Masked Aadhaar Card: Hide Your First 8 Digits and Download Securely Through UIDAI
Aadhaar holders who want to reduce unnecessary exposure of their personal identification number can use the Masked Aadhaar facility provided by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI).
Masked Aadhaar is a version of the Aadhaar document in which the first eight digits of the 12-digit Aadhaar number are hidden, while only the last four digits remain visible.
UIDAI encourages residents to choose Masked Aadhaar wherever it is accepted and appropriate for the required service.
The facility is designed to help residents share their Aadhaar details more carefully without displaying the complete Aadhaar number on the document.
Users can download Masked Aadhaar through the official myAadhaar portal or access supported Aadhaar services through the official Aadhaar app.
What Is a Masked Aadhaar Card?Masked Aadhaar is an Aadhaar document that conceals the first eight digits of the holder's Aadhaar number.
Instead of displaying the complete 12-digit number, the document shows only the final four digits.
For example:
Aadhaar Type Example| Regular Aadhaar number | 1234 5678 9012 |
| Masked Aadhaar number | XXXX XXXX 9012 |
The number shown above is fictional and used only for illustration.
The masking feature helps reduce the unnecessary disclosure of the complete Aadhaar number when a person needs to present an Aadhaar document.
Other details visible on the document depend on the downloaded Aadhaar format.
Why Should You Use Masked Aadhaar?Aadhaar is widely used for identity-related purposes in India.
However, residents should avoid unnecessarily sharing their complete Aadhaar number, especially when the receiving organisation does not require it.
Masked Aadhaar offers an alternative by hiding most of the number while retaining the document's other relevant information.
It can be useful in situations where an organisation accepts Masked Aadhaar for identity verification or record-keeping.
The main benefit is limiting the visibility of the complete Aadhaar number.
However, masking the number does not make the document anonymous. Other personal information may still be visible, and residents should share it only with appropriate recipients.
Residents can obtain a Masked Aadhaar document through UIDAI's official online service.
Follow these steps:
The exact layout and available options may change as UIDAI updates its online services.
Residents should use only official UIDAI websites and applications.
UIDAI also provides Aadhaar-related services through its official mobile applications.
Residents can check the supported document and sharing features available in the current version of the Aadhaar app.
The supplied UIDAI advisory identifies the Aadhaar app as another option for obtaining Masked Aadhaar.
Users should download official applications only from trusted app stores and verify the publisher before installing them.
They should also avoid sharing OTPs, app PINs or authentication credentials with unknown individuals.
Is Masked Aadhaar Valid for Identity Verification?Masked Aadhaar is a UIDAI-provided form of the Aadhaar document.
However, its acceptance depends on the specific verification requirements of the organisation requesting Aadhaar.
Some services may accept Masked Aadhaar because the complete Aadhaar number is not necessary for their purpose.
Other processes may require Aadhaar authentication or additional information under the applicable rules.
Therefore, residents should confirm whether Masked Aadhaar is acceptable before submitting it.
UIDAI's advisory specifically recommends choosing the masked version wherever applicable
| Aadhaar number displayed | All 12 digits | Only the last 4 digits |
| First 8 digits | Visible | Hidden |
| Issued through UIDAI services | Yes | Yes |
| Helps limit exposure of the full number | No | Yes |
| Accepted for every purpose | Depends on requirements | Depends on requirements |
The primary difference is the visibility of the Aadhaar number.
Masked Aadhaar is particularly useful when a full Aadhaar number is unnecessary.
How to Open the Downloaded Aadhaar PDFThe downloaded electronic Aadhaar document is generally provided as a password-protected PDF.
UIDAI's standard e-Aadhaar password format uses the first four letters of the resident's name in capital letters, followed by the year of birth in YYYY format.
For example, if the name is RAHUL and the birth year is 1995, the password would be:
RAHU1995
Residents should refer to the official instructions displayed during download if they face difficulty opening the document.
Using Masked Aadhaar is one way to reduce the exposure of a full Aadhaar number, but it should be combined with other precautions.
Residents should avoid uploading Aadhaar documents to unfamiliar websites or sharing them through unverified messages.
They should also check why an organisation is requesting Aadhaar and whether a masked version or another accepted identity document can be used.
Aadhaar OTPs must never be shared with unknown callers or individuals claiming to provide urgent verification assistance.
If a person suspects misuse of Aadhaar details, they can review the security and authentication services available through UIDAI.
The official UIDAI helpline is 1947.
Does Masked Aadhaar Change Your Aadhaar Number?No. Downloading Masked Aadhaar does not generate a new Aadhaar number.
The underlying 12-digit identification number remains unchanged.
Only its appearance on the downloaded document is modified so that the first eight digits are concealed.
Residents can continue using their Aadhaar services according to the applicable requirements.
The masked document is simply an alternative way of presenting Aadhaar information with reduced visibility of the identification number.
UIDAI is encouraging Aadhaar holders to use Masked Aadhaar wherever it is applicable and accepted.
The facility displays only the final four digits of the Aadhaar number, hiding the first eight digits from view.
Residents can obtain the document through the official myAadhaar portal or supported Aadhaar app services.
Using Masked Aadhaar can help limit unnecessary sharing of the complete Aadhaar number, but users should still protect the other personal information visible on the document.
For official services and guidance, visit "https://myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in
Note: Masked Aadhaar acceptance depends on the requirements of the organisation or service requesting identification.