This has been a moderately common request from friends and family this year, and it‘s worth noting that the procedure has changed quite a bit in the last couple of years. The UIDAI introduced a new app-based version in early 2026, which means that much of the old “go to an office” advice is simply no longer accurate. Here‘s the deal:
Table of Contents
What Is Aadhaar Card Mobile Number Linking?
It is about linking a functioning mobile number with your Aadhaar record so that the UIDAI can authenticate you by sending you OTPs. This number then becomes an entry to e-KYC for banking applications, DigiLocker services, and other PAN services.
It is not equivalent to connecting Aadhaar to your SIM card the Telecom MMO does this. This is entirely with respect to the number UIDAI has recorded for you.
Why Should You Link Your Mobile Number With Aadhaar?
Much of the little digital minutiae of everyday goes unnoticed because all of it has this on the back-end. This is OTP on your registered number when you‘re onboarding UPI, opening a digital bank account, signing documents digitally, looking up your Aadhaar online etc.
One point to note. The Supreme Court had invalidated the mandatory Aadhaar-mobile linking years ago as well as the part of the Aadhaar Act that permitted it, Section 57. No telecom operator can force you to hand over Aadhaar details if you want to get a SIM card. However, for easy services from the government and financial institutions, keep your latest number handy.
How to Link Mobile Number to Aadhaar Card Online
This where everything went the most differently. While you formerly had to head into a centre for a first time link or modification, you now have an “anytime, anywhere” updating available via the Aadhaar app for UIDAI.
Here‘s the actual flow:
- Open the “Aadhaar” app and Sign-In using your Aadhaar numbe
- Full face authentication (this replaced OTP-only authentication for this step)
- Select Mobile Number Update
- Enter the new number and verified with an OTP send to that number [sic]
- Please pay the Rs 75.00 fee.
- Submit
Once it is mailed out you will usually see the change reflected in your Aadhaar record in about 15 days. I tested this with a number change I did on my own record earlier this year and it showed up closer to 10 days, but give it the full time window just in case.
Can I Link My Mobile Number to Aadhaar Card Online?
Yes this was one of the more popular questions, so I think it’s good to answer directly. If you are able to do face authentication via the app, there really isn‘t any need to go to a centre now. The only problem is that you need a decent enough mobile that can run the Aadhar app, as lower-end phones can occasionally fail the liveness test.
How to Link Mobile Number to Aadhaar Card Offline
If face auth is not working for you, or if you prefer to do this in person, there is this offline way.
- Access an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or any other authorised enrolment centre.
- Complete the mobile update form
- Complete biometric checks (fingerprint or iris scan)
- Pay a ₹50 fee14
- Please collect your Update Request Number (URN) so that you are able to check the status.
This route is really essential for some group of users though parents, for example, or the aged with a dodgy fingerprint reader, or anyone whose face auth doesn‘t want to play for one reason or another.
How to Update or Change the Mobile Number Linked to Aadhaar
Same process as linked for first time. UIDAI doesn‘t differentiate between ‘adding’ and ‘changing’ a number neither of them require action by the grantee, instead you just follow the flow again via the app/centre with the new number, pay the fee, and it replaces the former when received.
How to Check Aadhaar Card Linked Mobile Number
Your entire number is not visible anywhere for privacy reasons it is hidden by the UIDAI. However, you can check if your number is already registered using the My Aadhaar portal.
How to Verify Whether Your Mobile Number Is Linked With Aadhaar
Visit myaadhaar.uidai.gov.in and hit the verification service. Enter your adharnya and the mobile number that you want to verify then enter it and get it verified via OTP. It will check whether it matches with your Aadhar or not and will inform you, without charges.
Can One Mobile Number Be Linked to Two Aadhaar Cards?
Here is the one that gets you. In practice, UIDAI‘s system doesn‘t actually enforce a hard limit on how many different Aadhaar can be linked to the same number such as family phones or numbers listed on a parent‘s Aadhar for a child‘s e-Aadhaar.
On the other hand, if you‘re receiving OTPs or update alerts for an Aadhaar that does not belong to you, this is a warning sign and should be a red flag. This pattern has been associated with identity theft cases for procuring fake SIMs, so one should be vigilant.
How to Change Aadhaar Card Linked Mobile Number
Covered above, but a repeat for the sake of only the most common searches: Open the app, authenticate with face auth, click on Mobile Number update, input the new number, confirm OTP, pay rs 75, done. Offline is the same, instead with biometrics rather than face auth, and chargeable at rs 50.
How to Update Mobile Number in Aadhaar Without the Old Number
This is really one of the most difficult situations, and it‘s more common than you would believe — lost handset, stolen SIM, or a number recycled by your mobile provider.
That‘s because while the phone number being registered (the new one) makes sense for OTP, most of the time it actually sends the OTP to the mobile number being deregistered (the old one). So, while OTP verification should go to the new one, in reality you will be able to complete the online flow if face auth is your main method. Failing face auth or having a major issue will then take you to the offline centre route, as it relies on neither number to verify.
Worth mention: if you lost you old number due to theft, treat it as a security breach get the SIM blocked by your telecom operator and then proceed to the Aadhaar update.
Documents Required to Link Mobile Number With Aadhaar
Via app online documents are not required face authentication to the Aadhaar number (online). To offline route at a centre they are required:
- Your originalaadhaar cardor a printed copy that contains youraadhaar number.
- A valid form of ID if the centre requests to see one during the biometric check.
There‘s no separate proof-of-mobile-ownership document needed, as that is already done by the OTP verification step.
How Long Does It Take to Link a Mobile Number With Aadhaar?
Approximately 15 days from submission for it to be up in your official record (via app or centre). It could arrive before this in practice but I wouldn‘t rely on this allow the full fortnight if you have something time-sensitive riding on it (e.g bank KYC deadline).
Aadhaar Mobile Number Linking Charges
- Online (app based): 75
- Offline (centre-based): Rs 50
- Checking an existing link without changing it: free
This online/output price discrepancy is interesting. It is a proxy for the underlying cost difference in fact biometric check at a centre is cheaper to deliver at scale than the face-auth infrastructure behind the app.
What to Do If Aadhaar Mobile Number Linking Fails?
A few things worth trying, in order:
- Retry face authentication in good light (this more likely to fail due to camera rather than mismatch).
- Verifyyou OTP delivery network issues on the new number‘s carrier side is responsible for a subset of the failed attempts
- Ensureyouarerunningthe latest build of the application, as certain older builds will raise silent errors when uploading.
- Iftheapppersistentlyrefusestoaccept your update, switch back to using the offline centre route bypassing face-auth altogether through biometric verification.
- Ifyousubmittedofflineandyou have not received any response within 15 days then use your URN to check its status.
If nothing above helped, UIDAI support can access your individual case; some failures are due to backend processing delays.
Frequently Asked Questions About Aadhaar Mobile Number Linking
ONLINE REGISTRATION OF MOBILE NUMBERS VCC: Can I link my mobile number to AADHAAR online?
Yes, by using the Aadhaar app with face authentication, OTP on the new number, and a charge of Rs 75.
Is it possible to associate two aadhaar cards with one mobiel number.
While not fail-safe, this ‘unintended OTP for a non-owned Aadhaar’ should be checked immediately, as it indicates potentially fraudulent use of the system.
How can I modify the mobile number associatedwith Aadhaar?
Repeat the whole process for the new number, either app or centre update. The new number, after processing, replaces the old one.
How do I findoutthe mobile number attached to my Aadhaar?
verify, which is provided by the UIDAI verification service from the My Aadhaar portal.
Is there a way to register my mobile with Aadhaar without going to the Aadhaar centre?
Yes – that‘s the entire reason for the 2026 app rollout. It all just occurs from your phone, if face authentication will work on your device.
If you‘d like to activate UPI or bank KYC roughly around the same time, you might want to go through our post on safeguarding your identity from a sim swap scam before you do that the same OTP dependency that makes linking so easy is the very thing that scammers will exploit.
Read:
How to Forward Emails in Gmail
This Site Can’t Provide a Secure Connection Fix: How to Fix It
I’m a technology writer with a passion for AI and digital marketing. I create engaging and useful content that bridges the gap between complex technology concepts and digital technologies. My writing makes the process easy and curious. and encourage participation I continue to research innovation and technology. Let’s connect and talk technology!
