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Masked Aadhaar: how to hide your Aadhaar number before sharing

By the Fusion Office team · Updated

Quick answer

A masked Aadhaar shows only the last four digits of your number. You can choose the masked option when you download e-Aadhaar from UIDAI. For a copy you already have, remove the number with Auto-redact personal data, or black out the first eight digits by hand in the PDF editor. Both delete the digits from the file rather than covering them.

When to use a masked Aadhaar

Hotels, gyms, landlords, courier companies and many offices ask for an ID copy without needing your full Aadhaar number. A masked copy proves your identity while the first eight digits stay private, which makes misuse of the copy far harder.

Option 1: download a masked e-Aadhaar

When you download e-Aadhaar from the myAadhaar portal, tick the option for a masked Aadhaar before downloading. The PDF then shows the number as XXXX XXXX 1234. It uses the same password as the normal e-Aadhaar: the first four letters of your name in capitals and your year of birth.

Option 2: hide the number in a copy you have

  1. 1Open Auto-redact personal data and choose the PDF.
  2. 2Tick Aadhaar (add PAN or phone numbers too if you like).
  3. 3Press Find & redact, check what was found, and download the redacted PDF.

Auto-redact removes the whole number. To keep the last four digits visible, open the PDF in the PDF editor, pick the Redact tool and draw a box over just the first eight digits, then download.

If your copy is a photo or scan, the digits are part of the image and can't be found automatically. Use the editor's Redact box, which removes everything under it from the page.

Don't forget the QR code

The QR code on an e-Aadhaar holds your details in digital form. If the person you're sending it to doesn't need to scan it, cover it with a redaction box as well. Adding a line such as “For hotel check-in only” with Watermark PDF also makes a copy harder to reuse elsewhere.

Frequently asked questions

Is a masked Aadhaar valid as ID?

UIDAI provides it for exactly this purpose, and it is widely accepted where the full number isn't required. Some services, such as bank KYC, may still ask for the full number.

Is a black box drawn on a PDF enough?

Not always: a box drawn on top can be moved and the number copied from underneath. Redaction removes the text itself, which is what the tools above do.