DigiLocker Guide: How to Store and Share Your Official Documents

DigiLocker is the Government of India's digital locker for official documents. Instead of carrying paper copies of your driving licence, vehicle RC or school mark sheets, you can keep digital versions on your phone that come straight from the department or board that issued them. This guide explains how to set up DigiLocker, how to fetch documents, how sharing works and how to keep your account safe.

AppStepwise is an independent guide, not an official government service, and is not connected to DigiLocker or any government department.

What DigiLocker is, in simple words

DigiLocker is part of the Digital India programme and is run by the National e-Governance Division under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology. The easiest way to understand it is to think of a locker with two shelves.

• Issued documents: digital documents sent directly by the issuing authority, such as a state transport department, an education board or UIDAI. They are fetched from the issuer's own records, so you cannot edit them.
• Uploaded documents: scans or photos that you add yourself, such as an old certificate. These are handy for your own reference, but they are only copies.

The difference matters. Under India's IT rules, documents issued into DigiLocker by the issuer are treated as being on par with the original paper documents. Scans you upload yourself do not get that status.

Documents you can usually find

What you can fetch depends on which departments and institutions have joined DigiLocker, and the list keeps growing. Common examples include:

• Aadhaar
• Driving licence and vehicle registration certificate (RC)
• Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and pass certificates from boards that take part
• Degrees and other certificates from some universities
• Some insurance policies, and certificates issued by state governments in some states

If you cannot find a document, it usually means the issuer has not joined DigiLocker yet, or the details you entered do not match their records.

Before you install

DigiLocker is free. Download it only from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, and before installing, check that the publisher is a Government of India body (the National e-Governance Division). Avoid APK files shared on WhatsApp or random websites, and avoid look-alike apps with similar names and logos.

Keep your mobile phone and your Aadhaar number handy. The app sends OTPs by SMS, and linking Aadhaar makes it easier for issuers to match documents to you.

How to set up DigiLocker

1. Install the official app

   Search for DigiLocker in your app store, confirm the publisher, and install it.

2. Create your account

   Open the app and choose to sign up. Enter your details as asked, such as your name as it appears on your Aadhaar and your date of birth, and verify your mobile number with the OTP sent by SMS.

3. Set a security PIN

   Create a PIN that only you know. You will need it to sign in, including on a new phone. Avoid easy guesses such as your birth year or repeated digits.

4. Link your Aadhaar

   If the app asks, link your Aadhaar and verify it with the OTP sent to your Aadhaar-registered mobile number. Many issuers match records using these details.

5. Check your profile

   Make sure your name, date of birth and gender in DigiLocker match your official records. A mismatch is one of the most common reasons a document cannot be fetched.

How to fetch an issued document

Once your account is ready, fetching a document usually takes only a minute or two.

1. Open DigiLocker and sign in with your mobile number and OTP, or your security PIN.
2. Search or browse for the issuer, for example your state's transport department or your education board.
3. Choose the document type, such as driving licence or Class 10 mark sheet.
4. Enter the details asked for, such as licence number, roll number or year of passing, exactly as they appear on your paper document.
5. Give your consent for the details to be checked with the issuer. The document will then appear among your issued documents.

How to share documents safely

DigiLocker gives you a few ways to use your documents:

• Show on screen: open the issued document in the app and show it to the official who asks, for example a traffic officer checking your driving licence.
• Share from the app: most documents have a share option. Use it only for the person or organisation that actually needs the document.
• Approve a request: some banks, universities and other organisations connected to DigiLocker let you share documents with them directly. You will see a DigiLocker screen asking you to sign in and approve. Read what is being requested before you agree.

Whether a particular office accepts a DigiLocker document instead of the original is up to that office. For important visits, such as admissions or joining a new job, carry your originals as well.

Keeping your account safe

• Use a screen lock on your phone so that nobody else can open your apps.
• Keep your security PIN private, and change it if you think someone has seen it.
• Keep your mobile number active. OTPs are sent to it, and losing access to it makes signing in difficult.
• If your phone is lost, sign in on your new phone with your mobile number and PIN, and then change your PIN.
• Sign out if you ever use DigiLocker on a shared phone or computer.

Common problems and what usually helps

Frequently asked questions