How to Download Aadhaar (e-Aadhaar)
Published: November 15, 2026
Source: UIDAI — official Aadhaar guidance
Download your Aadhaar as a password-protected PDF from UIDAI's official portal — regular or masked, free, in a few minutes.
Before you start
- Keep your Aadhaar number handy — you will need it to log in to the portal. You can also use your Virtual ID or Enrolment ID instead.
- Keep the phone with the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar nearby — the OTP for the download comes on that number only.
- Decide first whether you want a regular e-Aadhaar or a masked one. A masked copy hides the first eight digits of your Aadhaar number and shows only the last four — use it whenever you only need to prove your identity, not share the full number.
Check your registered mobile number first
Before you download, make sure a mobile number is registered with your Aadhaar, because the download needs an OTP on that number. Open the myAadhaar portal (myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in) and use the option to verify your email or mobile number: enter your Aadhaar number and the mobile number you think is linked, along with the captcha, and submit. The portal will tell you whether that number is linked.
If no number is linked, or the linked number is one you no longer have, you cannot download online — visit an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre or Aadhaar Seva Kendra first to register a mobile number, then come back to download. If the number is linked and you have the phone with you, you are ready for the next step.
Open Download Aadhaar and request the OTP
Open the myAadhaar portal (myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in) in your browser. On the home page, find and click the option named Download Aadhaar. You will see a form asking for your Aadhaar number — you can enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number, your Virtual ID, your Enrolment ID or your Service ID instead, whichever you have.
Enter the captcha shown on the screen, exactly as it appears, and click Get OTP. An OTP will arrive on the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar. If you want a masked copy, under 'Select type' choose Masked instead of Regular before you go further — a masked copy hides the first eight digits and shows only the last four.
Enter the OTP and download the PDF
Type the OTP from your phone into the box on the portal and click Verify & Download. The portal will check the OTP and prepare your e-Aadhaar as a PDF file. The download should start at once — on a phone it usually lands in your Downloads folder, and on a computer your browser will ask where to save it.
If the download does not start, check that the OTP you entered was the latest one — an older OTP stops working once a new one is sent. Request a fresh OTP and try again. The file is a password-protected PDF, so keep it safe and do not forward it to anyone who does not need it.
Open the PDF and check your details
Open the downloaded PDF. It will ask for a password: the first four letters of your name in capital letters, exactly as printed on your Aadhaar, followed by your year of birth in four digits. For example, if your name is Suresh Kumar and you were born in 1990, the password is SURE1990.
Once it opens, check that the name, date of birth, address and photo match your physical card. The e-Aadhaar is digitally signed by UIDAI and is as valid as the physical card, so you can print it or share the PDF where an Aadhaar copy is asked for. If the name on your Aadhaar does not match your PAN, fix the details first — you need both cards to match before you link PAN with Aadhaar.
Tips
- Choose the masked copy when someone only needs to verify your identity — it proves who you are without exposing your full Aadhaar number.
- Save the PDF in a safe place, like your phone's locked folder or a password-protected drive, not in a shared WhatsApp group or a public computer.
- If you need the card often, print the e-Aadhaar once and keep the printout with your other documents, so you do not have to download it again and again.
Keep in mind
- Download e-Aadhaar only from the official myAadhaar portal or the official Aadhaar app. Any other website or person offering an Aadhaar download is a scam — never type your Aadhaar number or OTP anywhere else.
- Never share your Aadhaar number or any OTP with anyone on a call or message. No real UIDAI official asks for them this way.
- Share a masked copy, not the full number, whenever someone only needs to check your identity. The masked copy hides the first eight digits and shows only the last four.
- Downloading e-Aadhaar is free of charge. If any site or agent asks you to pay for the download, close it and use the official portal instead.
FAQs
Can I download e-Aadhaar without a registered mobile number?
No. Every online download needs an OTP on the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar. If that number is lost or was never registered, visit an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre or Aadhaar Seva Kendra first to register a mobile number, then download.
What is the password to open the e-Aadhaar PDF?
The password is 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 four digits. For example, Suresh Kumar born in 1990 opens his file with SURE1990. If it does not work, check the spelling of your name on your Aadhaar card — even one letter's difference changes the password.
Is e-Aadhaar as valid as the physical Aadhaar card?
Yes. e-Aadhaar is a password-protected PDF, digitally signed by UIDAI, and under the Aadhaar Act it is as valid as the physical Aadhaar card for every purpose. You can print it or share the PDF itself.
I am not getting the OTP. What should I do?
First check that you typed the OTP correctly and that it has not expired — request a fresh one if needed. Also check that the phone has network and can receive SMS. If OTPs never arrive, your mobile number may not be the one registered with Aadhaar — verify the registered number on the myAadhaar portal, or visit a centre to update it.
