UIDAI portal for any sensitive operation — update submission, lock/unlock, authentication history review — always verify the URL in your browser’s address bar before entering your Aadhaar number. The official URL is uidai.gov.in. Phishing sites mimicking the UIDAI portal occasionally appear with similar-looking domain names.
A genuine UIDAI page has a valid SSL certificate (the padlock icon in the address bar) and the URL starts with https://uidai.gov.in. Do not use the portal from public shared computers — computers at internet cafes, library kiosks, or airport business centers — where previous users may have installed keyloggers or browser extensions that capture typed Aadhaar numbers and OTPs.
If you must use a shared computer, use incognito or private browsing mode, and immediately check your Aadhaar authentication history afterward to confirm no unexpected authentication events occurred during your session.
Quick Reference — UIDAI Portal Services
| Service | Authentication | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Download e-Aadhaar | Aadhaar number + mobile OTP | Instant |
| Update address / name / DOB | Aadhaar number + mobile OTP + document | Up to 30 days |
| Generate Virtual ID | Aadhaar number + mobile OTP | Instant |
| Lock / unlock biometrics | Aadhaar number + mobile OTP | Instant |
| Order PVC card | Aadhaar number + mobile OTP + Rs. 50 | 7–15 days delivery |
| Check update status | Aadhaar number + URN or EID | Real-time |
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is this service free? Enrollment and online updates are free. Center updates cost Rs. 50. PVC card costs Rs. 50.
- How long does processing take? Online updates up to 30 days. Biometric updates up to 90 days. Fresh enrollment 30 to 90 days.
- Is e-Aadhaar legally valid? Yes, equivalent to the physical card and accepted everywhere in India.
- What if my registered mobile is inactive? Visit any enrollment center to update it in person.
- UIDAI helpline? Call 1947, available 24×7 for all Aadhaar queries.
Conclusion
The UIDAI portal is a comprehensive self-service platform that puts control of your Aadhaar record entirely in your hands for most common tasks. The OTP-based authentication model means your registered mobile is the key to every portal function — keeping it active and updated is the single most important prerequisite for portal access. Familiarizing yourself with the My Aadhaar section, the SSUP for updates, and the security features like biometric lock and authentication history makes you a fully informed Aadhaar holder capable of managing your identity document entirely online.