UAN Activation on UMANG 2026: Activate EPF Account With Face Authentication in 5 Easy Steps

If you recently joined a new job or tried to log in to the EPFO member portal for the first time, you may have noticed that UAN activation is no longer available there. EPFO has moved activation to the UMANG app, where your identity is verified through Aadhaar face authentication. The change is meant to stop impersonation and fake claims, and once you know the steps, UAN activation takes only a few minutes on any Android phone.

What Changed in 2026?

In mid-2026, after a major technology upgrade of its Unified Member Portal, EPFO stopped allowing members to activate their Universal Account Number on the website. UMANG is now the only channel for UAN activation and for generating a new UAN. Members whose UAN was already active can continue to log in to the member portal for passbook, claims and KYC. EPFO has said the change does not affect death claim settlements, which continue through the existing process.

The move ties every active UAN to a live face match with Aadhaar, so someone else cannot activate your account using only an OTP. Employers still generate UANs for new joiners in many cases, but activation by the employee must now be completed through face authentication. If you are changing jobs, you do not need a new UAN; the same number moves with you.

For most employees, the practical impact is simple: download UMANG, keep your Aadhaar-linked phone nearby and finish the face scan once. After that, everyday services such as checking the passbook, updating bank details or applying for advance withdrawals continue as before. Members who face repeated failures can visit the nearest EPFO office or ask their employer’s HR team for help with correcting records before trying again.

What You Need for UAN Activation

• Your UAN (from salary slip or employer) for activating an existing account
• Aadhaar number with an active linked mobile number
• UMANG app installed on an Android phone
• AadhaarFaceRD app from UIDAI for the face scan
• Good lighting and a steady front camera

Before starting, make sure your name, date of birth and gender in EPFO records match your Aadhaar. A mismatch is the most common reason the process fails at the final step. If your details differ, ask your employer to correct them through the employer portal first. Also check that your Aadhaar mobile number is working, because the OTP is sent only to that number during UAN activation.

UAN Activation on UMANG: 5 Easy Steps

1. Open UMANG, search for EPFO and go to UAN Services Through Face Auth.
2. Select UAN Activation and enter your UAN, Aadhaar number and mobile number.
3. Give consent and verify the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile.
4. Complete face authentication through the AadhaarFaceRD app when prompted.
5. Receive the activation message and a temporary password by SMS, then set a new password on the member portal.

If you have never been allotted a UAN, choose UAN Allotment and Activation instead. The app checks whether your Aadhaar already has a UAN. If not, it creates a new one after face authentication and activates it in the same flow, sending the number to your mobile. Members with an existing UAN who only need to refresh records can use the face authentication option for already activated UANs.

How to Download Your EPF Passbook

Once UAN activation is complete, log in to the EPFO passbook portal with your UAN and new password, verify the captcha and choose your member ID to view or download the passbook PDF. In UMANG, open EPFO, select View Passbook, enter your UAN and OTP, and pick the establishment. The passbook shows employee share, employer share and interest credited, which helps you check whether your employer deposits contributions on time every month.

Service	Where
UAN activation and new UAN	UMANG app only
Passbook view	EPFO passbook portal or UMANG
Claims and KYC	Member portal or UMANG
Balance by SMS	Send EPFOHO UAN to 7738299899

Why Activating Your UAN Early Matters

Many employees ignore their UAN until they need money for a medical emergency, marriage or home purchase, and then discover that the account is not active or KYC is incomplete. Completing the process on your first month in a new job lets you check that the employer is depositing contributions correctly. It also makes it easy to merge old PF accounts from previous employers, which prevents money from being stuck in inactive member IDs for years.

An active account also lets you nominate family members online, which is important for quick settlement in case of the member’s death. EPFO has repeatedly urged members to file e-nomination, and the option is available once you log in. Linking your bank account and PAN through KYC further reduces tax deduction on withdrawals and avoids claim rejections, so treat activation as the first step of a complete PF setup rather than a one-time formality.

Common Problems and Fixes

If face capture keeps failing, move to a well-lit spot, remove spectacles and hold the phone at eye level. Update the AadhaarFaceRD app, because older versions often show errors. When the app says details do not match, compare EPFO and Aadhaar records and ask your employer to correct them. For a forgotten UAN, use the know your UAN option in UMANG with your registered mobile number, and keep your Aadhaar mobile active to avoid OTP failures.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

UAN activation through UMANG is quick once your Aadhaar and EPFO details match and your Aadhaar mobile is active. Complete it as soon as you join a job so you can track contributions, update KYC and file claims without depending on anyone. For more ways to check your savings, see our PF balance check guide and our article on the ITR refund status.