Aadhaar Card PDF Password: How to Download e-Aadhaar in 2026

The e-Aadhaar PDF password is the first four letters of your name in CAPITAL letters followed by your year of birth in YYYY format. So Suresh Kumar born in 1990 would type SURE1990. You can download the PDF free from the myAadhaar portal using your Aadhaar number, enrolment ID or VID and an OTP.

Most people get stuck at two points: the OTP that never arrives because the mobile number is not linked, and the password that does not work because of spaces, dots or short names. This step-by-step guide covers both, along with masked Aadhaar and the official Aadhaar mobile app.

What is e-Aadhaar?

e-Aadhaar is the electronic copy of your Aadhaar letter. It comes as a password-protected PDF that is digitally signed by UIDAI, the Unique Identification Authority of India. As per UIDAI, an e-Aadhaar is as valid as the physical Aadhaar letter for all purposes, so you can print it or share it as identity proof.

You do not need to visit an Aadhaar centre to get it. If your mobile number is registered with Aadhaar, the whole process takes a few minutes on a phone or laptop.

What you need before you start

• One of three numbers: your 12-digit Aadhaar number, your 28-digit enrolment ID (printed on the enrolment slip), or your 16-digit Virtual ID (VID).
• Your registered mobile: the OTP goes only to the number linked with your Aadhaar.
• A PDF reader: any phone or computer PDF viewer can open the file. Adobe Acrobat Reader is useful if you want to check the digital signature.

How to download e-Aadhaar from the myAadhaar portal

These steps are based on the UIDAI download page as checked in October 2026. Always use the official website, which ends in uidai.gov.in.

1. Open myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in and go to the Download Aadhaar option.
2. Choose whether you will use your Aadhaar number, enrolment ID or VID, and type it in.
3. Enter the captcha shown on the screen and tap Send OTP.
4. Type the OTP received on your registered mobile number.
5. If you want a masked copy, tick the option asking whether you want a masked Aadhaar. Leave it unticked for a regular copy.
6. Tap Verify and Download. The PDF will save to your phone or computer, usually in the Downloads folder.
7. Open the file and enter the password, which is explained in the next section.

If you use the enrolment ID, keep the full number from your slip handy. It includes the enrolment number and the date and time stamp, which together make up 28 digits.

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Aadhaar card PDF password format

UIDAI’s official FAQ says the e-Aadhaar password is a combination of the first four letters of your name in CAPITAL letters and your year of birth in YYYY format. The name is taken exactly as it is printed on your Aadhaar.

These examples are from UIDAI. Note what they show:

• Spaces are skipped. SAI KUMAR becomes SAIK, not SAI followed by a space.
• Dots count as characters. P. KUMAR becomes P.KU, so the dot stays in.
• Short names are used as they are. A three-letter name like RIA simply becomes RIA1990.
• Only capitals work. sure1990 in small letters will be rejected.

Password not working? Check these common mistakes

1. Wrong spelling: use the spelling printed on your Aadhaar, not the one on your PAN or school certificate. If your Aadhaar says MOHD, the password starts with MOHD, not MOHA.
2. Full date instead of year: only the four-digit year goes in. 15081995 will not work. 1995 will.
3. Caps lock and autocorrect: phone keyboards often change the first letter or add a space. Type slowly and check.
4. Initials and titles: if your Aadhaar name starts with an initial and a dot, the dot is part of the password.
5. Old or corrupted file: if the download was interrupted, the PDF may not open at all. Download it again.

What is masked Aadhaar and when should you use it?

A masked Aadhaar hides the first eight digits of your Aadhaar number and shows them as xxxx-xxxx. Only the last four digits are visible. Your name, photo, address and QR code remain on the document.

It is a safer choice when you have to share an ID copy with a hotel, a housing society, an event organiser or anyone who does not actually need your full number. The password for a masked e-Aadhaar works the same way as the regular one.

Some uses, like certain government benefit forms, may still ask for the full number. In those cases, share the regular copy only with the official agency. Fraudsters often misuse Aadhaar details while posing as officials, as seen in this fake Mumbai Police call story.

e-Aadhaar vs masked Aadhaar vs Aadhaar app: quick comparison

Is mAadhaar still available? The new Aadhaar app explained

For years, mAadhaar was UIDAI’s main mobile app. UIDAI is now phasing it out and moving users to a redesigned app simply called Aadhaar, as reported by Business Today in June 2026. At the time of writing (October 2026), UIDAI’s own website lists the Aadhaar app on the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.

According to UIDAI, the Aadhaar app supports e-Aadhaar download, mobile number and address update, biometric lock and unlock, authentication history, and selective sharing of Aadhaar details through a verifiable credential. Reports say it uses face authentication for login and lets you keep more than one family member’s Aadhaar profile on one phone.

Before installing, check that the developer is listed as UIDAI. Fake Aadhaar apps and websites do exist, and some of them ask for OTPs. Never share an Aadhaar OTP with anyone over a call or message.

What to do if your mobile number is not linked

Without a registered mobile number, you cannot receive the OTP, so the online download will not work. You have two main routes.

• Visit an Aadhaar centre: go to an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or an authorised enrolment centre to add or update your mobile number. You will need biometric verification.
• Use the Aadhaar app: UIDAI lists mobile number update among the services in the new app.

Once the number is updated, wait for the confirmation and then follow the download steps above.

How to check that your e-Aadhaar is genuine

The e-Aadhaar PDF carries UIDAI’s digital signature. When opened in Adobe Acrobat Reader with an internet connection, you can view the signature panel and validate it. A valid signature shows that the file has not been edited since UIDAI issued it.

The QR code on the e-Aadhaar can also be scanned with the Aadhaar app or UIDAI’s QR scanner to confirm the details. This is the best way to check someone else’s Aadhaar copy, since edited PDFs are a common scam.

Other useful things you can do on myAadhaar

• Order a PVC card: a wallet-sized Aadhaar card can be ordered online and is delivered by post.
• Generate a VID: a 16-digit Virtual ID can be used in place of your Aadhaar number for many services.
• Lock your Aadhaar or biometrics: this stops misuse of your fingerprints or number for authentication until you unlock it.
• Check update status: track a name, address or date of birth update request.

Aadhaar has become so common that it even turns up in jokes, like Sachin Tendulkar’s viral Reddit reply. Still, treat your number and OTP with care.

Frequently asked questions