How To Retrieve Lost Aadhaar Number (EID/UID) in 2026

Losing your Aadhaar card or forgetting your 12-digit Aadhaar number is more common than most people expect — and it can feel alarming when you suddenly need it for a bank KYC, an insurance claim, an income tax filing, or a government scheme application. The good news is that UIDAI has built multiple recovery options specifically for this situation. Whether you remember your registered mobile number, your enrolment ID from your original slip, or even just your basic personal details, there is a path to retrieving your Aadhaar number without visiting an enrolment centre in most cases. This guide explains every method available in 2026 to retrieve a lost or forgotten Aadhaar number (UID) or Enrolment ID (EID), along with what to do when none of the standard methods work.

Understanding UID vs EID: What Are You Looking For?

• UID (Unique Identification Number): Your permanent 12-digit Aadhaar number assigned once your enrolment was processed and approved by UIDAI. This is the number printed on your Aadhaar card and used for all identity verification, banking KYC, insurance eKYC, and government service access. Once assigned, this number is permanent and never changes.
• EID (Enrolment ID): A temporary 28-digit reference number (14-digit EID + 14-digit date-time) given to you at the time of enrolment at the centre, printed on your acknowledgement slip. The EID is used only before your UID is generated — once the UID is generated, the EID’s primary use is in retrieving your UID through the UIDAI portal.
• If you received and used an Aadhaar card in the past, you have a UID. The EID is typically only relevant for people who enrolled recently and have not yet received their Aadhaar, or for those who have their enrolment slip but lost the card before noting down the UID.
• Most people who “lost their Aadhaar” actually still have their UID assigned — they just do not remember the number or no longer have the physical card. UIDAI’s retrieval tools are designed for exactly this scenario.

Method 1: Retrieve Aadhaar Number (UID) Using Registered Mobile Number

This is the fastest and most commonly used method — if your mobile number is registered with UIDAI, you can retrieve your Aadhaar number in under two minutes entirely online.

1. Visit the official UIDAI website and navigate to “My Aadhaar” in the top menu
2. Click on “Retrieve Lost or Forgotten EID/UID” under the Aadhaar Services section
3. On the retrieval page, select “Aadhaar No. (UID)” as the type you want to retrieve
4. Enter your full name as it is registered in your Aadhaar record
5. Enter your registered mobile number or registered email address in the field provided
6. Enter the security CAPTCHA code displayed on screen accurately
7. Click “Send OTP” — a One Time Password is sent to your registered mobile number or email
8. Enter the OTP within the validity period (typically 10 minutes)
9. Your Aadhaar number (UID) will be displayed on screen and also sent as an SMS to your registered mobile number
10. Note down your UID immediately or download your e-Aadhaar right away using the same number

Method 2: Retrieve Enrolment ID (EID) Using Registered Mobile Number

If you enrolled recently and have not yet received your Aadhaar — and you need the EID to check your application status — use the same retrieval portal but select EID instead of UID:

1. Go to the UIDAI website and click “Retrieve Lost or Forgotten EID/UID”
2. Select “Enrolment No. (EID)” as the type you want to retrieve
3. Enter your full name as submitted during enrolment
4. Enter your registered mobile number or registered email address
5. Enter the CAPTCHA and click “Send OTP”
6. Enter the OTP received on your mobile or email
7. Your 14-digit EID and the enrolment date-time will be sent to your registered mobile number via SMS
8. Use this EID to check your enrolment status on the UIDAI status check portal

Method 3: Retrieve Aadhaar Using Email Instead of Mobile

• The UIDAI retrieval portal also accepts a registered email address as the OTP delivery method if your mobile number is not active or accessible
• Select the email option on the retrieval page and enter the email address you registered with UIDAI during enrolment or a subsequent update
• The OTP is delivered to that email address — check your inbox and spam folder
• Enter the OTP to retrieve your UID — the process is identical to the mobile OTP method
• This method is particularly useful for those who have changed their mobile number since enrolment and not yet updated it in Aadhaar, but still have access to the originally registered email

Method 4: Retrieve Aadhaar Without Mobile Number or Email Using mAadhaar

If you have previously added your Aadhaar to the mAadhaar app on a smartphone, you can retrieve your UID directly from the app even if you no longer have the physical card:

• Open the mAadhaar application on the smartphone where your Aadhaar was previously added
• Your Aadhaar profile is displayed in the app showing your name, photograph, and the last four digits of your Aadhaar number by default
• To see the full UID, use the “Show Aadhaar” or “Reveal Aadhaar Number” function within the app — this requires your app PIN and may require a TOTP or OTP authentication step
• If the app is still installed and your profile is loaded, this is the fastest retrieval method with zero internet dependency after initial setup

What to Do When Mobile Number and Email Are Both Unavailable

The most challenging scenario is when both the registered mobile number and registered email are inaccessible — the number may have been deactivated, the email account forgotten, or neither was registered during enrolment. In this case, the online retrieval tools will not work and the following offline steps are necessary:

• Check all physical documents first: Your Aadhaar number may be printed on documents you still have — old bank account passbooks from SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, or other banks may show it if you provided it for account opening; property documents, insurance policies from LIC or Star Health Insurance, school records, or any government form you filled in the past may contain your Aadhaar number
• Check your email archives: Search your email inbox (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, or other providers) for messages from UIDAI or from banks that would have confirmed your Aadhaar-based KYC — these emails often contain your Aadhaar number or at least the last four digits
• Check old SMS messages: If you still have the original mobile where UIDAI sent your Aadhaar generation confirmation SMS, scroll back through old messages — the SMS typically says “Your Aadhaar has been generated: XXXX” with the last few digits visible
• Visit your bank branch: Banks that used Aadhaar for your account KYC — SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, or any bank where you opened an account — have your Aadhaar number on file in their KYC records. Visit the branch with your other identity documents and request confirmation of the Aadhaar number linked to your account
• Check EPFO records: If your Aadhaar is seeded to your UAN (Universal Account Number), log into the EPFO member portal using your UAN and password — your masked Aadhaar number (showing last 4 digits) will be visible in the profile section

Last Resort: Visit an Aadhaar Enrolment Centre

• If no online or document-based method works, visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or authorized enrolment centre with any valid identity document you have
• The centre operator can search the UIDAI database using your biometric data (fingerprint or iris scan) to identify and retrieve your Aadhaar number — your biometrics are unique to you and serve as the ultimate identity fallback
• This is a walk-in service at most Aadhaar Seva Kendras and does not require an appointment, though booking one reduces waiting time
• A nominal fee of Rs. 50 applies for assisted retrieval services at enrolment centres
• Once your UID is retrieved, update your mobile number and email on the same visit so you have digital recovery options available in the future

After Retrieving Your Aadhaar Number: Immediate Steps

• Download e-Aadhaar immediately: Once you have your UID and your registered mobile number is accessible, download your e-Aadhaar from the UIDAI website — keep it saved on your phone and as a PDF on your laptop or cloud storage
• Add to mAadhaar app: Install the official mAadhaar app and add your Aadhaar — this ensures you always have digital access even if the physical card is lost again
• Order a PVC card: Pay the Rs. 50 fee through the UIDAI website to order a durable PVC Aadhaar card delivered to your registered address — wallet-sized and waterproof, it is far harder to lose or damage than a paper Aadhaar
• Update mobile number if needed: If you were unable to use the online retrieval because your mobile number was not registered or had changed, visit an enrolment centre immediately to register a current mobile number — this ensures the retrieval tools work next time
• Save UID in multiple secure places: Write your 12-digit Aadhaar UID in a secure personal diary, save it in your phone’s notes with a password, email it to yourself as a backup, or store it in a secure password manager alongside your other important numbers

Common Scenarios and Their Solutions

• Enrolled years ago, never received the card, and lost the EID slip: Use the online EID/UID retrieval portal with your registered mobile. If the Aadhaar was generated, your UID will appear. If not, check enrolment status using the retrieved EID.
• Had an Aadhaar, used it for years, but lost the card and do not remember the number: Use the online UID retrieval portal with your registered mobile number — your UID is permanently in the UIDAI database and cannot be lost, only temporarily misplaced from memory.
• Changed mobile number and did not update Aadhaar: The online retrieval tool will not work. Try email OTP if available, check documents for the number, or visit a centre for biometric retrieval. Update the mobile number at the same centre visit.
• Enrolled but biometric deduplication rejected the enrolment (duplicate detected): Your biometrics matched an existing Aadhaar — which means you already have an Aadhaar number. Use the online retrieval or centre biometric search to find the existing number rather than re-enrolling.

Why Storing Your Aadhaar Number Securely Matters

Your 12-digit Aadhaar UID is the key to your identity across India’s financial and government service ecosystem. Losing access to it disrupts the following services:

• Banking: Account opening, eKYC, loan applications, and KYC compliance verification at SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and all scheduled commercial banks
• Insurance: Policy issuance and claim processing at LIC, Star Health Insurance, Niva Bupa, Care Health, HDFC ERGO, and Bajaj Allianz require Aadhaar verification
• Tax and investment: PAN-Aadhaar linking, ITR filing, and mutual fund KYC at platforms including Groww, Zerodha, Paytm Money, and HDFC Mutual Fund all require the UID
• Government benefits: PM Kisan, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, LPG subsidy, MGNREGS wages, and all DBT scheme payments are linked to your Aadhaar UID
• EPFO and pension: EPF withdrawal, UAN seeding, and Atal Pension Yojana all require Aadhaar UID for processing
• Loans: NBFCs including Bajaj Finance, Tata Capital, Muthoot Finance, and Mahindra Finance use Aadhaar for instant credit verification — without UID, the process reverts to slower manual KYC

Protecting Your Aadhaar UID from Future Loss

• Register both your mobile number and email address in your Aadhaar record — this gives you two independent OTP delivery channels for online retrieval
• Install the mAadhaar app and add your Aadhaar to it — digital access through the app does not depend on having the physical card or remembering the number
• Order the Rs. 50 PVC Aadhaar card for a durable physical card that does not deteriorate like the paper original
• Store your Aadhaar UID number in your bank’s registered mobile notes, in a family-shared secure document, and in at least one digital backup location such as a personal email draft or encrypted notes app
• Link your Aadhaar to DigiLocker — the government’s document storage platform — for another access point to your digital Aadhaar at all times

Aadhaar Number and Financial Services: Why Recovery Must Be Immediate

When you lose access to your Aadhaar number even temporarily, it blocks a chain of services that modern financial and government infrastructure depends on. Understanding exactly which services are affected helps you prioritize recovery speed:

• Instant bank account opening: Banks including SBI, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank use Aadhaar eKYC for zero-paperwork digital account opening. Without your UID, account opening reverts to physical document submission and in-branch processing — adding days of delay.
• Home loan and personal loan processing: Lenders including HDFC Ltd, LIC Housing Finance, SBI Home Loans, Bajaj Finance, and Tata Capital verify residential address and identity through Aadhaar eKYC. A missing UID forces the loan processing team into manual verification mode, adding days or weeks to disbursement timelines.
• Health insurance enrollment: Star Health Insurance, Niva Bupa, Care Health, and HDFC ERGO use Aadhaar-based paperless KYC for policy issuance. Without UID, an alternative physical KYC process is required, which is slower and more document-intensive.
• Investment account activation: SEBI-mandated KYC through Aadhaar OTP is used by Groww, Zerodha, Paytm Money, ET Money, and HDFC Mutual Fund for account activation. Without UID, KYC through physical documents and in-person verification is required.
• DBT scheme benefits: PM Kisan, Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, scholarship disbursements, and MGNREGS wage payments all route through Aadhaar-linked bank accounts — delays in UID recovery can delay benefit credits.
• EPFO services: EPF withdrawal, UAN generation, and EPS-95 pension processing all require Aadhaar UID for authentication — critical for those planning fund access during career transitions or retirement.

Aadhaar Number in DigiLocker: Another Quick Recovery Route

• If you previously linked your Aadhaar to DigiLocker, your digital Aadhaar is accessible through the DigiLocker app or website even without remembering the UID manually
• Open DigiLocker and go to “Issued Documents” — the Aadhaar card document issued by UIDAI will be listed there, and opening it will reveal your complete Aadhaar including the UID
• DigiLocker login uses your DigiLocker registered mobile (which may be different from your Aadhaar registered mobile) — giving an additional recovery path when UIDAI’s own portal requires the Aadhaar-registered number
• The DigiLocker document is digitally signed by UIDAI and can also be directly presented for identity verification at banks, government offices, and insurance counters where DigiLocker documents are accepted
• Banks including SBI, HDFC Bank, and ICICI Bank and insurers including LIC and Star Health Insurance formally accept DigiLocker Aadhaar as equivalent to a physical card or e-Aadhaar printout

Preventing Future Aadhaar Number Loss: A Practical Checklist

• Register both your mobile number and email with UIDAI — this gives you two independent OTP-based recovery paths for the online retrieval tool
• Install the mAadhaar app on your smartphone and add your Aadhaar profile — your UID is accessible in the app even if you cannot remember the number
• Link your Aadhaar to DigiLocker — provides a government-secured third access point independent of UIDAI’s own portal
• Take a photograph of both sides of your Aadhaar card and save it in a password-protected folder on your phone’s cloud backup (Google Photos, iCloud, or OneDrive with encryption enabled)
• Write your 12-digit UID in a personal document kept at home — a bank passbook, personal diary, or secure family record document where you store important numbers
• Order the Rs. 50 PVC Aadhaar card — its durability (waterproof, wallet-sized, card material) makes it far less likely to be damaged, lost, or misplaced compared to the paper Aadhaar letter