How to generate UAN number in UMANG app

By Admin  |  Updated June 2026  |  Reading time: about 6 minutes

If you have just joined a new job, your UAN is the one number that follows you for life. Here is the part that trips most people up in 2026: you cannot wait for your employer to hand it to you anymore. EPFO changed the rules, and now you create your own UAN, right from your phone, using your face. It sounds futuristic, but it takes about five minutes once you know the exact taps. I have walked through this flow myself and helped others do it, so this guide sticks to what actually works and skips the filler.

What is a UAN and why it matters

UAN stands for Universal Account Number. It is a 12-digit number that the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) issues to every employee covered under the Provident Fund scheme. Think of it as your permanent PF identity. You change jobs, you keep the same UAN, and every PF account you ever hold sits neatly under it.

With an active UAN you can check your PF balance, view your passbook, transfer funds when you switch employers, file claims, and complete your e-KYC and e-nomination online. No UAN means no online access to any of that, so getting it sorted on day one of a new job is genuinely worth the five minutes.

What changed in 2025

This is the bit that confuses people coming from older guides. EPFO issued a circular dated 30 July 2025 making Aadhaar-based Face Authentication Technology (FAT) through the UMANG app the only route for UAN allotment and activation, effective 1 August 2025. The old employer-led process and the desktop portal method for first-time generation have been retired.

What you need before you start

Get these ready first and the whole thing flows without a single stop. The one easy-to-miss requirement is the second app, the Aadhaar Face RD app, which is the engine that actually powers the face scan.

Step-by-step: generate UAN in UMANG

Here is the full flow. Follow it in order and you will have your UAN before your tea goes cold.

Step 1: Install both apps

From the Play Store or App Store, install the UMANG app and the Aadhaar Face RD app. You need both. The Face RD app does not need a login, it just has to be present so UMANG can trigger the scan.

Step 2: Open EPFO and pick UAN Allotment and Activation

Launch UMANG, register or log in with your mobile number, then search for EPFO. Inside the EPFO section, tap UAN Allotment and Activation. This single option both creates a new UAN and activates it.

Step 3: Enter your Aadhaar and mobile number

Type in your 12-digit Aadhaar number and your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Tick the consent checkbox that lets EPFO validate your details against the Aadhaar database. Accuracy matters here, so double-check every digit before you move on.

Step 4: Verify with OTP

Tap to send the OTP, then enter the one-time password that lands on your Aadhaar-linked mobile. The system now checks whether your Aadhaar is already tied to a UAN. If it is, you will be told, and you should activate that existing UAN instead of making a new one. If it is not, you move straight to the face scan.

Step 5: Complete the face authentication

UMANG calls the Aadhaar Face RD app to run a live scan. Hold the phone steady, keep a neutral expression, and stay in even light with your face inside the on-screen frame. Once your face matches the biometric record in Aadhaar, EPFO pulls your verified name, date of birth, gender and photo automatically.

Step 6: Receive your UAN

That is it. EPFO generates your brand-new UAN on the spot and sends it to you by SMS, followed by a temporary password for your first login. No paperwork, no office, no waiting on HR.

What to do after your UAN is generated

Getting the number is only half the job. A few small steps lock everything in.

• Log in and change your password. Go to the EPFO member portal at member.epfindia.gov.in, sign in with your UAN and the temporary password, then set a strong password of your own.
• Download your e-UAN card. You can pull a PDF of your e-UAN card and hand it to your employer so they can link your PF account.
• Share the UAN with your employer. Do this before your first PF deduction so your contributions map correctly.
• Finish e-KYC and e-nomination. Complete these once the UAN is active to keep claims and transfers smooth later.

Common errors and quick fixes

If something stalls, it is almost always one of these. Here is how to clear each one.

Who cannot use this method

The UMANG face-authentication route is mandatory for almost everyone, but EPFO carves out a few exceptions. Citizens of Nepal and Bhutan, and International Workers, fall outside this flow and are handled separately. If you are in one of those categories, check with your employer or EPFO directly for the correct process.

Official EPFO contacts

When in doubt, go to the source rather than a random link. These are the official EPFO points of contact.