Guide

Aadhaar biometric lock: how to lock, unlock and check who used your Aadhaar

Locks: Fingerprint, iris and face
Still works: OTP authentication
History: Last 6 months, 50 records at a time

DigiSafe's lock screen with PIN and fingerprint

Locking your Aadhaar biometrics stops anyone using your fingerprint, iris or face for Aadhaar authentication, while OTP authentication keeps working. Here is how to lock and unlock them, and how to check your authentication history, from UIDAI's own pages.

Install free app How to install

Read on

Checked against the official sources on 24 October 2026. DigiSafe is a private app, not connected with these offices.

A real moment

“A news story about cloned fingerprints and emptied bank accounts has you worried. You want your fingerprints to stop working for Aadhaar until you decide otherwise.”

Log in to myAadhaar with your Aadhaar number and an OTP, open Lock/Unlock Biometrics and lock them, or use the one-click lock in UIDAI's Aadhaar app. Fingerprint, iris and face authentication then stop working, but OTP authentication continues. You need a registered mobile number.

Biometric lock and Aadhaar (UID) lock, from UIDAI's FAQs

Biometric lock and Aadhaar (UID) lock, from UIDAI's FAQs
	Biometric lock	Aadhaar (UID) lock
What it blocks	Fingerprint, iris and face authentication	Authentication with your Aadhaar number
OTP authentication	Still works	Not with your Aadhaar number
Needs first	A registered mobile, for the OTP	A 16-digit VID, and a registered mobile
How it ends	Unlock for a short time, or disable the lock	Unlock with your latest VID; it has no automatic expiry

Steps and limits from UIDAI's own FAQs

What still works while locked

See 6 months of Aadhaar use

Locks

Fingerprint, iris and face

Still works

OTP authentication

History

Last 6 months, 50 records at a time

Needs

A registered mobile number

What a biometric lock does

UIDAI says fingerprint, iris and face are locked, and you cannot use them for Aadhaar authentication until you unlock. OTP-based authentication is not affected. A service that tries your fingerprint while it is locked typically gets an authentication failure with error code 330, which means biometrics locked by the Aadhaar holder.

Lock it on myAadhaar

Open Lock/Unlock Biometrics on myAadhaar (myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in) and log in with your Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to your registered mobile. Tick the box that says you understand you cannot use biometric authentication until you unlock, and confirm. The page then shows that your biometrics are currently locked.

Or use one click in the Aadhaar app

UIDAI's FAQ says its Aadhaar app has a one-click biometric lock and unlock, and the same app shows your authentication history. A government press release (PIB) of February 2026 said 357,000 Aadhaar holders had already locked or unlocked their biometrics in the app.

Unlocking when a service needs your fingerprint

You can unlock for a short time or disable the lock until you lock again. UIDAI gives two figures for the short unlock: the myAadhaar page says 10 minutes, and its FAQ says generally 15 minutes or one authentication, after which the lock switches back on by itself. A biometric eKYC fails while locked, so either unlock for a short time or use OTP-based eKYC instead. You can lock and unlock as often as you need.

Check your authentication history

On myAadhaar or in the Aadhaar app, enter your Aadhaar number or VID with the security code and verify with the OTP. You see up to 50 records at a time from the last 6 months; pick a narrower date range to see more. Each record shows the type of authentication, its date and time, the agency that asked (the AUA), and whether it succeeded. You can download or print it.

Saw one you did not do?

UIDAI's advice: lock your biometrics, or your Aadhaar, straight away, contact the agency named in the record, and report it to UIDAI on its 1947 helpline or at help@uidai.gov.in. You can also file a grievance on myAadhaar. UIDAI also emails you each time your Aadhaar is used for a biometric or OTP authentication, if an email address is registered.

Aadhaar lock is a stronger step

Aadhaar (UID) lock stops authentication with your Aadhaar number itself, not just your biometrics. You need a valid 16-digit VID before you can lock, and your latest VID to unlock. The lock has no automatic expiry, and while it is on, UIDAI says you cannot log in to the Aadhaar app. UIDAI suggests it for people who rarely use Aadhaar authentication or want extra security.

No registered mobile?

UIDAI says a registered mobile number is mandatory for biometric lock and unlock, which need an OTP, and for the authentication history. Update your mobile number at an Aadhaar enrolment or update centre or an Aadhaar Seva Kendra first.

Share less to begin with

Keep your Aadhaar in DigiSafe and share a copy with the first 8 digits hidden and a watermark that says what it is for, so fewer full copies are out there. DigiSafe is a private app, not connected with UIDAI, and free today, with no ads.

Step by step

1
Open Lock/Unlock Biometrics on myAadhaar, or open the Aadhaar app.
2
Log in with your Aadhaar number and the OTP to your registered mobile.
3
Tick the confirmation and lock your biometrics.
4
Need your fingerprint for a service? Unlock for a short time.
5
Check your authentication history every few months.
6
Report any use you do not recognise on 1947 or help@uidai.gov.in.

Questions people ask

How do I lock my Aadhaar biometrics?+

Log in to myAadhaar's Lock/Unlock Biometrics with your Aadhaar number and an OTP to your registered mobile, tick the confirmation and lock. UIDAI's Aadhaar app also has a one-click biometric lock.

Does biometric lock stop OTP authentication?+

No. UIDAI says biometric locking does not affect OTP-based authentication, so OTP services and OTP-based eKYC keep working.

How long does a temporary unlock last?+

A short time. The myAadhaar page says 10 minutes, while UIDAI's FAQ says generally 15 minutes or a single authentication. After that, the lock switches back on automatically.

How do I check if my Aadhaar biometric is locked or unlocked?+

Log in to Lock/Unlock Biometrics on myAadhaar with your Aadhaar number and an OTP. The page tells you "Your biometrics are currently locked!" or "Your biometrics are currently unlocked!" before you change anything.

What does "biometrics locked by Aadhaar holder" (error 330) mean?+

UIDAI says error code 330 means the biometrics are locked by the Aadhaar holder. The lock covers face as well as fingerprint and iris, so face authentication fails too. Unlock for a short time, or use OTP authentication instead.

How do I check my Aadhaar authentication history?+

On myAadhaar or in the Aadhaar app, enter your Aadhaar number or VID, the security code and the OTP. You can see up to 50 records at a time from the last 6 months, with the date, time, type and the agency that asked.

What is the difference between biometric lock and Aadhaar lock?+

Biometric lock stops fingerprint, iris and face authentication but leaves OTP working. Aadhaar (UID) lock stops authentication with your Aadhaar number itself, needs a 16-digit VID first, and needs your latest VID to unlock.

Can I lock biometrics without a registered mobile number?+

No. UIDAI says a registered mobile is mandatory, because locking and unlocking need an OTP. Update your mobile at an Aadhaar enrolment or update centre first.

Is DigiSafe connected with UIDAI?+

No. DigiSafe is a private app. Lock your biometrics only on UIDAI's myAadhaar site or UIDAI's Aadhaar app.

Where this comes from

Official sources, dated.

Every official detail on this page comes from the pages listed here, last checked on 24 October 2026. Fees, rules and links can change after that date. DigiSafe is a private app, not connected with these offices, and cannot guarantee them, so check the official page before you pay or rely on them.