How to Download Aadhaar Card Online — Fast & Secure (Step-by-step)

Updated guide: practical ways to download aadhar card using official portals and apps. Follow these simple steps to get your e-Aadhaar PDF securely.

Why use the e-Aadhaar and how to download aadhar card safely

The easiest way to carry Aadhaar is the e-Aadhaar PDF — it is legally valid and password-protected. To download aadhar card, you will typically need your 12-digit Aadhaar number, VID or Enrollment ID (EID) and access to the mobile number registered with UIDAI for OTP verification.

Four reliable methods to download aadhar card

1. UIDAI MyAadhaar Portal (recommended)

Go to the official MyAadhaar portal and choose Download Aadhaar. Enter Aadhaar/VID/EID, solve captcha and request OTP. After OTP verification you can download the e-Aadhaar PDF file. This is how most users prefer to download aadhar card.

2. mAadhaar App (mobile)

Install the mAadhaar app on Android or iOS, register with your mobile number and request e-Aadhaar. The app lets you save and open your e-Aadhaar safely — another simple way to download aadhar card.

3. DigiLocker

Login to DigiLocker with your mobile and fetch Aadhaar from UIDAI. DigiLocker provides an authenticated copy so you can easily download aadhar card as an issued document.

4. UMANG Portal

UMANG also supports Aadhaar services. Sign in, follow the MyAadhaar flow and download your e-Aadhaar after OTP verification. UMANG is an alternate channel to download aadhar card.

Tip: If your mobile is not linked to Aadhaar, visit the nearest Aadhaar centre to update contact details; otherwise OTP-based methods to download aadhar card won’t work.

Opening the e-Aadhaar PDF — password info

The e-Aadhaar PDF is password-protected. The password format is: the first 4 letters of your name in UPPERCASE + birth year (YYYY). Example: ROHI1990. Use this to open the e-Aadhaar you download aadhar card as.

Common issues & quick fixes

  • If OTP doesn't arrive: check network, mobile number registered with Aadhaar, and request resend.
  • If you forgot Aadhaar/EID: use 'Retrieve EID/Aadhaar' option on the official portal to recover using name + mobile + OTP.
  • To get a PVC Aadhaar or corrected Aadhaar, visit the official UIDAI services or an Aadhaar centre — after which you can again download aadhar card if needed.

Useful links

Official-like guidance pages used for reference:

FAQ — quick answers

How can I download aadhar card online?
Use UIDAI MyAadhaar, mAadhaar, DigiLocker or UMANG — enter Aadhaar/VID/EID and verify with OTP to download e-Aadhaar PDF.
What is the e-Aadhaar password?
First four letters of your name in CAPITALS + birth year (YYYY). Example: ROHI1990.
Is masked Aadhaar valid?
Yes — masked Aadhaar hides first 8 digits and works for most KYC needs.

Need more help? Visit the nearest Aadhaar centre or check official UIDAI guidance. Safe browsing — always use official portals or trusted apps to download aadhar card.