Summary of this article
New Aadhaar app replaces mAadhaar from July 1, 2026.
Existing Aadhaar records remain unchanged in the UIDAI database.
Face authentication and biometric lock among key new features.
If you are switching from the mAadhaar app to the new Aadhaar app, you do not have to worry about losing your Aadhaar details. From today, July 1, 2026, the mAadhaar app has been phased out and replaced by a new Aadhaar app developed by the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI). The move has prompted many users to ask whether the Aadhaar information they could access through the older app will disappear. It will not.
The reason is simple. The mAadhaar app never stored your Aadhaar records. The app only allows you to access information already stored by UIDAI. Your Aadhaar number and the data linked to it remain in the central Aadhaar database, irrespective of which app you use.
What changes is the application through which you access those services.
A Fresh App With New Features
The new Aadhaar app has been introduced to bring most Aadhaar services under one platform while adding more privacy and security features. According to UIDAI, users can verify their identity through face authentication instead of relying only on physical documents. The app also follows a consent-based model, allowing users to share only the Aadhaar details required for a particular verification.
Other services include downloading e-Aadhaar, checking authentication history, locking or unlocking Aadhaar biometrics, and booking appointments at Aadhaar Seva Kendras.
Another addition is a QR code-based digital contact card that can be shared electronically.
Registration Is Required
Those downloading the app for the first time will have to complete a fresh registration.
The process begins by selecting a preferred language and entering the 12-digit Aadhaar number. Users then need to accept the terms and privacy policy, choose the mobile number linked to Aadhaar, complete face authentication, and set a six-digit PIN to secure the app.
Some Services Still Need A Physical Visit
Not every Aadhaar service has moved online.
UIDAI has clarified that photographs, fingerprints and iris details cannot be updated through the app. These changes can only be made by visiting an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or an Aadhaar enrolment and update centre.
For address or mobile number changes, the authority has indicated that the update process can take up to 30 days. Once the request is processed, the revised details automatically appear in the Aadhaar app.
For existing Aadhaar holders, the switch to the new app changes how they access services, not where their information is stored. Their Aadhaar records remain intact and continue to be available through the UIDAI database.
