• Source:JND

Most of us use Aadhaar whenever identity verification is required, whether it's for banking, SIM verification or government services. But once that process is over, your biometrics don't necessarily have to remain active. That's exactly why the Aadhaar App offers a biometric lock feature, and it looks like more people are starting to use it.

The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), in a press release issued on July 18, said the Aadhaar App has now been downloaded more than four crore times. Alongside that, the biometric lock and unlock feature has already been used over 1.91 crore times, suggesting that users are becoming more conscious about protecting their personal data.

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So what does the feature actually do?

Think of it as a safety switch for your Aadhaar biometrics. Once you lock them, your fingerprint, iris scan and facial authentication linked to your Aadhaar number cannot be used for verification. They stay disabled until you decide to unlock them again through the Aadhaar App.

This means that even if someone has your Aadhaar number, they won't be able to complete biometric authentication while the lock is active. If anyone tries, the request simply fails and returns error code "330", which indicates that the biometrics are locked.

Of course, there's one condition. Your mobile number must already be linked with your Aadhaar because the feature works through the Aadhaar App and requires you to log in securely.

Here's How You Can Lock or Unlock Your Aadhaar Biometrics

The process barely takes a minute.

Open the Aadhaar App and sign in using your six digit PIN. Right below your Aadhaar card on the home screen, you'll find the Biometric Lock/Unlock option. Tap it once, confirm your choice, and your biometrics will be locked. Whenever you need to use biometric authentication again, return to the same option and unlock them.

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There's another way too

After logging into the app, head to the Security section. From there, select Biometric Lock/Unlock and confirm your action. You can revisit the same page anytime to unlock your biometrics before using any Aadhaar enabled service.

According to MeitY, the feature is designed to give Aadhaar holders more control over how their biometric information is used. Since fingerprints, iris scans and facial authentication are commonly used to verify identity across several services, locking them when they're not needed is a simple habit that can add an extra layer of security. It only takes a few taps, but it can go a long way in preventing misuse of your biometric data.


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