How to Open Aadhaar PDF: The Password Format Explained

Guides · PDF · Updated 2026

When you download your e-Aadhaar from the UIDAI website, the PDF is password-protected — and the password is not your phone number or a random code. It follows one simple rule that trips up thousands of people every day. Here's the exact format, with examples, plus how to remove the password when a form won't accept a locked file.

The Aadhaar PDF password rule

Password = First 4 letters of your name (in CAPITALS) + Year of birth (YYYY)

Use your name exactly as printed on Aadhaar, in capital letters, with no space before the year.

Examples

Name RAVI KUMAR, born 1995 → password RAVI1995
Name Priya Sharma, born 1988 → password PRIY1988
Name SUNITA, born 2001 → password SUNI2001
Short name RAJ, born 1990 → password RAJ1990 (use all letters if fewer than four)

💡 Tip: The password is case-sensitive. If it fails, the culprit is almost always lowercase letters — type the four letters in CAPITALS. Also make sure you use the year of birth (YYYY), not the full date.

How to remove the password from your Aadhaar PDF

Some portals and merge tools won't accept a locked PDF. To create an unlocked copy:

Open the Unlock PDF tool.
Add your Aadhaar PDF and enter the password (first 4 letters + birth year).
Download the unlocked copy — the tool works in your browser, so your Aadhaar is never uploaded anywhere.

Keep it private again before sharing

An unlocked Aadhaar is convenient but exposed. If you're emailing it, add a fresh password with the Protect PDF tool first, and read our guide on locking an Aadhaar PDF before emailing. Need to shrink it for an upload? Use Compress PDF.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the password to open an e-Aadhaar PDF?

The e-Aadhaar PDF password is the first 4 letters of your name exactly as printed on Aadhaar, in CAPITAL letters, followed by your year of birth in YYYY format. For example, RAVI born in 1995 would use RAVI1995.

My name has fewer than 4 letters — what is my password?

If your name has fewer than 4 characters, use all the letters of your name in capitals followed by your birth year. For a name like RAJ born in 1990, the password would be RAJ1990.

Why is my Aadhaar PDF password not working?

The most common reasons are using lowercase letters (it must be CAPITALS), using the wrong part of your name, or a mismatch between the name on Aadhaar and what you typed. Use the exact first name as printed, in capitals, plus the four-digit birth year.

How do I remove the password from my Aadhaar PDF permanently?

Open the PDF once with the correct password, then use an unlock-PDF tool to save a copy without the password. A browser-based tool does this on your device so your Aadhaar is never uploaded to a server.

Is it safe to remove the Aadhaar PDF password?

Removing the password makes the file easier to open, merge, or upload, but it also means anyone with the file can read it. Only remove the password when needed, use an in-browser tool that keeps the file local, and re-protect it before sharing over email.

Try the Unlock PDF Tool