How to Find UAN Number Online: Step-by-Step Guide (Latest 2026 EPFO Rules)

September 11, 2026

The Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) is one of the most significant savings and retirement instruments for salaried employees in India. Managed by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) under the Ministry of Labour and Employment, this scheme relies on a unique identifier known as the Universal Account Number (UAN). If you are a registered employee, your UAN is the key to accessing your provident fund balance, downloading your passbook, and managing withdrawals or transfers. If you have forgotten or are unaware of your UAN, you can easily retrieve it online through official government channels without paying any fees.

Knowing how to find UAN number online is a straightforward process that can be completed in just a few minutes. The EPFO provides multiple digital pathways to retrieve this lifelong number, including the official Unified Member Portal, the government’s UMANG mobile application, and quick-access SMS or missed call services. This comprehensive guide outlines the step-by-step procedures for each of these methods, along with the necessary prerequisites, security guidelines, and recent portal updates for 2026.

What is a UAN and Why is it Important?

The Universal Account Number (UAN) is a permanent, portable, lifelong 12-digit unique identification number allotted by the EPFO to every registered employee. Before the introduction of the UAN, employees received a new Provident Fund (PF) account number (Member ID) every time they changed jobs. This made tracking and transferring funds across multiple employers highly complicated. The UAN acts as an umbrella identity that links all these individual Member IDs under a single, centralized profile.

Having your UAN on hand is essential for several reasons:

Universal Access and Consolidation: It consolidates all your previous and current PF accounts under one lifelong identity, allowing you to view your entire employment and contribution history in one place.
Portability: When you switch jobs, you do not need to open a brand-new PF account. You simply provide your existing UAN to your new employer, who will link their establishment to your active UAN.
Online Account Management: Once you find and activate your UAN, you can log into the EPFO portal to track your PF balances, download your monthly passbooks, apply for EPF advances, submit withdrawal claims, and file e-nominations.
Automatic Fund Transfer: It simplifies and automates the transfer of PF funds from your old employers to your current employer, eliminating tedious manual paperwork.
The One-UAN Rule: Under EPFO regulations, one citizen is allowed only one lifelong UAN. Generating duplicate UANs is a serious issue that leads to transfer and withdrawal blockages. If you accidentally have multiple UANs, they must be resolved and merged immediately.

Prerequisites and Documents Required to Find Your UAN

Before attempting to retrieve your UAN online, you must ensure that you meet the eligibility criteria and have the necessary documents ready. The retrieval process is completely free of cost (₹0), and the official helpline support is also free.

To find your UAN online, you must meet the following requirements:

EPF Registration: You must be registered under the EPF scheme with an active or previous employer.
Aadhaar-Linked Mobile Number: Your mobile number must be linked to your Aadhaar card and registered in the EPFO database.
Correct KYC Mapping: Your Know Your Customer (KYC) details, such as your Aadhaar or Permanent Account Number (PAN), or your PF Member ID, must be correctly mapped in the EPFO database.
Activation Requirement for Offline Services: To use the SMS or Missed Call retrieval services, your UAN must have been activated at least once in the past, and your mobile number must be linked to that active UAN.

Make sure you have the following details on hand before starting the online process:

Your registered mobile number (which must be active to receive OTPs).
Your Date of Birth (exactly as registered with the EPFO and Aadhaar).
Your Full Name (with the exact spelling as it appears on your Aadhaar card or EPFO records).
Any one of these identity proofs: Aadhaar Number, PAN, or PF Member ID (which can be found on your salary slip or joining documents).

Step-by-Step Methods to Find Your UAN Online

The EPFO offers two primary online platforms for retrieving a forgotten UAN: the official web portal and the UMANG mobile application. Both methods require OTP authentication to verify your identity.

Method 1: Finding UAN via the EPFO Member Portal

This is the most common and widely used online method. Follow these step-by-step instructions to retrieve your UAN:

Visit the official EPFO Member Portal website at EPFO Member Portal.
On the homepage, scroll down to the Important Links section located on the bottom-right side of the screen.
Click on the link titled Know Your UAN.
You will be redirected to a new page. Enter your active Mobile Number and the security captcha code exactly as shown on the screen.
Click on the Request OTP button.
A One-Time Password (OTP) will be sent to your mobile number. Enter this OTP along with the new captcha code displayed on the screen, and click on Validate OTP.
Once the OTP is successfully validated, you will be asked to enter your personal details. Fill in your Full Name and Date of Birth (in DD/MM/YYYY format).
Select one of the three identity options: Aadhaar, PAN, or Member ID, and enter the corresponding identification number in the provided field.
Solve the final captcha code shown on the screen and click on the Show My UAN button.
Your 12-digit Universal Account Number (UAN) will instantly be displayed on the screen. The details may also be sent to your registered mobile number via SMS. Please note that SMS delivery times can experience intermittent carrier delays depending on regional telecom gateways.

Method 2: Retrieving UAN via the UMANG App

The Unified Mobile Application for New-age Governance (UMANG) is an official mobile app developed by the Government of India to offer access to various central and state government services. You can use it to find your UAN by following these steps:

Download and install the UMANG App from the Google Play Store (for Android) or the Apple App Store (for iOS).
Open the app, select your preferred language, and log in using your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. If you are a new user, register your profile first.
In the search bar at the top of the app, type EPFO and select the official EPFO service from the search results.
Under the list of available services, select Employee Centric Services.
Scroll down and choose the Know Your UAN option.
Enter your registered mobile number, select your preferred ID proof type (Aadhaar, PAN, or Member ID), and enter the corresponding identification number.
Click on the button to request an OTP, which will be sent to your registered mobile number.
Enter the OTP and submit the request. Upon successful validation, your 12-digit UAN will be displayed on your mobile screen and sent to you via SMS.

Alternative Ways to Retrieve Your UAN (SMS, Missed Call, and Offline)

If you do not have immediate access to the internet or prefer not to navigate online portals, there are several quick alternative methods available. These include missed call services, SMS services, and offline employer-assisted methods.

Method 3: Via Missed Call Service (For Activated UANs)

If you have already activated your UAN in the past and simply forgot the number, you can retrieve it by giving a missed call. This service is completely free.

Using your registered mobile number, dial 011-22901406.
The call will ring twice and then automatically disconnect.
Within a few minutes, you will receive an automated SMS from the EPFO. This message will contain your 12-digit UAN, your member details, and your current PF account balance.
Note: To receive this SMS, your UAN must have been previously activated and seeded with your bank account details, Aadhaar, or PAN.

Method 4: Via SMS Service (For Activated UANs)

Another quick option for employees with activated UANs is the official SMS service. This allows you to receive your UAN and account details in your preferred language.

Open the messaging app on your registered mobile number.
Compose a new SMS with the following format: EPFOHO UAN ENG (where “ENG” is the language code for English).
If you prefer to receive the details in another language, replace “ENG” with one of the supported language codes:
- HIN (Hindi)
- TEL (Telugu)
- TAM (Tamil)
- BEN (Bengali)
- MAL (Malayalam)
- KAN (Kannada)
- GUJ (Gujarati)
- MAR (Marathi)
- PUN (Punjabi)
Send the SMS to the official number: 7738299899.
You will receive an automated reply containing your UAN, your name, date of birth, and the latest contribution details.

Method 5: Offline and Employer-Assisted Methods

If you cannot access the online portals and have never activated your UAN, you can find it using physical documents or by contacting your employer:

Check Your Salary Slip: Almost all registered companies and establishments print the employee’s 12-digit UAN directly on the monthly salary slip or payslip, usually located near the PF account number or employee ID section.
Contact Your Employer’s HR: You can reach out directly to your company’s Human Resources (HR) or Payroll department. Your employer has access to the EPFO employer portal and can easily look up your UAN using your employee ID or name.

Important Guidelines, Warnings, and Next Steps

Finding your UAN is only the first step in managing your retirement savings. To ensure your account remains secure and functional, keep the following guidelines and recent portal updates in mind:

UAN Activation is Mandatory: Simply finding your UAN is not enough. To access online EPF services, view your passbook, or apply for withdrawals, you must click on the Activate UAN link on the Member Portal or use the UMANG app. During activation, you will set a secure password to log into your account.
Discontinuation of Direct Portal Allotment: In line with recent security upgrades, the facility for direct UAN self-allotment on the Unified Member Portal has been discontinued. If you do not have a UAN and need to generate a brand-new one yourself, you must download the UMANG App and use the UAN Allotment and Activation tool, which utilizes Aadhaar-based Face Authentication (FAT).
Database Upgrades: Following portal restructurings, if you worked in an establishment before the UAN system was introduced, you can search for and link your legacy PF accounts to your new centralized UAN using the upgraded Service History tool on the Unified Portal.
Do Not Create Duplicate UANs: When joining a new company, always provide your existing UAN to your new employer. Allowing an employer to generate a second UAN for you will lead to major verification bottlenecks under the strict KYC rules. If you have duplicate UANs, you must request a merge through the EPFO portal.
Avoid Sharing Sensitive Details: Never share your UAN, password, Aadhaar number, or PAN details with unauthorized individuals. The EPFO never asks for personal credentials, passwords, or payments for UAN lookup services.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What should I do if my mobile number has changed and I don’t know my UAN?

If your registered mobile number is no longer active, you will not be able to receive the OTP required for online self-retrieval. In this case, you cannot use the online portal or UMANG app. You must contact your current or former employer’s HR department. They can retrieve your UAN from the employer portal and assist you in updating your registered mobile number in the EPFO database.

Are UAN and PF Account Number the same?

No, they are different. Your PF Account Number (also known as Member ID) is unique to each employer and changes every time you switch jobs. The UAN, however, is a permanent 12-digit number that remains the same throughout your entire professional life. It acts as an umbrella account that links all your different PF Account Numbers together.

Is there a fee to check or find my UAN online?

No, retrieving your UAN through the official EPFO Member Portal, the UMANG app, or via SMS and Missed Call services is completely free of charge (₹0). The official helpline support is also free.

Conclusion

Retrieving a forgotten or unknown UAN is a simple, secure, and entirely free process. Whether you choose to use the official EPFO Member Portal, the UMANG mobile app, or quick offline options like checking your monthly salary slip, finding your UAN is the first step toward taking control of your provident fund savings. Once you have retrieved your UAN, make sure to activate it immediately to access online passbooks, track contributions, and manage transfers. For any further assistance, you can contact the official EPFO Helpline at 14470. Keep in mind that the current EPF interest rate is approved at 8.25%.