Aadhar SMS Services: Aadhar Lock/Unlock Service, Biometric Lock/Unlock, Aadhar OTP SMS Service, Generate VID by SMS

Aadhar SMS Service:  Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has introduced a service called “Aadhaar Services on SMS” or “Aadhar SMS Services” which enables Aadhaar Number holders, who do not have access to internet/resident portal/m-Aadhaar etc. to use various Aadhaar services like Virtual ID generation/retrieval, Aadhaar lock/unlock etc. through SMS.

Aadhar SMS Service

Aadhar SMS Service: Residents can avail Aadhar Service by sending SMS from Registered Mobile to 1947. A Resident can get benefits by Aadhar SMS Services by sending an SMS in the given format to 1947 from their registered mobile number. These services are VID Generation/Retrieval, Lock/Unlock Aadhaar Number etc. 

Retrieve VID by Aadhaar SMS Service

To retrieve Virtual ID/VID by SMS you have to send SMS in the following Format:

RVID<SPACE>Last 4 digits of Aadhar Number

• Let’s understand with an example, if the Aadhaar number is 1234-5678-9123 then
• ✉️ SMS – RVID 9123 and send it to 1947

Generate VID for the First Time

Citizen can generate VID by sending an SMS to Aadhaar helpline number 1947 in the following format: 

“GVID<SPACE>Last 4 digits of Aadhaar Number” and send it to 1947 through the registered Mobile Number.

To Get OTP for Aadhar Authentication via SMS

Citizens can get OTP by 2 methods, first is by using an Aadhar Number and Second is by using VID. 

• By using Aadhaar Number: GETOTP<SPACE>Last-4-Digit-of-Aadhaar-Number
  • For example if the Aadhaar number is 3218-5678-9088 then
  • ✉️ SMS – GETOTP 9088 and send it to 1947.

• By using Virtual ID: GETOTP<SPACE>Last-6-Digit-of-of-Virtual ID-NUMBER
  • Let’s take an example if Virtual ID is 3218-1234-1234-9123 then
  • ✉️ SMS – GETOTP 340123 and send it to 1947

Aadhaar Card SMS Service Lock/ Unlock UID

Aadhaar Card Lock by SMS Service 

To Lock Aadhar Card/UID you will have to send two SMS as followings:

• ✉️ 1st SMS: GETOTP<SPACE>Last 4 Digit of Aadhaar NUMBER
  • Let’s assume your Aadhaar number is 1234-5678-9012 then
  • Example: SMS – GETOTP 9012 and send it to 1947

• ✉️ 2nd SMS: LOCKUID<SPACE>Last 4 Digit of Aadhaar NUMBER<SPACE>OTP-6-digits
  • And you received the OTP as “687888” then
  • Example: SMS – LOCKUID 9123 687888 send it to 1947

Note:- For Unlocking/Unlocking UID resident should have the latest VID number and If you don’t have VID then generate VID by following our above Process of “Generate VID for the First Time” or “Retrieve VID by Aadhar SMS Service”.

Aadhaar Card Unlock by SMS Service 

To Unlock Aadhar Card/UID you will have to send two SMS as followings:

• ✉️ 1st SMS: GETOTP<SPACE>6 Digits of Latest Virtual-ID
  • Example: If your Virtual ID is 1234-1234-1234-9012 then
  • SMS – GETOTP 349012 and send it to 1947

• ✉️ 2nd SMS 2: UNLOCKUID<SPACE>6 or 10 Digits of Virtual-ID<SPACE>OTP-6-digits
  • Example: If you received the OTP as “012345” then
  • SMS – UNLOCKUID 349012 012345 and send it to 1947

Note: 

✅ You can Unlock UID by using VID Only, so before locking Aadhaar/UID generate a VID and keep it safe or note it down. 

✅ You will have to use 10 Digits of Virtual ID in case more than 1 Aadhaar Card is linked with a single mobile number or the last 6 digits are the same for 2 dependents. 

Enable/Disable Biometric Lock

To Enable Biometric Lock 

You can enable Aadhar Biometric Lock by using Aadhaar number or virtual ID. In both methods you will have to send 2 SMS. 

Enable Biometric Lock by Using Aadhaar Number: 

• ✉️ 1st SMS: GETOTP<SPACE>Last 4 Digit of Aadhaar Number
  • Example: If your Aadhaar number is 1234-5678-9012 then
  • SMS – GETOTP 9012 and send it to 1947

• ✉️ 2nd SMS: ENABLEBIOLOCK<SPACE>Last 4 Digit of Aadhaar Number<SPACE>OTP-6-digits
  • For example you received the OTP as “012345” then
  • SMS – ENABLEBIOLOCK 9012 012345 and send it to 1947

Enable Biometric Lock by Using Virtual ID: 

• ✉️ 1st SMS: GETOTP<SPACE>Last 6 Digit of Virtual ID
  • Example: If your Virtual ID is 1234-1234-1234-9123 then
  • SMS – GETOTP 349123 and send it to 1947

• ✉️ 2nd SMS: ENABLEBIOLOCK<SPACE>Last 6 Digit of Virtual ID<SPACE>OTP-6-digits
  • For example you received the OTP as “012345” then
  • SMS – ENABLEBIOLOCK 349123 012345 and send it to 1947

Note: 

✅ A Resident can’t avail this service in case his/her Aadhaar is locked. 

✅ If multiple Aadhaar Numbers are linked to single mobile number, and when last 4 digits of the Aadhaar Numbers are same for 2 or more than 2 dependents, then second SMS to be sent as following:

ENABLEBIOLOCK<SPACE>Last 8 Digits of Aadhaar Number<SPACE>OTP-6-digits

✅ If multiple Aadhaar Numbers are linked to single mobile number, and when last 6 digits of Virtual ID are same for 2 or more than 2 dependents, then second SMS to be sent as following:

ENABLEBIOLOCK<SPACE>Last 10 Digits of Virtual ID<SPACE>6 digits OTP

To Disable Biometric Lock 

You can Disablee Aadhar Biometric Lock by using Aadhaar number or virtual ID. In both methods you will have to send 2 SMS. 

Disable Biometric Lock by Using Aadhaar Number: 

• ✉️ 1st SMS: GETOTP<SPACE>Last 4 Digit of Aadhaar Number
  • Example: If your Aadhaar number is 1234-5678-9012 then
  • SMS – GETOTP 9012 and send it to 1947

• ✉️ 2nd SMS: DISABLEBIOLOCK<SPACE>Last 4 Digit of Aadhaar Number<SPACE>OTP-6-digits
  • For example you received the OTP as “012345” then
  • SMS – DISABLEBIOLOCK 9012 012345 and send it to 1947

Disable Biometric Lock by Using Virtual ID: 

• ✉️ 1st SMS: GETOTP<SPACE>Last 6 Digit of Virtual ID
  • Example: If your Virtual ID is 1234-1234-1234-9123 then
  • SMS – GETOTP 349123 and send it to 1947

• ✉️ 2nd SMS: DISABLEBIOLOCK<SPACE>Last 6 Digit of Virtual ID<SPACE>OTP-6-digits
  • For example you received the OTP as “012345” then
  • SMS – DISABLEBIOLOCK 349123 012345 and send it to 1947

Note: 

✅ A Resident can’t avail this service in case his/her Aadhaar is locked. 

✅ If multiple Aadhaar Numbers are linked to single mobile number, and when last 4 digits of the Aadhaar Numbers are same for 2 or more than 2 dependents, then second SMS to be sent as following:

DISABLEBIOLOCK<SPACE>Last 8 Digits of Aadhaar Number<SPACE>OTP-6-digits

✅ If multiple Aadhaar Numbers are linked to single mobile number, and when last 6 digits of Virtual ID are same for 2 or more than 2 dependents, then second SMS to be sent as following:

DISABLEBIOLOCK<SPACE>Last 10 Digits of Virtual ID<SPACE>6 digits OTP

SMS to Temporarily Unlock Biometrics

A resident can temporarily unlock Aadhaar Biometrics by using 2 methods. In each method he/she will have to send two SMS. Methods are given below with examples: 

Temporary Unlock Biometric by Using Aadhaar Number: 

• ✉️ 1st SMS: GETOTP<SPACE>Last 4 Digit of Aadhaar Number
  • Example: If your Aadhaar number is 1234-5678-9012 then
  • SMS – GETOTP 9012 and send it to 1947

• ✉️ 2nd SMS: UNLOCKBIO<SPACE>Last 4 Digit of Aadhaar Number<SPACE>OTP-6-digits
  • For example you received the OTP as “012345” then
  • SMS – UNLOCKBIO 9012 012345 and send it to 1947

Temporary Unlock Biometric by Using Virtual ID: 

• ✉️ 1st SMS: GETOTP<SPACE>Last 6 Digit of Virtual ID
  • Example: If your Virtual ID is 1234-1234-1234-9123 then
  • SMS – GETOTP 349123 and send it to 1947

• ✉️ 2nd SMS: UNLOCKBIO<SPACE>Last 6 Digit of Virtual ID<SPACE>OTP-6-digits
  • For example you received the OTP as “012345” then
  • SMS – UNLOCKBIO 349123 012345 and send it to 1947

Note: 

✅ A Resident can’t avail this service in case his/her Aadhaar is locked. 

✅ If multiple Aadhaar Numbers are linked to single mobile number, and when last 4 digits of the Aadhaar Numbers are same for 2 or more than 2 dependents, then second SMS to be sent as following:

UNLOCKBIO<SPACE>Last 8 Digits of Aadhaar Number<SPACE>OTP-6-digits

✅ If multiple Aadhaar Numbers are linked to single mobile number, and when last 6 digits of Virtual ID are same for 2 or more than 2 dependents, then second SMS to be sent as following:

UNLOCKBIO<SPACE>Last 10 Digits of Virtual ID<SPACE>6 digits OTP

Important Link

Final Words

Unique Identity Authority of India (UIDAI) provides many services for Aadhaar holders. One of these services is Aadhar SMS Service. Using these Aadhar SMS Services, an Aadhaar card holder can lock/unlock Aadhaar Card or Aadhaar Biometrics. And Citizens can also get a new virtual id or regenerate the virtual ID using this facility. There are some other Aadhar SMS Services available, which we have discussed in this article.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for Aadhar SMS Service