What does the Aadhaar QR code contain, and should you hide it?

What's in it

The QR code on an Aadhaar card or e-Aadhaar is a machine-readable copy of your details. It can include your name, date of birth, gender, address and photo. The exact contents depend on the version of the card and when it was issued, so treat it as holding everything printed on the card, and possibly more.

It exists so your details can be read and verified quickly, without anyone typing them in. That's useful for verification, and it's also why it matters on a copy you share.

Why covering the text isn't enough

Many people carefully mask the Aadhaar number, cover the address, and then send a copy with the QR code intact. Anyone with a suitable scanner app can still read the details from it. Masking the printed text and leaving the QR code is like locking the front door and leaving the window open.

A blurred QR code can sometimes still scan if the blur is light. Cover it with a solid box.

How to cover it

1. Open Mask Aadhaar and add the card photo, scan or e-Aadhaar PDF. Password-protected PDFs open in the browser: see e-Aadhaar PDF password.
2. QR codes are detected automatically and covered by default, along with the first 8 digits of the number and the VID.
3. Check the preview. If the code is creased, cropped or at an angle and wasn't picked up, drag a box over it by hand.
4. Export. The page is rebuilt from pixels, so nothing of the original code survives in the file.

The same detection works on other documents with QR codes, such as newer PAN cards and some ID cards: use Blur ID card.

When to leave it visible

Some organisations verify Aadhaar by scanning the QR code. If someone asks you specifically for a copy with the QR code, ask what they'll use it for. If it's for verification and you trust them, you may decide to share it. In everyday cases, such as a rental, an event or hotel check-in, there's usually no reason to. See How to mask your Aadhaar card for the full picture.