How to Download e-Aadhaar and Open the PDF

To download your e-Aadhaar, open the official myAadhaar portal, choose Download Aadhaar, enter your Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to your registered mobile number, and save the PDF. The file is password protected: the password is the first four letters of your name in capital letters followed by your year of birth. The download is free on the UIDAI portal.

What You Need Before You Start

• Your 12-digit Aadhaar number. A 16-digit Virtual ID (VID) or the Enrolment ID from your acknowledgement slip can also be used on the download page.
• The mobile number registered with Aadhaar. The OTP goes only to this number. If the number is lost or was never linked, see the section on that below.
• A phone or computer with a browser. No app is required for the portal method.

How to Download e-Aadhaar From the myAadhaar Portal

1. Type myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in in your browser yourself. Do not open it from a link in an SMS or WhatsApp message.
2. Select Download Aadhaar. On some screens you are asked to log in first with your Aadhaar number and OTP, and then you see the Download Aadhaar tile on the dashboard.
3. Choose what you will enter: Aadhaar Number, Enrolment ID or Virtual ID.
4. Type the number and the captcha shown on the page, then tap Send OTP.
5. Tick the masked Aadhaar option if you want a copy that hides the first eight digits (explained below).
6. Enter the OTP received on your registered mobile number and tap Verify and Download.
7. The PDF is saved to the Downloads folder of your phone or computer.

UIDAI changes the look of the portal from time to time, so button names and their order may be slightly different on your screen. The flow stays the same: number, captcha, OTP, download.

What Is the e-Aadhaar PDF Password?

The password has eight characters: the first four letters of your name in CAPITAL letters, exactly as printed on your Aadhaar, followed by your year of birth in YYYY format. UIDAI gives these examples:

• Name SURESH KUMAR, born 1990: SURE1990
• Name SAI KUMAR, born 1990: SAIK1990 (the space is skipped)
• Name P. KUMAR, born 1990: P.KU1990 (the dot is counted)
• Name RIA, born 1990: RIA1990 (use the full name if it has fewer than four letters)

If the password is rejected, check these points before trying again:

• Use the name as printed on the Aadhaar, not your nickname or the spelling on another ID.
• Letters must be in capitals, with no space between the letters and the year.
• Use the year of birth printed on the Aadhaar, even if you believe it is wrong.
• Some PDF viewers inside browsers or chat apps fail to open protected files. Open the file in a proper PDF reader app instead.

Regular or Masked Aadhaar: Which One to Download?

A masked Aadhaar shows only the last four digits of your Aadhaar number; the first eight digits are replaced with “xxxx-xxxx”. Your name, photo, address and QR code remain. It is the safer copy to share when someone only needs to confirm your identity, for example at a hotel check-in.

Some uses need the full number, such as certain bank and government applications. Download the regular copy for those and share it only with the organisation that needs it. For extra safety, you can also lock your fingerprints and iris data; our guide on Aadhaar biometric lock and authentication history shows how.

Other Official Ways to Get Your Aadhaar

• UIDAI mobile app: UIDAI’s official Aadhaar app lets you keep your Aadhaar on your phone after OTP verification. Install it only from the Play Store or App Store listing published by UIDAI.
• DigiLocker: after you link Aadhaar in DigiLocker, your Aadhaar appears under issued documents. See our DigiLocker setup guide for the steps.
• Aadhaar PVC card: if you want a wallet-size plastic card, you can order one from the same myAadhaar portal for a small fee shown on the order page. It is sent by post.

If Your Mobile Number Is Not Linked

Online download depends on the OTP, so it does not work without the registered mobile number. You cannot add or change the mobile number online. Visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or an authorised enrolment centre with your Aadhaar, give your biometrics and request a mobile number update. A fee is charged at the centre and you get an acknowledgement slip. Once the update is done, the online download will work.

If you have the registered number but forgot your Aadhaar number, use the option to retrieve a lost or forgotten Aadhaar number or Enrolment ID on the myAadhaar portal. It asks for your name and registered mobile number or email and sends the number to you after OTP verification.

Is e-Aadhaar Valid as ID Proof?

Yes. UIDAI states that the downloaded e-Aadhaar is as valid as the printed Aadhaar letter sent by post. It is digitally signed by UIDAI. A plain printout on ordinary paper is acceptable; lamination or a “smart card” from a local shop is not required.

Safety Tips

• Never share the Aadhaar OTP with anyone, including callers who claim to be from UIDAI, a bank or a courier company. Our list of scam messages and calls to never trust covers the common tricks.
• Avoid downloading on a shared or cyber cafe computer. If you must, delete the PDF and empty the recycle bin before leaving.
• Do not use third-party websites or apps that offer “Aadhaar download by name”. Only UIDAI’s portal and apps are official.
• Share the masked copy whenever the full number is not required.

FAQ

What is the password to open the e-Aadhaar PDF?
It is the first four letters of your name in capital letters, as printed on your Aadhaar, followed by your year of birth in YYYY format. For example, SURESH KUMAR born in 1990 would use SURE1990.

Can I download e-Aadhaar without the registered mobile number?
No. The online download needs an OTP sent to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar. If the number is not linked or is lost, update it at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or authorised enrolment centre first.

Is there any charge for downloading e-Aadhaar?
No. Downloading the e-Aadhaar PDF from the official UIDAI portal is free. A fee applies only for services such as ordering a PVC card or updating details at a centre.

What is a masked Aadhaar?
It is a copy of your e-Aadhaar in which the first eight digits of the Aadhaar number are hidden and only the last four digits are visible. It is safer to share when the full number is not needed.

Is a printout of e-Aadhaar accepted as ID proof?
Yes. UIDAI states that e-Aadhaar is as valid as the printed Aadhaar letter. A plain paper printout is enough.