Legal information notice: this article provides general information and isn't a substitute for advice from a qualified lawyer.
Your fingerprints and iris scan are the one part of your Aadhaar that can’t be changed if compromised — which is exactly why UIDAI built a free, direct tool to lock them from being used at all, regardless of who has a copy of your Aadhaar number. If you’re concerned about biometric misuse, or just want to close this exposure proactively, here’s exactly how.
Locking your Aadhaar biometrics disables fingerprint and iris-based authentication against your Aadhaar number entirely — no one, including you, can complete a biometric transaction while it’s locked. Importantly, demographic authentication (name, address, date of birth matching) and OTP-based authentication continue to work normally even while biometrics are locked, so your Aadhaar remains usable for most everyday purposes.
Open myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in in your browser, or open the official mAadhaar app on your phone.
Tick the consent box, enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number, and complete the security captcha.
Request and enter the OTP sent to your registered mobile number to authenticate the request.
You’ll receive an on-screen confirmation and an SMS confirming your biometrics are now locked — this service is free.
When you need biometric authentication for a specific transaction (e.g. a bank e-KYC), temporarily unlock it — it automatically re-locks after 10 minutes, or immediately after you complete one biometric transaction, whichever comes first.
Locking your biometrics is a genuinely proactive security step, not just a reaction to a confirmed incident — since fingerprints and iris data can’t be reset like a password if ever compromised, keeping them locked by default and unlocking only for the specific moments you actually need biometric authentication is a reasonable long-term habit, not an overreaction.
| While Biometrics Are Locked | Status |
|---|---|
| Fingerprint/iris authentication | Completely blocked — this is the entire point of the lock |
| OTP-based authentication | Works normally, unaffected by the biometric lock |
| Demographic authentication (name/address/DOB match) | Works normally, unaffected by the biometric lock |
No. Locking, unlocking, and disabling this feature are all completely free through UIDAI’s official channels.
Yes — this is a self-service UIDAI feature. A lawyer becomes relevant only if you’ve suffered actual financial fraud traced to biometric misuse and need to pursue a formal claim.
Need professional legal help with this?
Find a Lawyer on VidyodayIf you’re locking your biometrics because of an actual loan or account fraud you’ve already discovered, see our guide on someone used my Aadhaar to take a loan for the full recovery process. For the broader identity-theft framework, see our pillar guide on identity theft in India.
No — demographic and OTP-based authentication continue to work normally, so most everyday uses of Aadhaar are unaffected.
Use the same myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in or mAadhaar app flow to temporarily unlock — it automatically re-locks after 10 minutes or one transaction.
No, this service is completely free through UIDAI’s official channels.
Log into myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in and review your Aadhaar authentication history for any transactions you don’t recognize.
It’s a reasonable proactive step, since biometric data can’t be reset if compromised the way a password can — many people choose to keep it locked by default.
You can unlock it in advance through the same portal or app right before your appointment — it only takes a few minutes with OTP verification.
Your authentication history shows the type and timing of transactions; identifying the specific party responsible typically requires escalating to UIDAI’s grievance process or a formal investigation.
This article is for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. UIDAI’s features and processes can change — verify current guidance on uidai.gov.in before relying on this for a real situation.
