Aadhaar Services Down for 20 Hours: Your Guide to the UIDAI Update

If you were planning on tackling some Aadhaar Card tasks online this weekend, you might want to press pause and read this first. The Unique Identification Authority of India, or UIDAI as we all know it, has just given a major heads-up about a planned service outage. It’s a pretty significant one, too—a full 20 hours where key online services will be down for the count.

Key Highlights

• ✓ A major 20-hour maintenance window for online Aadhaar services has been announced.
• ✓ The downtime is scheduled from 12 PM on Saturday, July 27, to 8 AM on Sunday, July 28, 2025.
• ✓ This affects both the MyAadhaar Portal and the mobile mAadhaar App.
• ✓ Key services like e-Aadhaar download, PVC card orders, and address updates will be unavailable.
• ✓ The announcement was made by UIDAI to improve and upgrade their systems for better performance.

The Lowdown on the 20-Hour Downtime

So, what’s the exact timeline? According to the official information shared by UIDAI on the social media platform X, the maintenance window will kick off at 12 PM on Saturday, July 27, 2025. It’s set to run all the way through to 8 AM on Sunday, July 28, 2025. That’s a 20-hour stretch where both the MyAadhaar Portal and the handy mAadhaar App will be undergoing some important work.

This means if you had Sunday afternoon penciled in to finally get around to that address update or download a copy of your Aadhaar, you’ll likely run into some roadblocks. UIDAI has been transparent about this, letting everyone know in advance to avoid any major surprises or inconvenience. It's a proactive measure, and it's great they're giving everyone a clear heads-up to plan around it.

💡 What's Interesting: UIDAI specifically stated that this is a Scheduled Maintenance activity. This isn't a system crash or an unexpected error; it's a pre-planned technical procedure designed to make the entire system better, faster, and more secure for all of us in the long run.

What Exactly is a 'Scheduled Maintenance'?

You’ve probably heard the term "scheduled maintenance" before, but what does it really mean in this context? Think of it like a planned renovation for a digital service. Instead of a system breaking down unexpectedly, the provider—in this case, UIDAI—intentionally takes it offline for a specific period to perform crucial updates and improvements.

The goal here is to enhance the existing infrastructure. This could involve software updates, security patches, hardware upgrades, or optimizing the system to handle traffic more efficiently. The whole point is to ensure that when the services come back online, they work even more smoothly and reliably than before. While it causes a temporary disruption, this kind of proactive work is essential for preventing bigger problems down the line and keeping our data secure.

A Full List of Affected Online Services

Alright, let's get into the specifics. Knowing exactly which services will be on a temporary pause is key to planning your weekend. UIDAI has provided a clear list of functions that will be impacted by this maintenance. Here’s a breakdown of what you won't be able to do online during that 20-hour window.

Services on Hold During Maintenance:

• e-Aadhaar Download: Need a digital copy of your Aadhaar for an application or verification? The e-Aadhaar download service will be unavailable. This is one of the most frequently used features, so it's a big one to be aware of. If you anticipate needing a PDF copy, it's best to download and save it before Saturday afternoon.
• Order PVC Aadhaar Card: The option to order a durable, wallet-sized PVC Aadhaar Card will also be disabled. This service allows you to get a professionally printed, secure version of your card delivered to your home. Any plans to order one will have to wait until after the maintenance is complete on Sunday morning.
• Aadhaar Lock/Unlock: This is a vital security feature that lets you lock your 12-digit Aadhaar number to prevent its misuse for authentication. During the downtime, you won’t be able to use the portal or app to perform an Aadhaar Lock/Unlock. Your Aadhaar's current status will remain as is, but you won't be able to change it.
• Biometrics Lock/Unlock: Similarly, the Biometrics Lock/Unlock feature, which provides an extra layer of security by temporarily disabling your fingerprint and iris data for authentication, will also be out of action. This is another critical security tool that will be paused.
• Online Address Update: Have you recently moved? The self-service Online Address Update feature is a lifesaver for many, but it will be inaccessible during the maintenance period. If you need to update the address on your Aadhaar card using supporting documents, you'll need to do it before or after the specified times.
• Virtual ID (VID) Generation: The ability to generate or retrieve a Virtual ID (VID) will also be affected. A VID is a temporary, 16-digit number that can be used for authentication instead of your Aadhaar number, protecting your privacy. If you rely on generating fresh VIDs for transactions, this is something to keep in mind.

What This Means For You: The Best Course of Action

The bottom line is simple: plan ahead. UIDAI's advice to all users is to get any urgent or pending Aadhaar-related online work done before the maintenance window begins at noon on Saturday, July 27. If you know you'll need any of the services listed above over the weekend, now is the time to act.

This isn't just about the website. Remember, the outage affects both platforms—the MyAadhaar Portal you access on your computer and the mAadhaar App on your smartphone. So, don't assume you can just switch to the app if the website is down. Both are part of the same system and will be undergoing maintenance simultaneously. The best strategy is to tick off your Aadhaar to-do list before the clock strikes 12 PM on Saturday.

Conclusion

To wrap it all up, UIDAI is taking its online Aadhaar platforms offline for a 20-hour period of scheduled maintenance. This will happen from 12 PM on Saturday, July 27, to 8 AM on Sunday, July 28, 2025. During this time, a whole range of crucial online services—from downloading your e-Aadhaar to updating your address—will be unavailable on both the portal and the app.

While a temporary inconvenience, this is a positive step towards a more robust and efficient system for all of us. The key takeaway is to be prepared. Heed the advice, complete your tasks ahead of time, and you can enjoy your weekend without any Aadhaar-related hiccups. It's always better to be in the know!