Aadhaar / UIDAI Portal Not Working: Checks and Safe Workarounds

The UIDAI site or the myAadhaar service stops loading, the captcha does not refresh, or the OTP never arrives. Because Aadhaar is tied to banking, SIM cards, subsidies and many forms, a failing portal feels urgent. Most of the time the right move is to separate three things: is the portal reachable, is your login or OTP step failing, or is your device or network the issue.

UIDAI (Unique Identification Authority of India) is a government body. SiteDownCheck is not affiliated with UIDAI or any government department. Features, requirements and fees on the portal change, so confirm every step against the official website or app.

Know what you are trying to do

"Aadhaar not working" covers very different tasks, and they fail for different reasons.

• Browsing public pages (information, enrolment center locator). These are ordinary web pages and can fail like any site.
• Logging in to your Aadhaar account. Needs a captcha and an OTP sent to the mobile number registered with Aadhaar.
• Downloading an e-Aadhaar or ordering other services. Also needs OTP login; some actions depend on other systems.
• Updating details or booking an appointment. May involve document upload, payment and appointment slots.
• Authenticating Aadhaar inside another service (bank, SIM, a government form). The failure may be at that service, not at UIDAI.

State the task to yourself first. Then you will know which part to test.

Step 1: Is the UIDAI site reachable at all?

Open the official address in a browser by typing it yourself. Do not click a link from an SMS, WhatsApp message or an advertisement. Then check:

• Does the page load completely, or time out?
• Does a different network (mobile data instead of Wi-Fi, or the reverse) behave differently?
• Do other government and bank sites load normally on your connection?

If the site fails on your network but works on another, the problem is on your side or with your ISP. If it fails everywhere, check an independent status signal: our UIDAI status page shows whether the domain responds, and Down From Where tests reachability from multiple locations. You can also use the HTTP Status Checker to see the exact response code. A 503 or 504 means servers or gateways are overloaded or unavailable (see HTTP 503 and HTTP 504), while a certificate or connection error points elsewhere.

Step 2: Fix the problems that are on your side

Browser and device

• Use an updated mainstream browser. Try a private window to rule out extensions.
• Allow cookies for the site. Captcha and session login need them.
• Disable VPN or proxy tools temporarily. Many government sites handle them poorly.
• Make sure the date and time on your device are correct. A wrong clock causes certificate and session errors.
• If the captcha image does not load or is unreadable, use the refresh option or the audio alternative, if offered, instead of reloading the whole page.

Certificate and security warnings

If your browser warns "Your connection is not private", do not click through. Check your device date and time, try another network, and see your connection is not private for what the warning means. You can look at the site's certificate from outside with the SSL Checker. If a proper site shows a valid certificate externally but not on your network, a captive portal, antivirus or a router setting is likely interfering.

DNS trouble

If the site does not open on your home broadband but opens on mobile data, your resolver may be returning bad answers or timing out. Try changing DNS using our guide for Indian ISPs and routers, and compare results in the DNS Checker. See DNS explained for background.

Step 3: When the OTP does not arrive

OTP failures are common and have several causes.

1. The registered mobile number. The OTP goes only to the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar. If you changed numbers or the SIM is lost, the OTP cannot reach you. In that case, the official route is to update the number through an authorized Aadhaar enrolment/update center. Check the official site for the current process and whether an appointment is needed.
2. Network and DND settings. Check signal, and look in your SMS spam or blocked folders. Some phones filter messages from short codes.
3. Too many attempts. Requesting OTP repeatedly can trigger temporary limits. Wait a while before retrying instead of tapping resend again and again. See rate limiting.
4. Telecom delays. SMS delivery is not instant during busy periods. Wait for the validity period shown on screen before requesting a new one.
5. Wrong number selected. Some portals ask which of your numbers to use. Confirm the digits shown.

If you cannot receive SMS at all, see whether the official site or app lists alternatives for your task, such as other verification methods. Use only what the official site lists.

Step 4: Try the official app and off-peak times

UIDAI provides an official mobile app. Search for it using the link on the official website, and check the publisher name before installing. If the website is slow, the app may work, because the app and website can differ in load and design.

Heavy periods, for example just before a deadline set by another department, bring many users to the same pages. Retrying at a quieter time, such as early morning or late evening, often helps. See why government websites slow down at deadlines.

Step 5: Check official status channels

If you suspect a portal outage, look for an announcement on the official website's banner, the official app, or UIDAI's official social media accounts. Maintenance notices are usually posted there. Avoid forwarded messages and unofficial "status" pages that you cannot verify.

If you were mid-request, write down any reference, request or acknowledgment number you were given. This is the number support will ask for. Do not submit duplicate requests blindly; check the status of the earlier one first.

Protect yourself from Aadhaar scams

Outages are when fake help appears.

• Never share your OTP, your 12-digit number with strangers, or screenshots of your Aadhaar with someone who claims to "fix" your portal. UIDAI officials do not ask for OTPs over calls.
• Do not pay anyone who says they can speed up an update, remove an error or bypass a queue. If a fee is actually due for a service, it is shown on the official site during the process.
• Beware of lookalike domains. Check the address bar before entering any detail. Official government sites use .gov.in addresses. A look-alike with extra words or a different ending is a red flag. You can inspect a domain's age and registrant with the WHOIS Lookup and the Domain Age Checker.
• Lock biometrics if offered and you do not need biometric authentication; check the official site for the current option and process.
• Use official helplines only, taken from the official website, never from a search ad or a social post.

If your business depends on Aadhaar-based services

Small businesses that use Aadhaar e-KYC or authentication through a service provider (banks, telecom, fintech, KYC agencies) should expect occasional failures that are outside their control. Practical steps:

• Provide a fallback verification path for customers where the rules allow.
• Show a plain message such as "Verification service is currently busy, please try again later" instead of a raw error.
• Log timestamps and error messages to help your provider diagnose.
• Monitor your own endpoints with an uptime monitor, and read how to monitor API endpoints if you call a third-party verification API.

A short decision order

1. Type the official address yourself. Does it load on another network?
2. If not, check an independent status tool and official channels, then retry later.
3. If yes, fix your browser, date and time, VPN and DNS.
4. For OTP issues, confirm the registered mobile number and avoid repeated resends.
5. Try the official app.
6. Keep reference numbers; never pay or share OTPs with helpers.

Next steps

• Check the UIDAI site status
• Why government websites slow down at deadlines
• Website down for everyone or just me?
• Change DNS on Indian ISPs and routers
• Aadhaar glossary entry

FAQ

Why is the UIDAI website slow?

Heavy traffic, maintenance, or your own network can all cause it. Test from a second network and check an independent status tool before assuming it is down.

I do not get the Aadhaar OTP. What should I do?

Confirm that the number linked to Aadhaar is active and can receive SMS. Wait before requesting again, and if the number is outdated, update it through an authorized center using the official process.

Is it safe to use a site that offers to fix my Aadhaar online?

No. Use only the official UIDAI website and app. Never share OTPs or pay unknown helpers.

Does a working status page mean my login will work?

Not always. It only shows that the site responds. Login, OTP and downloads depend on additional systems.

This page is general information written by our editorial team and updated when documentation changes. Servers and providers differ, so test changes safely first. See our editorial policy and disclaimer.