How to Lock and Unlock Your Fingerprint and Iris Using the New Aadhaar App: Step-by-Step Guide
Using the newly launched Aadhaar app by the Unique Identification Authority of India, people can lock/unlock their fingerprints and irises right from their mobile phones.
This facility has been provided in order to ensure that Aadhaar users are protected against any unauthorized usage of their biometrics. If you lock your biometrics, then anyone else cannot authenticate his/her Aadhaar using your fingerprint or irises until you unlock it again temporarily.
Why Should You Lock Your Aadhaar Biometrics?
The Aadhaar biometrics are utilized for authentication when one uses various services including e-KYC, banking, SIM verification, and Aadhaar benefit services authentication.
The additional level of security will be provided by locking of the biometrics which will prevent their misappropriation by anyone who can get access to one’s fingerprints or iris scans.
In case someone knows one’s Aadhaar number, the authentication process will not be successful due to the lock feature.
How to Lock Your Fingerprint and Iris Using the New Aadhaar App
To begin with, download the official app of Aadhaar by UIDAI and log in through your registered mobile number and PIN of the app.
Once logged into the app, navigate to the home screen and click on the Biometrics Lock/Unlock feature provided under your Aadhaar card.
Go through the necessary verification process like OTP or authentication through the app itself and then activate the biometric lock.
Once activated, your fingerprint and iris authentication will be locked until you unlock them or deactivate the biometric lock.
How to Unlock Your Biometrics
Whenever you need to complete Aadhaar-based biometric verification, open the Aadhaar app and log in.
- Select Biometrics Lock/Unlock and choose the Unlock Biometrics option.
- Verify your request using OTP or the required authentication method.
UIDAI temporarily unlocks your fingerprint and iris authentication so that you can complete the required Aadhaar verification. After the temporary unlock period expires, your biometrics are automatically locked again if biometric locking remains enabled.
Can You Permanently Disable Biometric Lock?
Yes. If you wish to deactivate the biometric locking service, you will have the option to do so using the Aadhaar application after authentication.
Deactivating the biometric locking service will allow you to use your fingerprints and iris for normal Aadhaar authentication services till you activate the locking service again.
What Happens When Biometrics Are Locked?
In the event biometric locking has been applied, authentication using fingerprint scan or iris scan from the Aadhaar ID will not be possible.
As a result, other services including biometric-based e-KYC service, bank account verification, SIM card verification, or any other biometric-based transactions using the Aadhaar ID would not be possible.
Nevertheless, other services which do not need biometric authentication using the Aadhaar ID are still available.
Is the New Aadhaar App Different From mAadhaar?
Yes. The UIDAI has launched a new version of the Aadhaar app that comes with many features such as better biometrics handling, digital Aadhaar sharing, credential verification, authentication history, among others. The previous mAadhaar app is being phased out, and people are advised to migrate to the new app.
Tips to Keep Your Aadhaar Secure
Lock your biometrics when they are not needed, use only the official UIDAI Aadhaar app, keep your registered mobile number active to receive OTPs, never share OTPs with anyone, and unlock your biometrics only just before completing Aadhaar authentication. These simple precautions can significantly reduce the risk of misuse.
Conclusion
It is easier than ever to secure yourself from any threat to your biometric identity using the Aadhaar application. This can be done by locking your fingerprint and iris when not in use and unlocking them only when necessary, hence securing your Aadhaar identity and lowering the risk of identity theft.
The process of securing yourself using the biometric lock on your Aadhaar is very quick but can offer good security against any abuse of your fingerprint and iris.
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