How to Download Masked Aadhaar – Step-by-Step Guide

If you want to know how to Download Masked Aadhaar Log into myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in and type in your Aadhaar number. Once you tick the masked Aadhaar box and verify the OTP, downloading starts right there, no extra clicks. You'll get a file with just the last 4 digits showing, the other 8 stay covered.

Key Takeaways

• The first 8 digits appear as "xxxx-xxxx" in your masked aadhaar. UIDAI still applies its digital signature to this version, so it holds the same legal validity as the full document.
• Downloading your masked Aadhar is free through the myAadhaar portal or the mAadhaar app. ₹30 will be charged through an enrolment centre.

Landlords ask for ID proof. Hotels want it too. Coworking spaces, telecom stores, plenty of places ask without really needing your full 12-digit number, and giving it out anyway just creates unnecessary risk. 

That is the gap UIDAI, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, set out to close with masked Aadhaar. You can have a masked copy downloaded in a few minutes from the myAadhaar portal with your Aadhaar number and linked mobile. Let’s discuss the download steps, the file password, and the places it actually gets accepted.

What is a Masked Aadhaar?

A masked aadhar is your regular e-Aadhaar with the first 8 digits blanked out. UIDAI states it's digitally signed and holds the same legal validity as the unmasked version, wherever a full number isn't specifically demanded.

Nothing else on the document changes. Photo, name, address, date of birth, QR code prints exactly like it would on your full Aadhaar. Only the number gets partly covered, which is why most banks, telecom outlets and property owners accept it.

How Can You Download Masked Aadhaar Online?

Here is how to Download Masked Aadhaar online:

1. Go to the UIDAI website and find the Download Aadhaar section. 
2. Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number. You can also use your Enrolment ID or Virtual ID instead, if you have one on hand.
3. Enter the security code displayed on screen. 
4. Check the box marked "Masked Aadhaar" before requesting the OTP. Miss that tick box and you'll end up downloading the full Aadhaar with all 12 digits showing instead. 
5. Your registered mobile gets the OTP within a minute, give or take. 

You can do the same from the mAadhaar app on your phone.

What is the Masked Aadhaar PDF Password?

Capitalise and type the first 4 letters of your name and your birth year right after. UIDAI spells out this format on its FAQ page. Here are some examples of what your PDF password looks like in practice:

For names with fewer than four letters, use the available letters followed by the year of birth, as shown in UIDAI’s example: RIA1990. Opening the file and checking its digital signature also needs Adobe Reader installed on your device.

Who is Allowed to Download a Masked Aadhaar?

If you've got an Aadhaar number and a registered mobile, you can pull your own copy, free, whenever you need it. The rule applies to all adults, minors enrolled by a guardian, or NRIs with an Aadhaar.

If your mobile number is not linked with your Aadhar, then OTP verification simply won't work for you online. You'll need to visit an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre, where biometrics replace the OTP step and a ₹30 charge applies for the printed copy.

Where Does Masked Aadhaar Work instead of the Full Number?

Anywhere identity matters more than the number itself. That covers most day-to-day KYC situations:

• Opening a bank account or starting a loan application
• Getting a new SIM issued
• Hotel or coworking space check-in
• ID checks at exam centres

Masked Aadhaar may be accepted for certain identity-verification purposes, but lenders may require additional KYC documents or verification depending on their requirements. So, you should keep both the versions with yourself.

What is the difference between Masked Aadhaar and Full Aadhaar?

Find below the basic differences: