The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation has moved UAN activation exclusively to the UMANG app. Subscribers must now use Aadhaar-based Face Authentication instead of the web portal to activate or generate UANs. This update aims to strengthen account security following a recent system upgrade on July 3.
The Employees' Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has updated its service delivery model by shifting the Universal Account Number (UAN) activation process entirely to the UMANG mobile application. As of July 2026, the option to activate or generate a UAN through the EPFO’s Unified Member Portal has been discontinued. This change is part of a broader transition following the rollout of an enhanced portal on July 3, 2026, which the organization states is intended to improve security and system stability.
New Authentication Requirements
To activate a UAN or generate a new one, subscribers are now required to use the UMANG app's Face Authentication (FAT) feature. The process requires users to access the 'EPFO Services' section within the app, select the 'UAN Services Through Face Authentication' option, and follow the guided steps. During this process, users must input their UAN, Aadhaar number, and the mobile number linked to their Aadhaar account. The final step involves a live facial scan, which serves as the primary verification method to ensure the account is linked to the correct individual.
Essential Checklist for Subscribers
For this new digital process to function correctly, users must meet specific technical and administrative requirements. First, the subscriber's Aadhaar must be updated and linked to an active mobile number to receive authentication codes. Second, the user must have access to a smartphone with a working camera to complete the facial recognition scan. Finally, the personal details in the Aadhaar database must match the records held by the EPFO, as any discrepancies may prevent the activation process from completing successfully.
Impact on Portal Services
While UAN activation and allotment have been removed from the website, the EPFO has kept other core services on the Unified Member Portal. Users can still utilize the 'Know Your UAN' feature to recover forgotten account numbers and file death claims directly through the web portal. The system for recovering a lost UAN has also been updated to rely on mobile number verification rather than the new face-scanning method. Investors and employees should note that while these changes are designed to reduce unauthorized access and improve security, they necessitate that all users maintain updated contact information in their Aadhaar records to avoid service delays.