Aadhaar Services via SMS - Aadhaar SMS Service Number

Last Updated : Dec. 18, 2024, 12:36 p.m.

The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has introduced a new service named ‘Aadhaar Services on SMS’. This service is designed for residents who may not have access to the internet, resident portal, m-Aadhaar, and other UIDAI services. The SMS feature allows you to generate or retrieve IDs, lock or unlock biometrics, and access other services. Read on to learn how to activate Aadhaar Services on SMS for a hassle-free experience.

Activating Aadhaar Services on SMS

To initiate Aadhaar Services via SMS, send a message from your linked mobile number to 1947 in the following format:

Generating Virtual ID via SMS

If you have completed the e-Aadhaar Card Download and need to know your virtual ID, send an SMS in the following format to 1947: GVID Last Four Digits of Your Aadhaar Number. For example, if your Aadhaar Number is 9769-4432-1287, your SMS should be GVID 1287. Send it to Aadhaar SMS service number 1947.

Retrieve Your Virtual ID

It’s common to forget your virtual ID number. To retrieve it, send an SMS in this format: RVIDlast four digits of your Aadhaar Number to 1947.

How to Receive an OTP via SMS?

To get an OTP using your Aadhaar Number, text: GETOTPlast four digits of your Aadhaar Number.

• For example, if the Aadhaar number is 1234-5678-9125 then, SMS – GETOTP 9125 and send it to 1947
• For Virtual ID users, the format is: GETOTPlast six digits of your Virtual ID.

For example, if the Virtual ID is 1234-1234-1234-8123 then

SMS – GETOTP 348123 and send it to 1947

Lock Your Aadhaar Through SMS

To lock your Aadhaar, you need to send two SMS:

1. First SMS - Request an OTP with: GETOTP, SPACE>last four digits of your Aadhaar Number
2. Second SMS - Lock the Aadhaar with LOCKUIDlast four digits of your Aadhaar number followed by the OTP.

Note: If you don’t have a virtual ID, generate one using the Aadhaar Services on SMS as mentioned above. If more than one Aadhaar Number is linked to your mobile and the last four digits are the same, modify your second SMS to: LOCKUIDthe last 8 digits of the Aadhaar Number you want to lockfollowed by the six-digit OTP.

Unlocking Aadhaar in Just Two Steps

To avail this service, you need to send two texts in the given format:

SMS 1 : GETOTPlast six digits of your Virtual ID.
SMS 2 : UNLOCKUIDVirtual-ID last six digits followed by the six-digit OTP.

For instance, if your Virtual ID is 1924-1234-1234-9123, then send an SMS with the text “GETOTP 9123” to 1947.

If you receive an OTP that reads "012345", then you should send an SMS with the text “UNLOCKUID 349123 012345” to 1947.

Note:

• This service is accessible exclusively through the use of a Virtual ID.
• If multiple Aadhaar Numbers are linked to the same mobile number, and if the last six digits of the Virtual IDs for at least two dependents are identical, then the format for the second SMS should be: UNLOCKUIDVirtual-ID-last-10-digitsOTP-6-digits.

Enable Biometric Lock with SMS

You are required to send 2 SMS to unlock Aadhaar biometrics by SMS facility:

If you use an Aadhaar Number:

SMS 1: Send GETOTPthe last four digits of your Aadhaar Number
SMS 2: Type ENABLEBIOLOCKAadhaar Number (last 4 digits) followed by a 6-digit OTP.

For instance, if your Aadhaar number is 1234-5678-9123, you should send an SMS that says “GETOTP 9123” to 1947.

If you then receive an OTP that reads "012345," you should send another SMS with “ENABLEBIOLOCK 9123 012345” to 1947.

If you use Virtual ID:

SMS 1: GETOTPVirtual-ID-last-6-digits
SMS 2: ENABLEBIOLOCKVirtual-ID- last-6-digitsOTP-6-digit

For instance, if your Virtual ID is 1234-1234-1234-9123, then send an SMS with “GETOTP 340123” to 1947.

If you receive an OTP that reads "012345," you should send an SMS with “ENABLEBIOLOCK 349123 012345” to 1947.

Note:

1. You cannot use this service if your Aadhaar is locked.
2. If you have more than one Aadhaar number linked to the same mobile number, and the last four digits of at least two of these Aadhaar numbers are the same for your dependents, then send the second SMS using this format:

ENABLEBIOLOCKAadhaar-Number-last-8-digitsOTP-6-digits.

1. If there are multiple Aadhaar numbers linked to the same mobile number, and the last six digits of the Virtual IDs are identical for at least two dependents, then send the second SMS in this format: ENABLEBIOLOCKVirtual-ID-last-10-digitsOTP-6-digits.

Disable Biometric Lock with SMS

For this service as well, you are required to send two text messages:

When using an Aadhaar card, type in the following messages:

SMS 1: GETOTPAadhaar-Number-last-4-digits
SMS 2: DISABLEBIOLOCKAadhaar-Number- last-4-digitsOTP-6-digits

For example, if your Aadhaar number is 9876-5432-1098, then send an SMS with “GETOTP 1098” to 1947.

If you receive an OTP that reads "678901," then you should send an SMS with “DISABLEBIOLOCK 1098 678901” to 1947.

When using Virtual ID, send the following texts:

SMS 1 : GETOTPVirtual-ID-last-6-digits

SMS 2 : DISABLEBIOLOCKVirtual-ID- last-6-digitsOTP-6-digits

For example, if your Virtual ID is 5678-5678-5678-4321, then send an SMS with “GETOTP 540321” to 1947.
If you receive an OTP that reads "678910," then you should send an SMS with “DISABLEBIOLOCK 549321 678910” to 1947.

Note:

1. You cannot use this service if your Aadhaar is locked.
2. If more than one Aadhaar number is connected to the same mobile number and the last four digits are the same for at least two dependents, send the second SMS like this: DISABLEBIOLOCKAadhaar-Number-last-8-digitsOTP-6-digits.
3. If multiple Aadhaar numbers are linked to the same mobile number and the last six digits of their Virtual IDs are the same for at least two dependents, send the second SMS as follows: DISABLEBIOLOCKVirtual-ID-last-10-digitsOTP-6-digits.

Temporarily Unlock Biometrics

When using the Aadhaar number, send the following texts:

Send GETOTPthe last four digits of your Aadhaar Number followed by UNBLOCKBIOAadhaar Number last 4 digits followed by the OTP.

For example, if the Aadhaar number is 9876-5432-8765 then:

SMS – GETOTP 8765 and send it to 1947

If you receive the OTP as "678901" then: SMS – UNLOCKBIO 8765 678901 and send it to 1947.

When using Virtual ID, type in the following messages:

Send GETOTPVirtual-ID-last-6-digits followed by UNBLOCKBIOVirtual-ID- last-6-digitsOTP-6-digits.

For example, if the Virtual ID is 5678-5678-5678-4321 then: SMS – GETOTP 540321 and send it to 1947

If you receive the OTP as "654321" then: SMS – UNLOCKBIO 549321 654321 and send it to 1947.

Note:

1. You cannot use this service if your Aadhaar is locked.
2. If multiple Aadhaar numbers linked to the same mobile number share the same last four digits, and this applies to at least two dependents, the format for the second SMS should be: UNBLOCKBIOAadhaar-Number-last-8-digitsOTP-6-digits.
3. Similarly, if multiple Aadhaar numbers linked to the same mobile number have Virtual IDs with the same last six digits, and this applies to at least two dependents, the second SMS should be sent as UNBLOCKBIOVirtual-ID-last-10-digitsOTP-6-digits.

Remember to link your Aadhaar Number with your mobile number to avail of these Aadhaar Services via SMS.