Are you trying to withdraw your PF but can’t access your account? You may need to activate your UAN first.
Here’s a detailed guide on how to activate your UAN to manage your EPF account, track contributions, and enable PF withdrawals online all in a few simple steps
Your Universal Account Number (UAN) is the key to managing your Provident Fund (PF). Without it, you can’t:
EPFO's unified member portal underwent a scheduled upgrade and database consolidation from 26 June to 3 July 2026. As part of that migration, UAN activation and new UAN generation were removed from the web portal entirely. Both are now handled exclusively through the UMANG app using Aadhaar-based Face Authentication (FAT). If a guide, including an older version of this one, tells you to click \"Activate UAN\" on the portal and enter an OTP, that instruction is now out of date.
Both apps are required, download them from the Play Store or App Store.
Launch UMANG, sign in with your mobile number, and search for \"EPFO\" in the services list.
Under \"UAN Services Through Face Authentication,\" select \"UAN Activation\" (this option is for an existing UAN that hasn't been activated yet, as opposed to generating a brand-new one).
Enter your UAN or Member ID, name (as per Aadhaar or PF records), date of birth, and your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.
You'll receive an OTP on your Aadhaar-linked mobile number. Enter it to proceed.
Follow the prompts to scan your face using the Aadhaar FaceRD app. Use a well-lit space and hold your phone steady; most failures here come from poor lighting or a mismatch between your Aadhaar details and EPFO's records.
Once verified, your UAN is activated and a temporary password is sent to your registered mobile number. Use this to log in and set a new password.
Once approved, your KYC status will show as “Verified”, a crucial step to enable online PF withdrawal.
Activation is the gate between having a UAN number and actually being able to use it. With the process now running entirely through UMANG's Face Authentication, it takes about ten minutes once your apps are installed and your Aadhaar details are in order.
Stuck on activation, or want someone to check your KYC status before you file a claim?
Book a Free Consultation with our EPF experts.
Have questions or want to stay updated on EPF changes? Join the conversation on Reddit, X, Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, or YouTube.
"},"category":"PF Withdrawal","author":"Finright","is_published":true,"is_draft":false,"published_at":"2026-02-16T13:57:18.451Z","is_deleted":false,"summary_id":{"_id":"6993223e6bd959d84ebbf250","summary":"Activation is instant once your Aadhaar Face Authentication is verified. You'll receive your password by SMS right after.
","_id":"6993223e6bd959d84ebbf24a"},{"question":"What if I don’t know my UAN?","answer":"Use “Know your UAN” on the EPFO site. Enter your:
or
No. Since activation now runs through Aadhaar-based Face Authentication, Aadhaar (linked to your mobile number) is required to activate your UAN.
","_id":"6993223e6bd959d84ebbf24c"},{"question":"Can I change my mobile number later?","answer":"Yes. You can ask your employer to update your mobile number in your EPF account, or update it yourself through KYC once your UAN is active.
","_id":"6993223e6bd959d84ebbf24d"},{"question":"UMANG isn’t working for UAN activation. What to do?","answer":"Since the web portal no longer offers UAN activation, retry UMANG first, close and reopen the app, confirm both UMANG and Aadhaar FaceRD are updated to their latest versions, and check you have a stable connection and good lighting for the face scan. If it still fails, contact the EPFO helpdesk or your employer for assistance; the portal is not currently a working fallback for activation.
","_id":"6993223e6bd959d84ebbf24e"}],"is_deleted":false},"createdAt":"2026-02-16T13:57:18.452Z","updatedAt":"2026-07-24T10:32:37.663Z","__v":0,"slug":"how-to-activate-your-uan-for-easy-pf-withdrawal","author_id":{"_id":"6a54c5df4f0272ba4dfa4fcb","name":"Mital Rajpurohit","profilePicture":"https://finright-cms-media.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/1a9e9e3b-a4bc-46ab-bdc3-aea9816d33f9.webp","about":"EPF Case Specialist | PF Withdrawal, Transfers & Member Corrections\n\nMittal has resolved 500+ EPF cases since joining FinRight in October 2025, assisting members with PF withdrawals, transfers, Joint Declarations, and ECR corrections. She specializes in resolving claim rejections by identifying underlying issues and guiding members through the required correction process.\n\nHer expertise also covers complex PF transfer cases, member profile corrections, service history discrepancies, and KYC-related issues, ensuring members can complete their EPF transactions with minimal delays.","id":"6a54c5df4f0272ba4dfa4fcb"},"expert_quote":"","expert_quote_attribution":"","id":"6993223e6bd959d84ebbf252","totalLikes":0,"totalViews":9302,"totalShares":0,"ctas":{"checkmypf-1":{"_id":"69e364082c6fa767919261a7","unique_key":"checkmypf-1","button_text":"Check YOUR PF Now!","description":"Unsure about your PF balance? Use FinRight's CheckMyPF tool to analyze your EPF records for potential discrepancies or missed transfers.","heading":"Check My PF – Get Your Detailed Report!","navigation_url":"https://finright.in/check-pf-withdrawability"},"bookexpertcall_1":{"_id":"69e3643e2c6fa767919261a8","unique_key":"bookexpertcall_1","button_text":"Book a Call","description":"Book a consultation call with our EPF experts to get personalized assistance for withdrawal or transfer of your Provident Fund.","heading":"Need Help with PF Withdrawal or Transfer?","navigation_url":"https://finright.in/"},"transfer-1":{"_id":"69e364862c6fa767919261a9","unique_key":"transfer-1","button_text":"Start Your Transfer Journey!","description":"Let us assist you with the smooth transfer of your Provident Fund balance from previous employers. Ensure your funds are consolidated.","heading":"Transfer Your PF Without Hassles","navigation_url":"https://finright.in/"},"withdrawal-1":{"_id":"69e364b82c6fa767919261aa","unique_key":"withdrawal-1","button_text":"Start Your PF Withdrawal Journey!","description":"If you're ready to withdraw your PF, let us guide you through the process, ensuring all documents and conditions are met.","heading":"Simplified PF Withdrawal Process","navigation_url":"https://finright.in/"}}},"nextBlog":{"_id":"699323546bd959d84ebbf26a","title":"How to Generate and Activate UAN Online via UMANG Face Authentication","primary_image_url":"https://finright-cms-media.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/65a4a0ad-6abe-4d83-905f-282a5b45ae53.webp","id":"699323546bd959d84ebbf26a"},"previousBlog":{"_id":"699320276bd959d84ebbf235","title":"Employment Linked Incentive Scheme: What Employers and Employees Must Know","primary_image_url":"https://finright-cms-media.s3.ap-south-1.amazonaws.com/36d19213-5b3a-4b03-b80b-bb3952f73121.webp","id":"699320276bd959d84ebbf235"}}