How to Lock-unlock Aadhar Biometric data online

The Aadhar card has established itself as one of the main documents for proving one’s identity. This biometric data can be utilized for verification when availing other services.  For instance, if you furnish your Aadhar as an ID proof for availing a sim card, the telecom company can access your data by using your fingerprint as doing so authenticates the ID quickly and speeds up KYC verification.

If you think your Information linked to Aadhar might get mishandled. Then you can avoid it by simply locking your biometric data that is stored on the UIDAI servers. The UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India). The issuer of the 12-digit UID number has come out with some step on how you can lock this information. Biometrics are fingerprints and iris data used for Aadhaar authentication. The UIDAI shared a video which contains all steps you need to follow to lock-unlock your information. The UIDAI said, “If you do not intend to use your biometrics in near future, you can lock your biometrics.” This can be done using a tool given on the UIDAI website – uidai.gov.in.

Locking of Biometrics Data protects privacy and confidentiality of resident’s biometrics Data. If you lock your data, the use of biometrics for authentication is restricted against any attempt to authenticate it, “thus preventing potential misuse”, according to the UIDAI.

Steps to lock your Aadhaarcard biometrics:

The first step is to hit the  UIDAI website, find and click on the ‘Lock/Unlock Biometrics’ link under the Aadhaar Services section. Here’s a link which will take you to the website.

Then Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number and Security Code under the Login using Aadhaar

You will get an OTP on your registered mobile number which you ‘ll have to enter in the respective field and click ‘Login’.

Once you have done these steps and successfully logged in. Enter the security code once again and click ‘Enable’. Now your Aadhar biometrics is locked. “You would not be able to use Aadhaar-based biometric authentication for any service unless you ‘Unlock’ your biometrics,” the UIDAI portal added.

Note that once you lock your Biometrics you will not be able to authenticate by using your fingerprint or iris. But you can any time unlock biometrics temporarily for any authentication requirements. You can also disable the Locked Biometrics But before that, you will be required to log in using your Aadhaar.

How to Unlock your Aadhar Biometric:

To unlock your biometrics, first of all, you will have to log in using the OTP-based method explained earlier. After you logged in successfully you will have to enter the security code and then click ‘Disable’ button on the next page to disable the biometric lock, according to the UIDAI website. You can either temporary unlock it or disable the locking system

UIDAI on their website says that “Users of the biometrics locking system are cautioned to use this facility with care to prevent denial of authentication services”.

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