DigiLocker is the Indian government's official digital document wallet. It lets you store, access, and share government-issued documents from your phone or computer without carrying physical copies. As of 2026, over 200 million Indians have registered on DigiLocker, and more than 5.6 billion documents have been issued through the platform. If you have an Aadhaar number, you can set up DigiLocker in under five minutes.
What Exactly is DigiLocker?
DigiLocker is a cloud-based platform operated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under the Digital India initiative. It was launched on 1 July 2015, and it is available to every Indian citizen who holds an Aadhaar number.
Think of DigiLocker as a government-issued digital filing cabinet. Instead of carrying your Aadhaar card, PAN card, driving licence, marksheets, or vehicle registration certificate as physical documents or photocopies, DigiLocker stores verified digital copies that are legally equivalent to the originals.
This is not a scan or a photograph of your document. DigiLocker connects directly to issuing authorities — UIDAI for Aadhaar, the Income Tax Department for PAN, Regional Transport Offices for driving licences — and pulls the original digital record. These documents carry the same legal validity as physical originals under the Information Technology Act, 2000 (Rule 9A).
What Documents Can You Store in DigiLocker?
DigiLocker supports documents from over 2,700 issuing organisations across India. The most commonly used categories include:
Identity Documents
- Aadhaar Card (issued by UIDAI)
- PAN Card (issued by Income Tax Department)
- Voter ID / EPIC (issued by Election Commission of India)
- Passport (issued by Ministry of External Affairs)
Driving and Vehicle Documents
- Driving Licence (issued by state RTOs)
- Vehicle Registration Certificate (RC) (issued by state RTOs)
- Pollution Under Control (PUC) Certificate
- Vehicle Insurance Policy
Education Documents
- CBSE Marksheets and Certificates (Classes 10 and 12)
- University Degree Certificates (supported universities)
- APAAR ID (Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry, introduced in 2024)
- Skill Certificates (from National Skill Development Corporation)
Financial and Insurance Documents
- Insurance Policies (from IRDAI-registered insurers)
- EPFO documents (from Employees' Provident Fund Organisation)
- Income Tax Returns
Health Documents
- Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) Card
- COVID-19 Vaccination Certificate (from CoWIN)
- Health Insurance Cards
The number of supported documents continues to grow as more state governments and central agencies onboard to the platform.
How to Set Up DigiLocker (Step by Step)
Setting up DigiLocker takes less than five minutes. Here's how:
Step 1: Download the App or Visit the Website
DigiLocker is available as a mobile app on Google Play Store and Apple App Store. You can also access it through the website at digilocker.gov.in.
Step 2: Sign Up with Your Aadhaar-Linked Mobile Number
Tap "Sign Up" and enter your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. DigiLocker will send an OTP to this number. Enter the OTP to verify.
Important: Your mobile number must be linked to your Aadhaar. If it isn't, you'll need to visit an Aadhaar enrolment centre to update your mobile number before you can register for DigiLocker.
Step 3: Enter Your Aadhaar Number
After verifying your mobile number, enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number. DigiLocker will send another OTP to your Aadhaar-linked mobile for identity confirmation.
Step 4: Set Your Username and Password
Create a unique username (this will be your DigiLocker ID) and a strong password. You can also set up a 6-digit security PIN for quick access on mobile.
Step 5: Set Up Biometric Login (2026 Feature)
DigiLocker now supports biometric authentication on compatible devices. You can enable fingerprint or face unlock for faster access. This feature was introduced in the 2025 update and is available on most modern smartphones.
Step 6: Fetch Your Documents
Once your account is created, go to the "Issued Documents" section and search for your documents by issuing authority. For example, search "UIDAI" to fetch your Aadhaar, or "Income Tax Department" for your PAN card. Documents are pulled directly from the issuing authority's database and linked to your DigiLocker account.
Your DigiLocker is now set up and ready to use.
Key Features of DigiLocker in 2026
DigiLocker has evolved significantly since its launch. Here are the features available to users in 2026:
Issued Documents vs. Uploaded Documents
DigiLocker makes an important distinction:
- Issued Documents are pulled directly from government databases. They carry a digital signature from the issuing authority and have full legal validity. These appear in the "Issued Documents" section.
- Uploaded Documents are files you upload yourself, such as scanned copies of documents not yet available digitally. These are stored in your personal drive space (1 GB free) but do not carry the same legal weight as issued documents.
Always prefer issued documents when available. They are tamper-proof and universally accepted.
Document Sharing via URI
Every issued document in DigiLocker has a unique URI (Uniform Resource Identifier). When you share a document with a service provider, you share this URI rather than a copy of the document itself. The receiving party can verify the document's authenticity directly with the issuing authority through this URI.
This means no photocopies, no notarisation, and no risk of document tampering.
Consent-Based Access for Third-Party Apps
Third-party applications can request access to your DigiLocker documents, but only with your explicit consent. When an app wants to verify your identity or access a document, you are redirected to DigiLocker's secure portal where you can see exactly what information is being requested and choose whether to grant access.
You can revoke access at any time from your DigiLocker dashboard under "Activity" > "Consent History."
APAAR ID Integration
The Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry (APAAR) was introduced in 2024 as a single-ID system for academic records across India. In 2026, APAAR IDs are fully integrated with DigiLocker. Students can access their complete academic history — marksheets, transcripts, degree certificates, skill certifications — through a single APAAR-linked DigiLocker account.
Multi-Language Support
DigiLocker is available in 15 Indian languages, including Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Marathi, Gujarati, Malayalam, Punjabi, Odia, Assamese, Urdu, Maithili, Konkani, and English.
Offline Access
Documents fetched into DigiLocker can be accessed offline through the mobile app. Once a document is synced to your device, you can display it without an internet connection, which is useful for situations like traffic stops or airport check-ins in low-connectivity areas.
Where is DigiLocker Accepted?
DigiLocker documents are accepted across a wide range of services in India:
- Traffic police: Your digital driving licence and vehicle RC are legally valid during traffic checks across all states.
- Airports: DigiLocker-stored Aadhaar and government photo IDs are accepted for domestic air travel at all major airports.
- Banks: For KYC verification, account opening, and loan applications.
- Insurance companies: For policy purchases, renewals, and claims processing.
- Government services: For passport applications, pension services, and various e-governance portals.
- Educational institutions: For admission processes, scholarship applications, and exam registrations.
- Private companies: An increasing number of employers accept DigiLocker documents for background verification and onboarding.
As a rule of thumb, if a service accepts a photocopy of your government document, it must accept the DigiLocker-issued digital version. This is backed by the Information Technology Act.
Is DigiLocker Safe?
DigiLocker employs multiple layers of security:
Encryption
All data transmitted between your device and DigiLocker servers is encrypted using 256-bit SSL/TLS encryption, the same standard used by banks and financial institutions.
Authentication
Access to your DigiLocker account requires your password or biometric authentication, plus an OTP for sensitive operations. Two-factor authentication is mandatory for document sharing and consent actions.
Data Storage
DigiLocker data is hosted on government-operated servers within India, managed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC). Your documents are not stored on private or foreign servers.
Consent-Based Sharing
No one can access your documents without your explicit consent. Every access request is logged, and you can see a complete history of who has accessed your documents and when.
What DigiLocker Does Not Share
When a third-party app requests verification through DigiLocker, the app does not receive your full document by default. The exact data shared depends on what the app requests and what you consent to. For example, an app might only receive your verified name and a masked document number, without ever seeing your full Aadhaar number, address, or photograph.
Common Questions About DigiLocker
Is DigiLocker free?
Yes. DigiLocker is completely free for all Indian citizens. There are no subscription fees, no premium tiers, and no charges for storing or sharing documents.
Do I need an Aadhaar number to use DigiLocker?
Yes. Registration requires an Aadhaar-linked mobile number. This is because DigiLocker uses Aadhaar as the primary identity anchor for fetching government-issued documents.
What happens if I lose my phone?
Your documents are safe. DigiLocker is cloud-based, so your documents are stored on government servers, not on your device. You can log in from any other device and access everything as before. If you're concerned about unauthorised access, change your password immediately from the website.
Can I delete my DigiLocker account?
Yes. You can delete your account by contacting DigiLocker support. Upon deletion, your stored documents are removed from the platform. However, your original documents remain with the issuing authorities and can be re-fetched if you create a new account.
Is DigiLocker accepted as valid ID by police?
Yes. A Supreme Court directive and subsequent state government notifications confirm that DigiLocker documents are legally equivalent to original documents. Police officers across all states are required to accept DigiLocker-displayed documents during checks.
How Apps Use DigiLocker for Verification
An increasing number of apps and services integrate DigiLocker for identity verification. The process typically works as follows:
- The app requests identity verification and redirects you to DigiLocker's secure portal.
- You log in to DigiLocker with your credentials (the app never sees these).
- DigiLocker shows you exactly what data the app is requesting.
- You grant or deny consent.
- If you consent, DigiLocker shares only the approved data with the app.
This model is used by banking apps for KYC, insurance platforms for policy issuance, educational services for credential verification, and communication platforms for identity verification.
AirlockChat, for example, uses DigiLocker to verify every user's identity before they can send or receive messages. When you verify on AirlockChat, DigiLocker shares only your verified first name and a masked document number (last 4 digits). AirlockChat never receives your full Aadhaar number, address, or date of birth. Your verified first name then becomes your permanent display name on the platform, ensuring that every person you communicate with is a real, government-verified individual. You can learn more about how this works in our detailed post on DigiLocker verification on AirlockChat.
Key Takeaways
DigiLocker is India's official digital document wallet, backed by the government, used by over 200 million people, and legally equivalent to carrying physical originals. It's free, secure, and increasingly essential for everyday life in India, from traffic stops to bank accounts to app verifications. If you haven't set it up yet, the process takes less than five minutes and gives you instant access to your most important government documents from anywhere.