When you download your Aadhaar from the myAadhaar portal or the Aadhaar app, you get a PDF called e-Aadhaar. It is digitally signed by UIDAI and is as valid as the printed Aadhaar letter. It is also password protected, which confuses many people the first time they try to open it, print it or upload it to a form. This guide explains the password format with examples, why the password sometimes "does not work", and how to remove it when a website refuses to accept a locked file.
The e-Aadhaar password format
According to UIDAI, the password is a combination of:
- the first four letters of your name in CAPITAL letters, exactly as printed on your Aadhaar, followed by
- your year of birth in four digits (YYYY).
UIDAI gives these examples on its official FAQ page:
| Name on Aadhaar | Year of birth | Password |
|---|---|---|
| SURESH KUMAR | 1990 | SURE1990 |
| SAI KUMAR | 1990 | SAIK1990 |
| P. KUMAR | 1990 | P.KU1990 |
| RIA | 1990 | RIA1990 |
Notice what these examples tell you: spaces are skipped (SAI KUMAR becomes SAIK), but a dot counts as a character (P. KUMAR becomes P.KU), and if your name has fewer than four letters, you use the whole name. Always check the current rule on the official UIDAI website if the format seems to have changed.
Why the password does not work
If the PDF keeps saying "incorrect password", check these common causes one by one:
- Small letters. The letters must be capitals. On a phone, the keyboard often starts with a capital and then switches to lowercase. Turn on caps lock.
- Name spelt differently. Use the spelling printed on your Aadhaar, not the spelling on your PAN or school certificate. If your Aadhaar says "MOHAMMAD", "MOHD" will not work.
- Initials and titles. Include dots and initials exactly as they appear. If your Aadhaar starts with "Dr." or a single initial, that is part of the first four characters.
- Year of birth. Use the year printed on your Aadhaar. If only the year was recorded at enrolment, it is still that year.
- Wrong person's file. Families often download Aadhaar for several members on one phone. Make sure you are opening the right file.
- Old PDF reader. Some very old or basic PDF apps fail to open the file even with the right password. Try Chrome, which has a built-in PDF viewer, or Adobe Acrobat Reader, which UIDAI recommends for validating the digital signature.
Why remove the password at all?
A password-protected PDF is safer to keep on your phone, so do not remove it without a reason. But many situations require an unlocked copy:
- Government, job and exam portals often reject encrypted PDFs or fail to read them.
- You need to merge Aadhaar with other documents into one file.
- You want to compress it to fit a size limit, or convert it to an image.
- A print shop or office computer cannot open protected files.
Remove the password step by step
- Open Unlock PDF on your phone or computer.
- Select your e-Aadhaar PDF.
- Enter the password in the format above.
- Download the unlocked copy. It opens without asking for a password.
The tool runs in your browser, so your Aadhaar is not uploaded to our server. It only works when you know the password; it is not a password cracker, and you should only unlock documents that belong to you or that you are authorised to handle.
An alternative on a computer is to open the PDF in Chrome with the password and use Print → Save as PDF. That creates an unprotected copy too, but the result is a "printed" version and the digital signature is no longer verifiable. The same is true of any unlocked copy: UIDAI's digital signature belongs to the original file, so keep the original for situations where a verifiable e-Aadhaar is needed.
What to do next with the unlocked file
- Size limit: compress it with Compress PDF to 200 KB or another target that matches the form. See our compression guide.
- Image required: convert the page to JPG with PDF to JPG; read how to convert a PDF to JPG for forms.
- Only the card part: crop away the instructions with Crop PDF.
- Combine with other proofs: use Merge PDF.
Share Aadhaar copies safely
An Aadhaar copy is one of the most misused documents in India. A few habits reduce the risk:
- Use masked Aadhaar where possible. The myAadhaar portal lets you download a masked e-Aadhaar that shows only the last four digits of the number. Hotels, landlords and many service providers do not need the full number.
- Mask it yourself if you only have the full version: black out the first eight digits permanently with Redact PDF. See how to mask your Aadhaar number.
- Stamp the purpose on copies, such as "For SIM verification only – 20/10/2026", with Add Watermark. Our guide on watermarking ID copies explains how.
- Delete unlocked copies from shared computers, cyber café PCs and chat downloads when you are done.
- Lock the biometrics in the myAadhaar portal or app if you do not use fingerprint authentication often.
Common questions
Is the unlocked copy still valid?
It shows the same information, and for most uploads it is accepted. However, only the original downloaded file carries UIDAI's verifiable digital signature, so keep that original as well.
I forgot which year is on my Aadhaar
Check your physical Aadhaar letter or PVC card, or log in to the myAadhaar portal. Guessing different years is fine, but the file does not reveal any hint.
Is the PAN card PDF password the same?
No, e-PAN uses a different format based on your date of birth. See the e-PAN password guide.
Try it now: Unlock PDF is free to start and works on mobile and desktop.
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