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mAadhaar is the name many people still use for UIDAI’s Aadhaar mobile app. UIDAI’s newer documentation and current app-store listings call it the Aadhaar app. It lets you access and manage selected Aadhaar services on a smartphone, including viewing e-Aadhaar, sharing credentials, checking authentication history, locking biometrics and, where eligible, updating an address or mobile number. It is not the same as myAadhaar, UIDAI’s browser-based portal, and it does not replace every service that requires an Aadhaar centre.
Is mAadhaar the same as the newer Aadhaar app?
“mAadhaar” is still a common search term and appears in older UIDAI material. Current UIDAI app documentation and store listings use the name Aadhaar. The Government of India said the newer app was dedicated to the nation on January 28, 2026 (PIB announcement).
The terminology can be confusing because older mAadhaar FAQs describe a different set of services and onboarding steps. For current features, use UIDAI’s newer app documentation. UIDAI’s naming has changed, but the available sources do not establish that every legacy mAadhaar installation has been formally discontinued. If you are installing now, look for UIDAI’s official app called Aadhaar.
Three terms to keep separate:
- Aadhaar app (often searched as mAadhaar): UIDAI’s smartphone app.
- myAadhaar: UIDAI’s browser-based portal for online services.
- e-Aadhaar: the electronic Aadhaar document, which can be accessed through UIDAI services, including the app.
The app is not a separate Aadhaar number, a private identity wallet or a substitute for all enrolment and update procedures.
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What can you do in the Aadhaar app?
UIDAI lists the following services in its current services FAQ. Availability can depend on your profile, authentication and the app version.
| Task | What to know |
|---|---|
| Access or download e-Aadhaar | Sign-in and authentication are required. |
| Update address | Requires an address document, verification and a fee shown by UIDAI; see below. |
| Update registered mobile number | Current UIDAI documentation describes an app-based flow involving OTPs and face authentication. |
| Update email | The Google Play listing said this would be available from July 1, 2026, with the charge waived until the end of 2026. Confirm availability and any fee in the app before submitting. |
| Lock or unlock biometrics | Locks fingerprint, iris and face authentication; this is different from locking the UID. |
| Review authentication history | Useful for checking Aadhaar authentication activity and investigating entries you do not recognise. |
| Use a Virtual ID (VID) | A revocable 16-digit identifier that can be used instead of an Aadhaar number in supported workflows. |
| Share Aadhaar information or a contact card | Sharing is consent-based, but the recipient must support the relevant verification method. |
| Track requests | Check the status of supported update or service requests. |
| Update photo, fingerprints or iris | No. These biometric updates require an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or enrolment/update centre. |
| Enrol for a new Aadhaar number | No. Follow UIDAI’s enrolment process. |
Older mAadhaar FAQs also describe features such as QR scanning, PVC-card ordering, profile management and support for up to five profiles on one device. Treat those as legacy app guidance where they differ from current instructions. The newer app’s current FAQ also says an individual can create up to five profiles.
How to download the official app safely
UIDAI’s official download instructions are available here. Use the official Google Play or Apple App Store listing:
- Aadhaar on Google Play — verify the developer is Unique Identification Authority of India and the Android package is
in.gov.uidai.pehchaan. - Aadhaar on the Apple App Store — verify the developer is UIDAI.
UIDAI’s current requirements are Android 9.0 or later, or iOS 16.0 or later, plus an internet connection. Requirements can change; check the live store listing before installing. Avoid APK download sites and lookalike apps. Do not give an app or an agent unnecessary banking credentials, OTPs or other sensitive information.
How to register
The current UIDAI onboarding instructions describe this sequence:
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- Open the app and choose a language.
- Enter your Aadhaar number and accept the terms and privacy policy.
- Select the relevant SIM card.
- Complete face authentication as prompted.
- Finish registration and set a six-digit PIN to secure access.
Menus and prompts may change between releases. The SIM-selection step and face authentication are important differences from older mAadhaar instructions, which often described OTP-based registration and a four-digit app PIN. Current UIDAI guidance lists 13 languages: English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Gujarati, Odia, Punjabi, Marathi, Urdu and Assamese.
Installing an app is different from completing personalised services. You need a compatible phone and internet to install it; onboarding and individual services may require access to the mobile number and authentication method UIDAI requests. If the Aadhaar-linked number is unavailable or incorrect, some steps may not work. Legacy mAadhaar FAQs described a few limited functions without a registered number, but those instructions should not be assumed to cover every feature of the newer app.
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How to update your address
UIDAI’s current app instructions describe this process:
- Open the app and sign in with your six-digit PIN.
- Go to Services → Address Update.
- Complete the OTP verification requested.
- Upload an address document in JPG, PNG or PDF format.
- Enter the new address and check the preview in English and the local language.
- Complete face authentication and pay the displayed charge.
UIDAI material checked for August 2026 lists the charge as ₹75. Fees can change, so verify the amount shown in the app before payment. For other update routes and eligibility, consult UIDAI’s update guidance.
How to update your Aadhaar-linked mobile number
Unlike older mAadhaar guidance, which said a mobile-number update could not be completed in the app, current UIDAI documentation describes an app-based process. The required verification differs by situation:
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- If the app uses the same number already registered with Aadhaar: verify the new number by OTP, complete face authentication and pay the prescribed charge.
- If the app uses a different number: verify both the existing Aadhaar-registered number and the new number by OTP, complete face authentication and pay the prescribed charge.
Keep access to the number UIDAI asks you to verify. If you no longer have it or cannot receive its OTP, you may need to use an Aadhaar centre or another UIDAI-supported route rather than relying on the app.
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Biometric lock
Biometric locking blocks Aadhaar authentication through fingerprint, iris and face. UIDAI says an attempt to authenticate with locked biometrics returns error code 330. You can temporarily unlock biometrics or disable the locking system through a supported UIDAI channel. Remember that locking can also stop a legitimate service that needs biometric authentication until you unlock it.
UID lock
UID lock is broader: UIDAI describes it as preventing authentication using your UID, UID Token and VID through biometric, demographic and OTP modalities. It is not just a biometric safeguard. If you lock the UID, you need the latest VID to unlock it, so keep access to your registered mobile number and know how to retrieve the VID before enabling the lock.
Virtual ID
A VID is a revocable 16-digit temporary identifier for use instead of disclosing your Aadhaar number in supported authentication flows. It does not make your Aadhaar data anonymous, and not every organisation or service accepts it. UIDAI documents this SMS format for retrieving a VID when needed: RVID <last 4 or 8 digits of Aadhaar number>, sent to 1947 from the Aadhaar-registered mobile number. Check UIDAI’s current lock/unlock guidance before acting.
Can the app replace a physical Aadhaar card?
The app provides access to digital Aadhaar information and supports consent-based sharing and credential verification. That makes it convenient for supported digital verification, but it does not guarantee that every hotel, airline, bank, employer, government office or other organisation will accept an app display in every situation. The receiving organisation’s verification process and applicable rules determine what it accepts.
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Do not assume that a screenshot is equivalent to a secure, verifiable credential. Avoid sharing screenshots that expose your full Aadhaar number or other personal details. The app also does not replace in-person enrolment or biometric-update services.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.mAadhaar/Aadhaar app versus myAadhaar
| Aadhaar app (often called mAadhaar) | myAadhaar | |
|---|---|---|
| Format | UIDAI smartphone app for Android and iOS. | UIDAI website portal used in a browser. |
| Typical access | App onboarding, PIN and the authentication required for a service. | Portal login and the verification required for a service. |
| Best suited to | Mobile access, digital sharing, app-based services and security controls. | Web-based Aadhaar services available through the portal. |
| Replaces an Aadhaar centre? | No. | No. |
The two are UIDAI services, but they are not interchangeable in every task. Check the relevant service’s current instructions to see whether it is available in the app, on myAadhaar or only at a centre.
Is the Aadhaar app safe?
The official app is developed and managed by UIDAI. UIDAI documents practical protections including a six-digit app PIN, face-authentication-based onboarding, biometric and UID locking, Virtual ID, authentication-history review and consent-based selective sharing. These controls can help you manage access and limit unnecessary disclosure; they do not eliminate every security risk.
Protect your phone and PIN, install updates from the official store, be alert to phishing messages and requests for OTPs, and avoid sharing Aadhaar screenshots or credentials unnecessarily. A compromised device, SIM-swap attack or careless disclosure can still put personal information at risk.
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OTP does not arrive
Check that you are using the number UIDAI expects and have mobile signal. SMS service restrictions, insufficient balance, network problems or temporary delays can prevent delivery. Avoid repeatedly requesting codes; wait and retry. If you no longer have access to the Aadhaar-registered number, an Aadhaar centre may be needed. UIDAI’s online-services FAQ includes SMS guidance.
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Onboarding is stuck or face authentication fails
Confirm the app is the official UIDAI version, the phone meets the OS requirement, the internet connection is stable and the selected SIM is correct. Allow camera access, clean the lens, use even lighting, hold the phone steady and keep your face visible. If repeated attempts fail, try another UIDAI-supported channel or ask UIDAI support; not every failure can be resolved in the app.
A service or menu is missing
The profile may not be fully onboarded, the required number may not be verified, the feature may not be available in your app version, or the service may belong on myAadhaar or at an enrolment/update centre. Use current UIDAI help rather than instructions or screenshots for an older mAadhaar release.
You locked biometrics or UID by mistake
For biometric locking, use a supported UIDAI channel to temporarily unlock biometrics or disable the lock. For UID locking, retrieve the latest VID if required and follow UIDAI’s unlock flow. Keep your Aadhaar-registered mobile number accessible. The two locks affect different authentication methods, so check UIDAI’s instructions before unlocking.
What the app still cannot do
Some tasks remain outside the app. You must visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or enrolment/update centre to update your photograph, fingerprints or iris. You also cannot enrol for a new Aadhaar number through the app. Some demographic corrections, exceptional cases or requests requiring in-person document or biometric checks may need a centre or a separate UIDAI process. If face authentication fails, the mobile number cannot be verified, or a service is not listed in the app, check UIDAI’s current update guidance and Aadhaar FAQ.
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