How to mask an Aadhaar card
- Choose a photo or scan of your card, or your e-Aadhaar PDF, above. Or tap Try a sample to see it work on a made-up card first.
- The tool reads the card and boxes the Aadhaar number (all but the last 4 digits), the VID and the QR code. Look at each box on the card.
- Drag on the card to cover anything else you want hidden. Drag a box to move it, or its corner to resize it.
- Pick how it should look: XXXX XXXX 1234 printed over the card, or a black bar.
- Tap Mask and check. The new file is opened again and read with OCR. When it shows 0 numbers readable, download it.
What masked Aadhaar means
UIDAI describes masked Aadhaar as an Aadhaar where the first 8 digits of the number are replaced with characters like “xxxx-xxxx” and only the last 4 digits are visible (UIDAI FAQ). UIDAI offers this as an option when you download e-Aadhaar. This tool applies the same layout to a copy you already have, such as a photo of your PVC card or an old photocopy scan.
More on this: what masked Aadhaar is and when to use it.
What gets masked
| Item | Default | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Aadhaar number | First 8 digits hidden | Matches UIDAI’s masked Aadhaar layout. Option to hide all 12. |
| Virtual ID (VID) | All 16 digits hidden | UIDAI says the VID can be used in place of the Aadhaar number for authentication and e-KYC (UIDAI FAQ). |
| QR code | Covered | UIDAI says the Secure QR holds your name, address, gender, date of birth, photo and the last 4 digits (UIDAI). |
| Anything else | Your boxes | Draw over the photo, address or signature if the person does not need them. |
Why this is real masking, not a sticker
Many editors put a black shape on top of a PDF. The number is still in the file underneath, so anyone can copy it or search for it. Here the mask is painted into the pixels and the file is saved again from those pixels. PDF pages are rebuilt as images, so the original text layer, digital signature and document details are not carried over. Photos are re-saved too, which drops their EXIF data, such as the camera, time and GPS location.
Then the tool checks its own work: it opens the new file, reads it again with OCR, tries to scan any QR code, confirms each mask is solid in the saved pixels, and for PDFs looks for any text layer, hidden copies of the number in the raw file data, and metadata.
Honest limits
- OCR can miss a number on a blurred, very dark or glare-covered photo. Look at the card before you mask it, and draw a box yourself if a number was missed. The check after export reads the file again and warns you if it finds an unmasked ID number.
- Masked PDF pages are images, so their text cannot be selected. That is what makes the masking certain.
- A masked copy is not a new official document. If an organisation needs the full number or an official masked e-Aadhaar, give them what they ask for, or download masked e-Aadhaar from UIDAI.
Also on this site: hide the Aadhaar number on a photocopy before you share it, mask a PAN card, mask a CNIC, and redact a PDF form or statement with your Aadhaar or PAN typed in.
Sources
- What is Masked Aadhaar?, UIDAI FAQ
- QR Code Reader, UIDAI
- What is Virtual ID (VID)?, UIDAI FAQ
- What is the password of e-Aadhaar?, UIDAI FAQ
This page explains what the tool does and what official sources say. It is not legal advice; ask whoever wants your ID what they need.
Questions people ask
Is my Aadhaar card uploaded?
No. The photo or PDF is read by OCR running in your own browser tab, and the masked file is built there too. Nothing is sent to a server and there is no account. Once the page shows “Ready. Works offline from here”, you can switch off your internet and the tool still works, which is an easy way to check.
Which digits are hidden?
By default the first 8 digits of the Aadhaar number are replaced and the last 4 stay visible, the same layout UIDAI uses for masked Aadhaar (XXXX XXXX 1234). You can tick “Hide all 12 Aadhaar digits” to cover the whole number. The 16-digit VID and the QR code are covered completely.
Why is the QR code masked too?
UIDAI says the Secure QR code on Aadhaar holds your name, address, gender, date of birth, photo and the last 4 digits of the number. Anyone with a QR reader can scan it from a copy, so it is covered by default. Untick it if the person you are sending the card to needs to scan it.
Is this the same as UIDAI’s masked Aadhaar?
No. UIDAI’s masked Aadhaar is an official e-Aadhaar download from the MyAadhaar portal, with the number already masked. This tool masks a copy you already have: a photo of your card, a photocopy scan or an e-Aadhaar PDF. If someone needs an official masked e-Aadhaar, download it from UIDAI.
Can the mask be removed from the file?
No. The mask is painted into the pixels and the file is saved again from those pixels, so the digits are not underneath anything. For PDFs, every page is rebuilt as an image: the original text layer, where the number could otherwise be copied or searched, is not carried over. After export the tool re-reads the new file with OCR to confirm the hidden digits cannot be read.
How does it know a number is an Aadhaar number?
It looks for 12 digits that do not start with 0 or 1 and whose last digit is a valid Verhoeff check digit. A phone number or account number almost never passes that check, so it is not masked by mistake. If a number is printed like an Aadhaar number but the check fails (usually one misread digit), it is masked anyway and flagged so you can look.
My e-Aadhaar PDF asks for a password. What is it?
UIDAI locks e-Aadhaar PDFs with the first four letters of your name in capitals followed by your year of birth, for example SURE1990. Type it in the tool to open the file; it is used only on your device, and the masked PDF has no password.
Does it work with PAN and CNIC cards?
Yes. It finds the 10-character PAN on Indian PAN cards and the 13-digit CNIC number (12345-1234567-1) on Pakistani identity cards, and you can draw a box over anything else, such as a photo, signature or address.