How to Lock/Unlock Aadhaar Biometric?

09^th Dec 2025...

Published By : Team 811

Aadhaar is widely used as a primary identity document for verification. To improve security, UIDAI provides an option to lock or unlock Aadhaar biometrics to prevent any unauthorised authentication. When this lock is enabled, biometrics cannot be used for e-KYC. To continue your Kotak811 Account opening journey, you must disable the Aadhaar lock so that authentication can take place.

Users can manage Aadhaar locking through UIDAI’s online portal or the mAadhaar mobile app.

How to disable Aadhaar lock using the UIDAI website?

UIDAI offers a simple online option to lock, unlock or disable Aadhaar biometrics. If the biometric lock is enabled, Aadhaar authentication will not work until it is removed.

Follow these steps to disable Aadhaar Lock:

Visit the UIDAI website.
Go to ‘Enrolment & Update’ and select ‘Aadhaar Services’.
Under ‘Reference Links’, choose ‘Unlock/Disable Biometrics’.
Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and the security code displayed.
Click ‘Send OTP’. An OTP will be sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number.
Enter the OTP and click ‘Login’.
Enter the security code shown and select ‘Disable’ to remove the biometric lock.

Once disabled, biometric authentication becomes active immediately and you can resume Aadhaar verification in your Kotak811 application.

How to disable Aadhaar lock using the mAadhaar app?

The official mAadhaar app allows users to manage biometric locking directly from their smartphone.

Steps to disable Aadhaar lock through mAadhaar

Install the mAadhaar app from the Play Store or App Store.
Register using your Aadhaar-linked mobile number and verify with OTP.
Set a 4-digit passcode to access your Aadhaar profile.
Open the ‘Biometric Settings’ section from the menu.
Toggle off or uncheck the ‘Enable Biometric Locking’ option.
The app auto-reads the OTP sent by UIDAI and confirms the action.

After the lock is disabled, Aadhaar biometrics can be used for e-KYC and identity verification until you choose to enable the lock again.

Key features of Aadhaar biometric locking

Many service providers, including banks and telecom operators, require Aadhaar-based authentication for identity verification.
When biometric locking is enabled, your fingerprint and iris data remain blocked from all authentication requests.
Biometrics can be unlocked temporarily for a single authentication session, after which they lock automatically.
Biometric locking, unlocking, or disabling must be done through the UIDAI portal or the mAadhaar app.
Your mobile number must be registered with UIDAI to use this feature.
All actions are verified through an OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number.
If your mobile number is not linked with Aadhaar, the biometric lock facility cannot be used. You must update your mobile number with UIDAI before accessing this service.

Lock/unlock Aadhaar FAQs

1. What is Aadhaar lock and unlock?

Aadhaar lock is a UIDAI security feature that prevents your Aadhaar number and biometric information from being used for authentication. When you unlock or disable the lock, your Aadhaar becomes available again for authorised e-KYC and biometric verification.

2. For how long does the Aadhaar biometrics remain unlocked?

If you choose the temporary unlock option, Aadhaar biometrics remain unlocked for 10 minutes and then automatically locks again. If you select ‘Disable’, the lock is removed until you manually enable it again.

3. Can I send OTP on a different mobile number while using mAadhaar?

No. OTP for Aadhaar-related actions are sent only to the mobile number registered with UIDAI. The mAadhaar app auto-reads this OTP for verification and does not allow sending OTP to any alternate number.

4. What if I do not want to keep my Aadhaar biometric locked?

You can permanently disable biometric locking on the UIDAI website. Once disabled, your Aadhaar biometrics remain available for authentication unless you choose to re-enable the lock.