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Government Services

UAN Activation: How to Activate Your UAN With UMANG Face Authentication

Activate your UAN on the UMANG app with Aadhaar face authentication. EPFO has stopped activation through the member portal.

VD

Written by Vikram Desai

Published 19 September 2026·5 min read

On this page9 sections
Credsir Government Services guide cover with a id card icon

You activate your UAN on the UMANG app using Aadhaar face authentication. EPFO has discontinued activation through the member portal, so the older Aadhaar OTP route on the website no longer works. You need your UAN or Aadhaar number, the mobile number registered with Aadhaar and a phone with a working camera.

Key facts

Item Detail
Where to activate UMANG app, EPFO services, “UAN Services Through Face Auth”
Apps needed UMANG and AadhaarFaceRD
Verification OTP to the Aadhaar-registered mobile, then a live face scan matched with Aadhaar
Member portal route Discontinued for activation and for direct UAN allotment
New UANs Generated only through face authentication on UMANG since 1 August 2025, with limited exceptions
Fee None charged by EPFO
Helpdesk 14470

Why UAN activation matters

An inactive UAN is a number your employer uses to deposit contributions, but you cannot use it yourself. Once it is active, you can view your passbook, update KYC, file withdrawal and transfer claims, and file your e-nomination. The EPF Scheme, 2026 makes nomination mandatory for members, and the member portal says so on its login page.

Many members never activate. EPFO allotted 1.26 crore UANs in 2024-25, but only 44.68 lakh, or 35.30%, were activated, according to the Ministry of Labour and Employment. Our EPF and VPF guide explains what the account holds and how it grows.

What you need before you start

ItemDetails
Your UAN or Aadhaar number.If you do not know your UAN, use Know Your UAN on the member portal or ask your employer.
The mobile number registered with Aadhaar.The app matches it with UIDAI records before sending the OTP.
An Android or iOS phone with a front cameraand the UMANG app installed. The Ministry’s instructions also ask you to install the AadhaarFaceRD app from the Play Store.
Good light and a plain backgroundfor the face scan.

Activation steps on UMANG

These steps follow the Ministry of Labour and Employment’s April 2025 release and the notice on the EPFO member portal.

  1. Install the UMANG app and the AadhaarFaceRD app.
  2. Open UMANG and select EPFO services.
  3. Under “UAN Services Through Face Auth”, choose “UAN Activation”. If you have no UAN yet, choose “UAN Allotment and Activation” instead.
  4. Enter your UAN or Aadhaar number and the mobile number linked to Aadhaar.
  5. Tick the consent box and enter the OTP sent to that mobile.
  6. Allow camera access and hold still until the outline around your face turns from red to green.
  7. Wait for the match with the Aadhaar photo. Your details are filled in from Aadhaar.
  8. For a new UAN, note the number sent by SMS and download the e-UAN card from UMANG or the member portal.

The release says the UAN is activated on the member portal at the same time, so no separate portal step is needed. To use the website, log in with your UAN; if you have no password, use Forgot Password on the login page.

What changed and when

ItemDetails
Before April 2025employers generated most UANs, and members activated them separately with an Aadhaar OTP on the member portal. The Ministry said this caused errors in names, dates of birth and mobile numbers.
9 April 2025EPFO launched UAN generation and activation through face authentication on UMANG.
1 August 2025an EPFO circular dated 30 July 2025 made face authentication the only route for new UANs, KPMG reported. The employer route remains only for exceptions such as international workers and citizens of Nepal and Bhutan.
Nowthe member portal states that activation and direct UAN allotment through the portal have been discontinued.

Errors you may see and fixes

Problem Likely cause What to do
OTP not received or mobile rejected The mobile number is not the one registered with Aadhaar Update the mobile number with UIDAI first, then retry
Face scan keeps failing Poor light, glasses or glare, or an old Aadhaar photo Retry in daylight facing the camera; if it still fails, update your Aadhaar biometrics with UIDAI
“UAN is not active” when you try to log in Activation not completed Complete the UMANG steps above
Name or date of birth mismatch Employer records differ from Aadhaar Ask your employer to correct the details, or raise a grievance
Two UANs A past employer created a second number Report it through EPFiGMS so the accounts can be linked

For anything else, raise a grievance on EPFiGMS (epfigms.gov.in) or call the EPFO helpdesk on 14470. EPFO never asks for Aadhaar, PAN, bank details or money over the phone, so do not pay agents who offer to activate your UAN. For Aadhaar and PAN linking, see our page on PAN and Aadhaar.

After activation

Check that Aadhaar, PAN and bank KYC show as verified; your employer must approve bank and Aadhaar KYC before you can file claims without its signature. Then open your passbook and match the contributions with your salary slips. The EPF calculator shows how your balance could grow from here.

Frequently asked questions

Can I activate my UAN on the EPFO website?

No. The member portal says activation through the portal has been discontinued. Use face authentication on the UMANG app.

UAN activation kaise kare?

Open UMANG, select EPFO, choose “UAN Activation” under “UAN Services Through Face Auth”, enter your UAN and Aadhaar-linked mobile, verify the OTP and complete the face scan.

Is there a fee for UAN activation?

EPFO charges nothing. Avoid agents or websites that ask for payment.

What if my mobile number is not linked to Aadhaar?

The app matches your mobile with UIDAI records before sending the OTP, so update the number with UIDAI first.

Can my employer activate my UAN?

Your employer can help you through the UMANG steps, but the face scan has to be yours. Employer-based UAN generation now continues only for exceptional cases.

Do I need to activate my UAN again when I change jobs?

No. The UAN stays the same across jobs; your new employer links a new member ID to it.

Sources

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