How to Change Registered Mobile Number in DigiLocker: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide
Keeping your contact details updated in DigiLocker is essential for accessing your digital academic records, driving license, vehicle registration, and other verified documents. Since DigiLocker accounts are strongly tied to your Aadhaar card, your registered mobile number is the primary gateway for secure logins and receiving One-Time Passwords (OTPs). Fortunately, you can update your mobile number in DigiLocker online, instantaneously, and completely free of cost.
Whether you still have access to your old mobile number or need to recover your account after losing your old SIM card, the update process is simple. This guide provides the official, step-by-step methods to change your registered mobile number in DigiLocker using both standard settings and Aadhaar-based bypass recovery.
Prerequisites for Changing Your DigiLocker Mobile Number
Before initiating the mobile number update process online, ensure you meet the following eligibility criteria and requirements. No physical or scanned documents need to be uploaded to complete this change.
- Active DigiLocker Account: You must have an existing, valid DigiLocker account.
- Aadhaar Linkage: Your Aadhaar card must be securely linked to your DigiLocker account. This is mandatory if you need to use the account recovery option.
- Active New Mobile Number: You must have physical access to your new mobile number to receive the verification OTP.
- Aadhaar-Linked Mobile Number: For the recovery method (when the old SIM is lost), your Aadhaar card must already be linked to your current active mobile number to receive the UIDAI-generated OTP.
- Indian Mobile Number Only: DigiLocker only supports active Indian mobile numbers carrying the country code +91. International numbers cannot be registered.
- Security PIN: You must know your 6-digit DigiLocker Security PIN to log in.
Important Rules on Mobile Number Sharing in DigiLocker
To maintain strict security and identity verification, a single mobile number can generally only be linked to one DigiLocker account. The only exception to this rule is if the multiple accounts sharing that specific mobile number are securely linked to unique Aadhaar numbers (such as accounts belonging to different family members).
How to Change Your DigiLocker Mobile Number (When You Have Current Access)
If your old registered mobile number is still active and you can receive text messages on it, you can update your contact details directly through the profile settings. Follow these step-by-step instructions on the official website or the mobile application:
- Go to the official DigiLocker portal or open the DigiLocker mobile app.
- Log in by entering your registered mobile number or Aadhaar number along with your 6-digit Security PIN.
- Enter the verification OTP sent to your current registered mobile number to complete the sign-in.
- Once logged in, navigate to the Profile section of your account dashboard.
- Locate your registered mobile number on the profile page and click on the pencil edit icon next to it.
- Enter your new Indian mobile number in the provided field and click Submit.
- Retrieve the OTP sent to your new mobile number, enter it into the verification box, and submit. The update is instantaneous, and your new number will be linked immediately.
How to Update DigiLocker Mobile Number if Old SIM/Number is Lost
If you have lost your old SIM card, deactivated the number, or cannot receive the initial login OTP, you cannot use the standard login route. However, you can bypass this limitation securely by verifying your identity through Aadhaar OTP. Follow these steps to recover your account:
- Navigate to the DigiLocker sign-in page on the official website or app.
- Enter your Aadhaar number and your 6-digit Security PIN, then proceed.
- When the system attempts to send an OTP to your old mobile number, click on the link that says ‘Try using Aadhaar OTP instead!’.
- The system will send a secure verification OTP to the mobile number registered with your Aadhaar card (UIDAI).
- Enter this Aadhaar OTP to successfully log in to your DigiLocker dashboard.
- Once logged in, head directly to your Profile section.
- Click on the pencil edit icon next to your mobile number, input your new active mobile number, enter the OTP sent to this new number, and save the changes.
Key Differences: DigiLocker vs. Aadhaar Mobile Number Update
There is often confusion regarding how mobile number updates affect different government databases. It is important to understand the distinctions between DigiLocker and the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) system:
- No Cross-Platform Updates: Changing your mobile number inside your DigiLocker profile only updates your contact point for DigiLocker. It does not update the mobile number registered on your physical Aadhaar card with UIDAI.
- Offline Aadhaar Updates: Unlike DigiLocker, updating your mobile number in the official Aadhaar database cannot be completed online. According to official UIDAI guidelines, you must physically visit an Aadhaar Seva Kendra to complete this update.
- Cost Comparison: Updating your mobile number directly inside your DigiLocker account is completely free. However, if you need to update your Aadhaar card mobile number at an Aadhaar Seva Kendra, you must pay a standard fee of Rs 50.
- Uneditable Profile Fields: Your personal profile details (such as name, gender, and date of birth) that are fetched directly from UIDAI for display inside DigiLocker cannot be edited within the DigiLocker interface.
Benefits and Security of Keeping Your Mobile Number Updated
Maintaining an accurate mobile number in your personal document vault offers significant security and operational benefits:
- Seamless Logins: Ensures that you always receive critical verification codes and transaction alerts on an active, accessible device without delay.
- Identity Protection: Prevents unauthorized individuals who might acquire your recycled, deactivated, or reassigned old SIM card from gaining entry to your secure personal document vault.
- Immediate Document Issuance: Speeds up the real-time retrieval of government-issued certificates, as many issuers require OTP verification linked to your current phone number.
Please note that while you can update your linked mobile number and security PIN at any time, the unique ‘Username’ you created during your initial DigiLocker registration is permanent and cannot be modified.
Official Sources
- DigiLocker Official Portal (FAQs)
- UIDAI Portal (Aadhaar Online Services)
- Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology (MeitY) Official Facebook Page Video
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my mobile number in DigiLocker also change it in my Aadhaar card?
No. Updating your mobile number in DigiLocker only changes your contact info for DigiLocker services. To update the mobile number registered with your physical Aadhaar card, you must visit an offline Aadhaar Seva Kendra and pay the standard processing fee of Rs 50.
Can I use the same mobile number for multiple DigiLocker accounts?
You can only link one mobile number to multiple DigiLocker accounts if those accounts are securely linked to unique Aadhaar numbers (for example, accounts belonging to different family members).
What if I forgot my DigiLocker Security PIN?
On the DigiLocker Sign-In page, click on the ‘Forgot Security PIN’ option. Enter your Aadhaar number and Date of Birth (DOB), and then verify your identity using the Aadhaar OTP to reset your 6-digit Security PIN.
Conclusion
Keeping your active mobile number updated in DigiLocker is a straightforward, free, and secure process. Whether you perform a quick update through your profile settings or use the Aadhaar OTP bypass method to recover a lost account, maintaining your current contact details ensures uninterrupted access to your digital vault. Remember to keep your Aadhaar card linked to your active phone number to easily manage account recovery options in the future.
