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5 hours ago
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The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has made it easier for Aadhaar holders to protect their fingerprint, iris, and face data through the new Aadhaar app, allowing users to lock and unlock their biometrics directly from their phone. The feature is aimed at strengthening data privacy and preventing unauthorised use of Aadhaar-linked biometric information.
Why biometric lock mattersAadhaar is now widely used for identity verification across banks, telecom providers, government services, and marketing platforms, many of which rely on biometric authentication. Since fingerprint and iris data linked to Aadhaar can potentially be misused, UIDAI's biometric lock feature gives users control over when their biometric details can be accessed. Once locked, no institution or individual can carry out fingerprint, face, or iris-based authentication using the Aadhaar number, though OTP-based authentication continues to work as usual.
How to lock biometrics via Aadhaar App
Using the new Aadhaar app is straightforward. Users need to open the app and log in with their six-digit PIN. On the home screen, an option labelled "Biometric Lock/Unlock" is visible, which can be tapped to lock the biometric data. Once confirmed, fingerprint, iris, and face authentication linked to that Aadhaar number are immediately locked. If the option isn't visible on the home screen, it can also be accessed through the app's Security section.
How to unlock when needed
To unlock biometrics, users simply need to reopen the app, enter their PIN, navigate to the same Biometric Lock/Unlock option, and confirm the unlock action. Once a task requiring biometric verification is completed, users are advised to lock the feature again to keep their data secure. On the UIDAI website and the older mAadhaar app, the process works similarly but requires an OTP sent to the Aadhaar-registered mobile number for both locking and unlocking, with temporary unlocks typically lasting around ten minutes before auto-locking.
Free, widely used security tool
The entire process is free of cost and available online, through the app, or via SMS. UIDAI recommends that Aadhaar holders keep their biometrics locked by default and unlock them only temporarily when biometric verification is genuinely required, such as at a bank or telecom outlet. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology recently noted that the Aadhaar app has already been downloaded over four crore times, reflecting growing adoption of the government's push toward stronger, more accessible identity protection tools.
Officials have reiterated that users should only access these features through official UIDAI platforms to avoid falling prey to fraudulent apps or websites mimicking the service.
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