Locked out of your EPFO account? Forgot the password you set six months ago and cannot remember it now?
It happens to a lot of people. The EPFO Member Portal is not something most employees log into every week. So when they do need it to check a PF balance, submit a withdrawal claim, or download a passbook they often find they cannot get in at all.
The good news is that a UAN password change or reset does not take more than five minutes, and you do not need to visit any office or call anyone. As long as your UAN is active and your registered mobile number still works, you can get back in right from your phone or laptop.
This guide gives you the exact steps, the password rules you need to follow, what to do if the OTP is not coming, and a few other things most articles skip over.
Before You Start – Check These Three Things
A UAN password reset will fail if any of these are missing or wrong. Verify them before you begin:
1. Your UAN must be active If you have never logged into the EPFO portal before, your UAN may not be activated yet. You cannot reset a password on an inactive account. New employees joining after August 2025 need to activate their UAN through the UMANG app using Aadhaar-based face authentication the EPFO website no longer supports UAN activation directly, as per the EPFO circular dated July 30, 2025.
2. Your UAN must be linked to your Aadhaar The EPFO portal verifies your identity using Aadhaar during the password reset. If your Aadhaar is not seeded to your UAN, the verification step will fail. Your employer can link it through the Employer Portal if it is not done already.
3. Your registered mobile number must be active The OTP for password reset goes to the mobile number linked with your UAN account (usually the Aadhaar-linked number). If that number is not active or has changed, you will not receive the OTP and the process will stop there.
Once all three are in place, you are good to go.
How to Do a UAN Password Change Online (Step by Step)
The EPFO Member e-Sewa portal is at unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in. Open that on your browser.
Step 1: On the login page, click "Forgot Password" you will find it just below the login fields.
Step 2: A new page opens. Enter your 12-digit UAN number, complete the captcha shown on screen, and click "Submit".
Step 3: Enter your personal details your name as it appears in EPFO records, date of birth, and gender. Click "Verify".
Important: The name you type here must exactly match what EPFO has on file. Even a spelling difference like "Mohammed" vs "Mohammad" will cause this step to fail. If you are unsure, ask your HR team to check what name is registered against your UAN.
Step 4: On the next screen, you will be asked for Aadhaar-based verification. Enter your Aadhaar number, give consent for authentication, and click "Verify".
Step 5: An OTP will be sent to your registered mobile number. Enter that OTP on the screen and click "Verify" again.
Step 6: You can now set your new password. Enter it once, then confirm it by entering it a second time.
Step 7: Click "Submit". Your UAN password change is complete.
You can log in immediately with the new password on the EPFO portal. However, if you also use the PF Passbook portal (passbook.epfindia.gov.in), wait up to 6 hours before trying to log in there the passbook portal takes a bit longer to sync with the updated password.
Already Logged In? How to Change UAN Password Without Forgetting It
If you remember your current password and just want to update it, you do not need to go through the Forgot Password route.
Log in to unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in with your UAN and existing password.
After logging in, go to Account Settings (usually in the top-right menu area). From there, look for the Change Password option. Enter your current password, then type and confirm your new one. Save the change.
That is it. No OTP needed when you are already inside your account.
UAN Password Rules – What Format Is Accepted
The EPFO portal is strict about password format. If your chosen password does not meet these requirements, the system will reject it without much explanation.
Your password must:
Some working examples to give you a sense of what passes:
Avoid very obvious combinations like Password@123 or your name followed by a year. The system may accept them, but they are easy to guess.
What Each UAN Password Unlocks
One password, two portals. That is how EPFO works.
The password you set is used for:
EPFO Member e-Sewa Portal (unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in)
PF Passbook Portal (passbook.epfindia.gov.in)
Both use the same UAN and password. When you change the password on one, it updates on the other too though the passbook portal may take a few hours to reflect the change.
OTP Not Coming? Here Are the Real Reasons
This is where most people get stuck. The OTP does not arrive, they try again a few times, and then the account gets temporarily blocked.
Reason 1: Your registered mobile number is different from your Aadhaar-linked number EPFO sends OTPs to the mobile number linked with your UAN account, which is often the Aadhaar-linked number. If you changed your SIM or got a new number and did not update it with your employer, OTPs will keep going to the old number.
Reason 2: Your mobile number is not updated in EPFO records at all Employees who joined long ago sometimes have no mobile number in EPFO records. In this case, you need your employer to update it through the Employer Portal first.
Reason 3: Telecom network delay SMS delivery can take a few minutes during busy periods. Wait at least 3–5 minutes before clicking "Resend OTP." If it still does not arrive, try again after 15–20 minutes.
Reason 4: EPFO portal is under maintenance The EPFO portal goes under maintenance at odd hours. If OTPs are consistently failing across multiple attempts, check the EPFO Twitter handle or call 14470 to check if there is a known outage.
Other Errors You Might See and What They Mean
"UAN Password Not Available" This appears when your UAN has never been activated, or when a password was never set on the account. If you just received a new UAN from your employer, activate it first through the UMANG app if you joined after August 2025.
"Name does not match" The name you entered during verification does not match what EPFO has on record. Ask your HR or employer to tell you the exact name spelling in your EPFO profile. Use that exact spelling during reset.
"Aadhaar authentication failed" Your Aadhaar is either not linked to your UAN, or the Aadhaar details in EPFO records do not match what UIDAI has. Ask your employer to re-seed your Aadhaar through the Employer Portal. This sometimes takes a day or two to update in the system.
"Date of birth mismatch" The date of birth in EPFO records does not match what you entered. Your employer can correct this through a Joint Declaration request submitted to the EPFO office.
Account locked after multiple wrong password attempts Wait 15–30 minutes before trying again. Do not keep guessing each wrong attempt extends the lock period.
No Mobile Number? Here Is What You Can Do
If you cannot receive OTPs because your registered number is gone, there is no way to complete the reset entirely online. The mobile number is the only OTP channel EPFO uses.
Your options:
Option 1: Ask your current employer to update your mobile number on the Employer Portal. Once updated and approved, you can try the reset again.
Option 2: Visit your nearest EPFO office with your UAN details and identity proof. Staff there can update your mobile number and help reset access.
Option 3: Call the EPFO helpline at 14470 and explain the situation. They can guide you on the correct offline process for your case.
Quick Reference
What You Need
Where to Go
Reset forgotten password
unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in → Forgot Password
Change password while logged in
Account Settings → Change Password
Download PF passbook
passbook.epfindia.gov.in
Check PF balance via SMS
SMS "EPFOHO UAN" to 7738299899
EPFO helpline
14470
Update mobile number
Through your employer (Employer Portal)
New UAN activation (post Aug 2025)
UMANG app (Aadhaar face authentication)
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I change my UAN password if I have forgotten it?
Go to unifiedportal-mem.epfindia.gov.in and click "Forgot Password." Enter your UAN, verify your name and date of birth, authenticate through Aadhaar OTP, and set a new password. The whole process takes about five minutes if your details are correct.
Can I reset my UAN password without a mobile number?
Not fully online. The OTP for password reset goes to the mobile number linked with your UAN. If that number is inactive or lost, ask your employer to update it on the Employer Portal first, then try the reset.
How long does a UAN password change take to work?
On the EPFO Member Portal, the new password works immediately. On the PF Passbook Portal, it may take up to 6 hours to sync.
What is the correct format for a UAN password?
Between 7 and 20 characters, with at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one special character, and two numbers. Example: Harish@1990 or Vaani888#
Why does the portal show "UAN Password Not Available"?
This usually means your UAN has not been activated yet, or no password has ever been set. Activate your UAN first through the UMANG app (mandatory for employees who joined after August 2025).
Is the UAN password the same for the passbook portal and the member portal?
Yes. One password works for both. After changing it, the passbook portal may take a few hours to update give it up to 6 hours before logging in there.
How many times can I change my UAN password?
There is no limit. You can reset or change it as many times as needed.
What if my Aadhaar authentication keeps failing during the reset?
Your Aadhaar may not be linked to your UAN, or there is a data mismatch between EPFO and UIDAI records. Contact your employer to re-seed your Aadhaar through the Employer Portal. If the issue is a name or date of birth mismatch, a Joint Declaration request needs to be submitted to the EPFO office.
Where can I get help if the portal is not working?
Call EPFO's helpline at 14470 (available on working days). You can also raise a grievance at epfigms.gov.in if the issue is account-related.
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