How to Create A DigiLocker Account, Upload & Access Documents?
31 Aug, 2026
By Online Legal India
Published On 31 Aug 2026
Category Other
Carrying folders full of important documents is already the past! India has already witnessed digital transformation across diverse sectors, which has replaced the old pattern of storing vital documents with a hassle-free digital solution. Launched on July 1, 2015, by the PM, Narendra Modi, this Government of India initiative makes the document storage process simpler and more secure. But how do you create a DigiLocker account, upload documents, and access them when needed? Reviewed by an experienced digital documentation and compliance professional, this guide is based on practical insights into DigiLocker registration, document access, verification, and common user issues.
It’s a secure, cloud-based digital document wallet that lets you store, access, and share authentic electronic documents and certificates when needed. This flagship initiative by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) eliminated the need to carry physical documents, facilitating paperless governance and citizen-first digital empowerment.
DigiLocker has multiple functionalities to cater to. Below, we have mentioned the common uses of this app.
However, since we are discussing how DigiLocker works, it's also important to know that not all documents in it are stored the same way. The platform distinguishes between issued documents fetched directly from government databases and uploaded documents added by users, each serving a different purpose.
|
Differentiating Factors |
Issued Documents |
Uploaded Documents |
|
Source |
Fetched directly from original Government or registered issuer databases (e.g., UIDAI, CBSE, Transport Dept). |
Uploaded manually by the individual user from a local device. |
|
Legal Status |
Deemed legally at par with original physical documents under Rule 9A of the IT Rules. |
Acts as a personal digital backup. It is not automatically verified as original. |
|
Format |
Stored as secure, tamper-evident, digitally signed electronic data/URIs. |
Stored as standard files like PDF, JPEG, or PNG (up to 10MB). |
|
Verification |
Real-time verification using the issuer’s digital signature. |
Can be self-attested or digitally signed using the app's eSign facility. |
Now that you know how DigiLocker usually works, let’s focus on how you can leverage the app’s unique functional features and take a step toward digital document storage.
However, before we take a deeper look into how to create a DigiLocker account, let’s check out the details you may require for this.
To create an account, you may follow the steps below:
And Voila!
You are done with the setup.
To use DigiLocker, you need to sign up on its official website or download the app and finish the setup using your Aadhaar number and security PIN.
Now, if you are done with all these following the steps mentioned right above, you should now learn about accessing the issued documents, uploading your personal ones, and downloading or sharing them when needed.
That’s exactly what we will discuss in the following sections!
The "Issued Documents" section in the app/website is a digital folder where your official e-documents and certificates, fetched directly from registered government agencies and issuers, are stored securely.
To access them, follow the steps below:
Usually, you will find your Aadhaar, PAN, academic marksheets, etc. in this specific section.
Now, let’s learn about the process of uploading your documents on DigiLocker.
For that, you need to:
This way, all your documents will be saved safely in your personal cloud space.
Downloading or sharing your documents is completely hassle-free with DigiLocker.
All you need to do is:
However, if you want to share the file:
Super easy, right?
Now, one of the most common questions people tend to ask is what type of documents they can store in the app.
Well, with DigiLocker, you can primarily store your official Government IDs, educational certificates, and personal documents as well.
However, for your better understanding, we have classified the documents you can store on DigiLocker into two different categories.
These primarily include:
These documents may include your:
However, that’s not all!
If you want, you may also securely store your other personal documents, e.g.:
All the documents you upload will be stored in your personal DigiLocker drive storage.
Since DigiLocker promotes paperless governance and it’s a secure and Government-backed application, it comes with some of the most convenient and advanced security features.
Let’s discuss them one by one.
Last but not least, the best part with DigiLocker is that all the e-documents fetched into the system are considered and treated as equivalent to original physical documents under the IT Act.
The unique features that DigiLocker provides you with might have given you an idea of the obvious benefits of using this digital storage system. However, let’s focus on its individual benefits for citizens, Government agencies, and businesses for a clear understanding.
DigiLocker is, after all, an app that may have technical glitches at times. However, users have reported issues with DigiLocker primarily due to login failures, connectivity problems with the Central portal, or unlinked Aadhaar mobile numbers. Also, some of them have reported issues, including missing issued documents and server timeouts.
DigiLocker usually handles technical glitches, connectivity issues, server load issues, or outdated app versions by allowing local caching of previously downloaded files for offline viewing, forcing critical updates through app store compliance, and routing server-side errors or data mismatches through an integrated user helpdesk and support ticketing system.
Though you can’t do anything about the previously mentioned issues, doing a few things can help you avoid some of the most common issues users complain about.
Also, if you have changed your mobile number recently and are facing a mismatch issue:
If your app is lagging or freezing:
Doing these things may help in bypassing local device caching errors.
However, you also need to be careful during Aadhaar authentication and document uploading to avoid OTP failures, Aadhaar mismatches, and other issues such as pending or missing documents, format errors, and login issues. Also, you need to download the authentic DigiLocker app from the Play Store or App Store to avoid fake app confusion.
Undoubtedly, DigiLocker has digitally transformed the older habit of accessing, storing, and sharing documents across the nation. Now, you can retrieve documents issued by participating authorities, upload your personal files, and access them whenever required. So, use the official DigiLocker platform for secure e-document access and always verify important records before using them for official purposes.
That’s it for today!
We hope this blog has addressed all your topical queries and doubts. However, for further clarifications, please feel free to comment below. We will be happy to answer them.
Ans: Yes, it is completely free to use for all citizens of India.
Ans: No, using it is not universally mandatory for Indian citizens. However, it is required for specific Government applications, academic registrations, and high-stakes national examinations.
Ans: Yes, you may; however, without Aadhaar, your access will be limited, and you might not be able to automatically fetch official Government documents.
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