Almost every Aadhaar service you will ever need runs through an OTP sent to the mobile number in your Aadhaar record. If that number is old, lost, or was never added, you are locked out of the whole system — no e-KYC, no online updates, no PAN linking, no DigiLocker, no instant e-PAN.
Fixing it is not difficult, but the rules changed in 2025 and again in 2026, and most of what you will read about this online describes a process that no longer exists.
The One Thing That Decides Your Route
Before anything else, answer this: do you still have access to the mobile number currently in your Aadhaar record?
- Yes, the old number still works. You can now do this online through UIDAI’s new Aadhaar app, using an OTP on the old number plus face authentication.
- No, the number is dead, lost, or you never added one. You must go in person to an Aadhaar Seva Kendra or an enrolment centre. There is no online route, and there is no exception. This is deliberate — if a lost number could be replaced online, anyone who acquired your details could take over your Aadhaar.
Most people reading this fall into the second group, because the usual trigger for wanting to change the number is that the old one stopped working.
The Online Route (Old Number Still Active)
UIDAI launched a new app, simply called Aadhaar, in January 2026. It is replacing the older mAadhaar app, which UIDAI has said will be discontinued. The new app added online mobile number and address updates, which the classic portal never supported.
- Install the official UIDAI Aadhaar app and sign in.
- Open the update or services section and choose the mobile number update.
- Authenticate with an OTP sent to the currently registered number, plus face authentication.
- Enter the new number and confirm.
- Complete the payment step and save the reference number.
UIDAI has reported several lakh mobile number updates completed through this route since the app launched, so it is working at scale rather than being a beta curiosity.
The Offline Route (Old Number Not Available)
This is the common case. It cannot be done by post, by phone, through an agent, or on any website — regardless of what a search result promises.
- Find a genuine centre. Use the locator on the UIDAI site rather than a shop with a printed banner. Bank branches and post offices frequently host Aadhaar Seva Kendras.
- Carry your Aadhaar — the physical card or a printout is fine. You do not need a document proving the new mobile number, which surprises people. No SIM ownership proof is required.
- Fill the Aadhaar update form and enter the new number carefully. A single wrong digit means paying again.
- Give your biometrics. Fingerprint, and iris or face depending on the centre. This is the actual verification.
- Pay the fee and collect the acknowledgement slip.
- Keep the slip. It carries the URN (Update Request Number) you need to track the request.
The update usually reflects within about two to seven working days. Test it by attempting an OTP-based login on the myAadhaar portal.
What It Costs
UIDAI revised its service charges with effect from 1 October 2025. A demographic update — which is the category a mobile number change falls into — is widely reported at ₹75, up from the ₹50 that every older article still quotes. Biometric updates moved to ₹125 from ₹100. The revised rates are reported as fixed until 30 September 2028.
Fees at centres are payable by card or UPI as well as cash, and you are entitled to a receipt. If an operator asks for more than the printed rate, that difference is going into their pocket, not UIDAI’s. Check the current figure on the fee board at the centre before paying — this is the one number in this article most worth confirming on the spot, because it changed recently and could change again.
Why the Update Fails
Biometrics do not match. The most common cause, especially for people doing manual work, older applicants, and anyone whose fingerprints were captured a decade ago. Ask for iris or face authentication instead — the operator can switch modes.
The number you entered is already registered to another Aadhaar in a way the system rejects. Verify the digits on the slip before you leave the counter.
You did not collect the acknowledgement slip. Without the URN you cannot track anything, and you have no proof you paid.
You went to a fake centre. Unauthorised operators take money and file nothing. Use the official locator.
You are confusing two different things. Adding a number to your Aadhaar record is not the same as the Aadhaar-based KYC your telecom operator does when issuing a SIM. Your operator cannot update your Aadhaar record, and UIDAI cannot fix your SIM’s KYC. People are sent back and forth between the two constantly.
The Advice That Is Now Wrong
Two claims circulate widely and will waste your afternoon.
The first is that you can update your mobile number on the myAadhaar portal with an OTP. You cannot. The classic portal handles address and document updates, not the mobile number. The only online route is the new app, and only if you still hold the old number.
The second is that the fee is ₹50. That was correct before October 2025.
Do This While You Are There
A trip to a Seva Kendra is worth batching. Add or correct your email address at the same time, since it is a useful backup channel. Check that your name spelling matches your PAN and bank records exactly, because mismatches cause rejections later. And ask them to confirm your date of birth format is correct — note that under the amended regulations effective 1 November 2025, a driving licence is no longer accepted as proof of date of birth.
Once your number is live, use it. Run the check on how many SIM cards are registered on your name, which needs a working OTP, and consider locking your biometrics from the myAadhaar portal so nobody can use a fingerprint clone against your Aadhaar. We cover this kind of Indian digital paperwork step by step at Techleez com.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change my Aadhaar mobile number online?
Only through UIDAI’s new Aadhaar app, and only if you still have access to the number currently registered. If you have lost that number, you must visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra in person.
What documents do I need to change the mobile number?
Only your Aadhaar. You do not need to prove ownership of the new mobile number, and no address or identity document is required for this specific update.
How much does it cost?
A demographic update, which includes the mobile number, is reported at ₹75 following the revision effective 1 October 2025. Confirm the current rate on the fee board at the centre.
How long does it take to update?
Generally two to seven working days. Test it by requesting an OTP on the myAadhaar portal.
Can an agent or a shop do this for me?
No. Biometric authentication has to be given by you in person at an authorised centre. Anyone offering to do it remotely is taking your money for nothing.
Is this the same as linking Aadhaar to my SIM?
No. That is telecom KYC, done by your mobile operator. This adds a contact number to your Aadhaar record so UIDAI can send you OTPs. They are separate systems.
Fold Smith
Fold Smith is a technology journalist and the lead editor of The Techleez, an India-first publication that decodes technology, digital payments, streaming and online culture for everyday readers. From UPI and fintech explainers to OTT streaming guides, Android tips and online-safety checklists, he personally tests the apps, tools and services featured on the site before recommending them. His focus is practical, research-backed guidance that helps Indian readers make smarter digital decisions — spend less, stream better and stay safe online. When he is not writing, he is usually tracking NPCI circulars, first-day-first-show box office numbers, or the next big OTT premiere.
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