The Aadhaar card considers your biometric and geographic data. Since such information is quite essential to avail of any services, they must be protected. Thus, UIDAI furnished an option to lock and unlock biometric details in Aadhaar card. So, let’s know more about it.
How To Lock And Unlock Biometric Details In Aadhaar Card?
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The procedure to lock and unlock biometrics detail in the Aadhaar card is quite simple online. Let’s know-how. Look at the steps mentioned below to know about it in detail. First, let’s know how to lock the information in your Aadhaar card. You can carry out the procedure online in two ways-
Directly through the website
By the mAadhaar app
1. Through The Website Method
So, let’s know the website method to lock and unlock biometric details in Aadhaar card-
a. Go to the online UIDAI’s portal. https://uidai.gov.in/
b. Then tap on the Aadhaar services option and click on the “lock/unlock biometrics.”
c. A new box opens where you’re asked to provide your 12-digits with Aadhaar number.
d. Next, enter the code you provided earlier as security.
e. Then, tap on the OTP generation.
f. Within seconds an OTP reaches your phone. Make sure your phone number tied-up with the Aadhaar card is well active. Enter the OTP without any error and tap on the option “login.”
g. Now, a new tab opens where you’re free to lock your biometric information.
h. Before that, a code appears on the screen as a security option. It is like a captcha. You need to see it and enter the details correctly. Then tap on the showing “enable.”
i. After doing this, your information gets locked.
Steps To Unlock The Biometric Details in Your Aadhaar Card
Now, let’s know how to unlock the biometric information in your Aadhaar card. Look at the steps mentioned below for a clear understanding.
a. Proceed till the login step, as mentioned above, by providing the OTP for verification.
b. A new tab opens where you will find an option “unlock biometric details.” Click it.
c. You can unlock it for a small period, i.e., at least 10 mins.
d. You can make the changes within this stipulated period. After the session ceases, your account gets automatically locked.
Steps To Permanently Disable The Lock And Unlock Process
Now, let’s know how to permanently disable the lock and unlock process in the UIDAI profile. You can carry out the necessities to disable it forever if you don’t need it.
a. All the above procedures get followed until the login processes get completed.
b. After you provide your Aadhaar number, a new tab opens.
c. There you’ll find an option “disable permanently.” Click it.
d. Finally, your details get disabled permanently.
However, you can easily lock it again by following the above procedure.
2. Through the Aadhaar Biometric Unlock App or mAadhaar App
Like all other apps, UIDAI furnished its official app for a quicker and easier procedure. So, let’s go through a quick look out at the steps mentioned below-
a. Search for the app in the play store and install it.
b. Provide your details and login to your profile.
c. Then in your Aadhaar profile, you will find 3 dots present vertically on the topmost corner of the screen.
d. There you’ll find an option “Biometric setting.” Click it.
e. Next, there you’ll see an option “Enable biometric locking.” Tick on it.
f. You will get a request for the OTP generation, after which the OTP gets sent to your tied-up phone number.
g. Once the OTP reaches your mobile number, it gets filled automatically. In the app method, you need not enter it manually.
h. After the completion of your work, within 6 hours, it gets locked again.
How To Check If Aadhaar Biometric Lock or Unlock?
It is always better to get verified if all your Aadhaar portal is well locked or not. Thus, to get a broader view, let’s go through the mentioned below steps-
a. Provide your credentials and login to your profile.
b. In your profile, you’ll find 3 dots present vertically in the topmost corner of the screen.
c. There you’ll find an option “Biometric settings.” Go for it.
d. You’ll find the option “biometric locking” get enabled. Select on it again to unselect the option.
e. Then, tap on the tick box again. This completes your procedure.
f. Then, you will get an OTP for verification. As I’ve already said in the app method, once you get the OTP, it gets filled automatically. You need not fill it manually, unlike the website method. However, it is important to make sure your phone number tied-up with the Aadhaar card is well and active.
g. Then comes the option of approval. After the approval gets confirmed, you can get your Aadhaar profile unlocked for a max of 10 minutes.
However, in the app method, you might find a problem in case you want to disable your profile. Thus, for that, you need to go to authenticate UIDAI’s portal.
Importance of Biometric Information in Aadhaar Card And The Risk Involved
When it was announced to create a unique identity proof. Thus, the Aadhar card was framed. It involves the identification of an individual by his/her biometric information. By biometric information, it involves the details related to your fingerprint, iris scan, etc.
These details don’t vary in one person. Thus, identity proof remains unique to a person. Whether you go to a bank or to buy a new SIM card, the service provider will ask you for your fingerprint. For competitive exams, students need to provide a scanned image of their fingerprint. This marks that the person is not a fraud and the cause is genuine.
The biometric information is very useful for you and your needs, no doubt. Yet, there are risks involved as well. Since all your bank details, etc. are linked with Aadhaar card, a small mishap may ruin everything. There have been incidences when the biometric details got leaked even from the govt. portals. Thus, you must protect it by locking the details whenever there’s no need for authentification. So, let’s know how to lock and unlock the biometric details your Aadhaar card. Yet, before that, let’s know about its features.
Key Points of Aadhaar Biometric Locking
Every aspect has some of the other key points or features. To know about it in detail, you must know about its features as well. So, let’s go through the points mentioned below-
i. Almost every service provider you visit, they’ll ask you for your Aadhaar authentication. Especially bank services, SIM card buying, etc. require Aadhaar verification.
ii. The risk that during the authentication process, your biometric details may get leaked from your portal, prevailed. Thus, to avoid this mishap, you can easily lock your biometric details in the UIDAI site or app.
iii. As per the previous point, one can verify your biometric details only when it’s unlocked.
iv. As the information is biometric, so, it remains the same for any individual. The information types include your iris scan, fingerprint verification, etc.
v. You can unlock your biometric details for a small duration, i.e., 10 mins. Then, it gets locked automatically. Within this span, you can authenticate or verify your details.
vi. You can lock/unlock your biometric information with a few clicks. This doesn’t involve any fees; rather it is free of cost.
vii. The OTP gets generated in your phone number that is linked with the Aadhaar card. Make sure it’s active, and the number gets tied-up with the Aadhaar. Thus, before going for the lock/unlock facility, you must link your phone number with the Aadhaar card.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How can I check my Aadhaar biometric lock or unlock?
You can check if your Aadhaar biometric is locked or not by directly going to the UIDAI site or mAadhaar app. All you need to do is login by providing your credentials. After logging in to your profile, you need to tap on the ‘biometric settings’ box. Then you need to enable the lock on your biometric information by ticking on the box.
Then, the OTP generation takes place, and once you deliver the OTP correctly, your job gets done. It gets unlocked after about 6 hours.
2. What happens when biometric is locked?
When you’re biometric gets locked, you can’t access your biometric information for authentification. Your information is kept secure and locked. Thus, no one can get the access way to mess with your biometric information.
However, once your profile gets unlocked, it remains open for a max of 10 mins. Thus, any verification or authentification work needs to get done within this time. Then, it gets locked on its own.
3. What is Aadhaar card lock and unlock?
Aadhaar card contains your biometric and geographic information. This information gets used by different vital service providers like the bank, phone, etc. Thus, if it gets leaked, it can ruin everything. Hence, this information needs to get protected from any malpractice.
To implement such thoughts, UIDAI proposed to lock them. That is, you can lock this information when not in use and unlock them when needed. It is just like putting your precious things into a high-security shelf and taking out only when in use.
4. What is the biometric lock in the mAadhaar app?
Like all other apps, there is an app for Aadhaar verification as well. It’s called the mAadhaar app. It’s available in the Google play store. In it, after logging in, you can find the biometric lock option. This option is present to create a protective shield over your biometric details.
5. How can I unlock my Aadhaar card by SMS?
Internet access is not everyone’s cup of tea. So, there’s a way to unlock the Aadhaar card for the commoners through the SMS method. You need to deliver an SMS to the number 1947.
Yes, it is the year when India got independence. However, after sending the message, you will receive an OTP. There is a certain format of how the OTP gets delivered. The format is GETOTP, which get followed by the last 6-digits of your Aadhaar card.
Let’s say your Aadhaar card number is 123456789ABC; you will get OTP in the form of GETOTP789ABC.
Then, you need to send another message to the same number in the format-
UNLOCK UID, which gets followed by the last 6-digits of your OTP. Then your job’s done. You’ll receive a confirmation text that your request gets accepted.
Bottom Line:
In this article, you came to know how to lock and unlock biometric details in Aadhaar card. I hope I was able to touch over to all your queries. Peace!
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