How to Open Your e-Aadhaar PDF: Password Format & Free Unlock Guide (2026)

You downloaded your e-Aadhaar from the UIDAI portal, double-clicked the PDF, and hit a wall: a password prompt. This isn't an error — every e-Aadhaar PDF is password-protected by design, because it contains your name, photo, address, and Aadhaar number. The good news: the password isn't random, and you don't need to request it from anyone. It follows one fixed formula based on your own details.

This guide gives you the exact password format with examples, fixes for the cases where it "doesn't work," and a free way to remove the password permanently from your own copy.

The e-Aadhaar PDF password formula

UIDAI generates the password automatically for every download. The rule:

Password = first 4 letters of your name in CAPITAL letters + your 4-digit year of birth

The name must match exactly what's printed on your Aadhaar card, and the year is the birth year alone — not your full date of birth.

Name on Aadhaar card	Birth year	Password
Rahul Kumar	1992	RAHU1992
Suresh Kumar	1990	SURE1990
Rina Nair	1988	RINA1988
Priya Sharma	1995	PRIY1995
Mohd. Iqbal	1978	MOHD1978

Special cases:

• Short names: if your name has fewer than four letters, use all of them. Name "Om", born 1995 → OM1995. Name "Ram", born 1989 → RAM1989.
• Spaces and initials: spaces are skipped — take the first four letters. "A S Rama" → ASRA + year. For initials like "B.M. Sharma," use them as printed on the card.
• Always UPPERCASE: suresh1990 will fail. It must be SURE1990.

Step-by-step: open your e-Aadhaar PDF

Step 1: Download the e-Aadhaar (if you haven't yet)

Go to myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in, log in with your 12-digit Aadhaar number and the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number, then choose Download Aadhaar. You can pick Regular (full Aadhaar number visible) or Masked (first 8 digits hidden — safer for sharing). The file saves as a PDF. The same password formula applies to both versions.

Step 2: Open the PDF in any reader

Double-click the file — Adobe Reader, Chrome, Edge, or your phone's built-in viewer all work. You'll see a password prompt.

Step 3: Type the password using the formula

Enter the first 4 letters of your name (CAPITALS, as on the card) + your birth year, with no spaces. Click OK. The e-Aadhaar opens immediately.

When the password "doesn't work" — 5 fixes

Nine times out of ten, it's one of these:

1. Lowercase letters. The single most common mistake. Retype in full capitals.
2. Full date of birth instead of the year. The password uses only the 4-digit year (1990), never day or month.
3. Wrong name spelling. Use the name exactly as printed on your Aadhaar card — not a nickname, not a different transliteration. If your card says "Mohd.," the password starts with MOHD.
4. Extra spaces. No spaces anywhere in the password — RAHU 1992 fails, RAHU1992 works.
5. Old download, updated details. If you changed your name or corrected your date of birth in Aadhaar after downloading the PDF, the old file still uses the old details. Download a fresh copy from the portal instead of fighting the old password.

How to remove the e-Aadhaar password permanently (free)

If you open this file often — for job applications, KYC uploads, or printing — typing the password every time gets old. You can create a password-free copy of your own e-Aadhaar in seconds with PurePDF's Unlock PDF tool. It runs entirely in your browser, so your Aadhaar file and password never leave your device.

Step 1: Open the Unlock tool

Go to purepdf.net/unlock-pdf. No signup needed.

Step 2: Upload your e-Aadhaar PDF

Drag the password-protected file into the upload area or click to select it.

Step 3: Enter the current password

Type the e-Aadhaar password from the formula above. The tool needs the correct password — it removes protection, it can't bypass it.

Step 4: Download the unlocked copy

Click Unlock PDF. The tool rebuilds the document without encryption, right in your browser, and you download an open PDF instantly.

A word of caution: an unlocked e-Aadhaar is convenient but also unprotected. Keep it only on your own devices, don't email it casually, and consider using the masked version for uploads where the full Aadhaar number isn't required.

Frequently asked questions

What is the password for the e-Aadhaar PDF? The first 4 letters of your name in capital letters (as printed on your Aadhaar card) followed by your 4-digit birth year. Example: Rahul Kumar, born 1992 → RAHU1992.

Is the password the same for masked Aadhaar? Yes. Masked and regular e-Aadhaar downloads use the identical password formula.

Can I change the e-Aadhaar PDF password? No. UIDAI generates it automatically from your details — it can't be customized. If you want a password-free copy, unlock your own file with a tool like PurePDF Unlock instead.

I forgot my Aadhaar details — what now? The password only needs your name and birth year as registered. If those are wrong in your Aadhaar record itself, update them at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra, then download a fresh copy.

Is it safe to remove the password? Removing the password from your own document is fine — just treat the unlocked file like the physical card. Store it securely and prefer the masked version when sharing.

Why does UIDAI password-protect the PDF? So that if the file ends up on a shared computer, in an email thread, or on a borrowed phone, no one can open it without knowing your details.

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The e-Aadhaar password looks cryptic until you know the formula — then it takes five seconds. First four letters of your name in caps, plus your birth year, and you're in. And if you'd rather never type it again, unlock your own copy free with PurePDF, straight in your browser.