New Aadhaar app: How to keep your Aadhaar in your smartphone in 5 easy steps

From verifying your identity at banks, hotels, and government agencies to sharing your identity with friends who come over, the app ensures safe and consent-based exchange with just a single tap.

The new Aadhaar mobile app by UIDAI enables you to carry your Aadhaar in a digital form with added privacy and control. The app also features biometric authentication like Face ID and QR code, eliminating photocopies or physical cards.

From verifying your identity at banks, hotels, and government agencies to sharing your identity with friends who come over, the app ensures safe and consent-based exchange with just a single tap. More control over privacy provides users with the ability to share only the bare minimum required for a service.

Step 1: Download and install the app

On your Android or iPhone, look for "Aadhaar" on the official app store. Make sure it is the UIDAI app with Face ID and QR authentication. Download the app and launch it to begin the setup procedure.

Step 2: Set your safe PIN and enrol your Aadhaar

After opening the app, create a four-digit PIN as your unlock password. Then select registering your Aadhaar either by typing in the number or scanning your original card's QR code. This will need a registered mobile number associated with your Aadhaar to get an OTP for verification.

Step 3: Select what information to share

After registering, proceed to the "Share" option to select whether you want to share your full Aadhaar or a masked Aadhaar in which the last four digits are visible. You can also select with which fields—gender, address, or age—you want to share, based on what the verifier is asking for.

Step 4: Verify using Face ID or QR scan

If asked at a service outlet, scan the verifier's QR code or display your own using the app. Face ID biometric verification in the app verifies your identity in a flash, with only you having the authority to authorize sharing of your Aadhaar details—no paper passes hand to hand.

Step 5: Lock biometrics or erase profile when needed

For additional security, you may lock your biometric authentication (iris or fingerprint) via the app so that no body can utilize your Aadhaar. If you hand over your phone—or don't want to have Aadhaar on it anymore—you can delete your Aadhaar profile from the app easily.

Why this matters

The new Aadhaar app marks a significant step toward digital identity modernization. It allows Aadhaar holders to complete full verification digitally using Face ID and QR codes, removing any need to carry physical or photocopied documents. It reflects UIDAI’s broader push—to make Aadhaar updates and verification fully digital by November 2025, including the ability to share masked or full data via secure channels.

FAQs

Can I access all Aadhaar services on the app?

Yes, once you register with your Aadhaar or VID and complete OTP verification, you can download the Aadhaar, order a PVC card, lock/unlock biometrics, and receive TOTP—all via the app.

Do I need my Aadhaar-linked mobile number to use the app?

Yes. A registered mobile number is required for receiving the OTP to complete profile creation. Without it, app usage for read-only services like locating an enrolment centre or verifying Aadhaar is available.

Is the digital Aadhaar stored on the app legally valid?

Absolutely. The digitally signed Aadhaar with Face ID and QR authentication is legally valid and accepted in services where Aadhaar validation is required.