The introduction of different types of Aadhaar services available on SMS by UIDAI enables Aadhaar card holders who do not have access to the internet to avail various Aadhaar services. These services include VID generation/retrieval, biometric lock/unlock, Aadhaar lock/unlock, etc. To learn more about this service, keep reading till the end.

The Aadhaar SMS service was launched by UIDAI with the purpose to enable residents to access Aadhaar services without having to access the internet. This service is helpful for Aadhaar card holders who cannot access the UIDAI official website or the mAadhaar app.

The different types of Aadhaar SMS services are as follows:

• Generation of Virtual ID
• Retrieval of Virtual ID
• Locking Aadhaar biometric
• Unlocking Aadhaar biometric
• Locking Aadhaar number
• Unlocking Aadhaar

The locking and unlocking processes of Aadhaar SMS services include the following steps:

Locking Aadhaar Card

To lock your Aadhaar, it is mandatory to pre-generate your VID. Now, to lock your Aadhaar number, you need to send 2 SMSs. Now follow the listed steps:

• Step 1: Send an SMS from your registered mobile number, 1947, to receive OTP. Send the SMS in the format- GETOTP (space) last four digits of your Aadhaar number. For example, if your Aadhaar number is 1232 5672 4324, the SMS you will send will be GETOTP 4324. 
• Step 2: After the OTP is sent, UIDAI will send you a 6-digit OTP via SMS. 
• Step 3: Lock your Aadhaar by sending another SMS in the format LOCKUID (space) last four digits of the Aadhaar number space the 6-digit OTP sent to you. 

Your UID will now be locked, and you will receive a confirmation.

Unlocking your Aadhaar Card

You would also require a VID to commence this process. To unlock your Aadhaar number, you need to send 2 SMSs. Now follow the listed steps:

• Step 1: Send an SMS from your registered mobile number, 1947, to receive OTP. Send the SMS in the format- GETOTP (space) last six digits of your VID number. For example, if your Aadhaar number is 1232 5672 4324, the SMS you will send will be GETOTP 724324. 
• Step 2: After the OTP is sent, UIDAI will send you a 6-digit OTP via SMS.
• Step 3: Now, unlock your Aadhaar by sending another SMS in the format UNLOCKUID (space) last six digits of your VID number space the 6-digit OTP sent to you.

Your UID will now be unlocked, and you will receive a confirmation.

To avail of Aadhaar services via SMS, follow the steps below:

Generation of Virtual ID

• Step 1: Send an SMS to 1947 in the following format- GVID (space) last four digits of your Aadhaar number.

Retrieve Virtual ID

• Step 2: RVID (space) Last four digits of your Aadhaar number.

Get OTP

• Step 3: If you are using an Aadhaar Number- GETOTP (Space) the last four digits of your Aadhaar number.
• Step 4: If you are using Virtual ID- GETOTP (space) the last six digits of your VID number.

The process to avail of different types of Aadhaar services available on SMS is straightforward. You can now easily avail of Aadhaar related services from the steps mentioned above.