UAN Number 2026: Meaning, How to Find, Generate, Activate and Use It
Reviewed by: WeCredit Research Team
If you have ever checked a salary slip or joined a new company, you may have seen a 12-digit number called a UAN. Your HR team may ask for it, the EPFO portal uses it for login, and you need it for many online Provident Fund services.
UAN stands for Universal Account Number. It is a permanent 12-digit number allotted to an EPF member by the Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO). It normally stays the same throughout the member’s working life, even when the person changes jobs.
People commonly search for “UAN number,” although the letter “N” in UAN already means “Number.” Both expressions refer to the same 12-digit identification number.
Key Takeaways
- A UAN is a permanent 12-digit number used to manage EPF accounts connected with different employers.
- Your UAN generally remains the same after you change jobs. A new employer may create a new PF Member ID and link it with your existing UAN.
- You can find an existing UAN on your salary slip, ask your employer or use Know Your UAN on the official EPFO Member Portal.
- EPFO’s current portal states that new UAN allotment and activation are now completed through the UMANG app using Aadhaar-based face authentication.
- Do not create another UAN simply because you cannot remember the old one. Retrieve your existing UAN first.
- EPFO’s helpdesk number is 14470. EPFO does not ask members to pay money or share passwords and OTPs over a phone call.
The information in this guide was checked against EPFO’s official portal in August 2026.
What Is a UAN Number?
The UAN is the main identification number connecting an employee with their EPF records. EPF stands for Employees’ Provident Fund, a retirement savings system in which eligible employees and employers make regular contributions.
Imagine that your UAN is a permanent folder number in a large records office. Each time you join a new company, a new document—your PF Member ID for that employment—is placed inside the same folder. The documents may change, but the folder number remains the same.
This arrangement allows you to view and manage PF records from different jobs through one identity instead of treating every employment as completely separate.
UAN and PF Member ID: What Is the Difference?
UAN and PF Member ID are connected, but they are not the same thing.
| Point | UAN | PF Member ID |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning | Universal Account Number | PF account identifier connected with a particular employment |
| Format | A 12-digit number | Usually includes establishment and member information |
| Changes after switching jobs? | Normally remains the same | A new employer may create a new Member ID |
| Main purpose | Connects and manages multiple EPF employment records | Identifies the PF record for one establishment or job |
| Used for | Member login, passbook, KYC, claims and transfers | Identifying contributions connected with a particular employer |
Suppose Priya works for Company A and later joins Company B. Her UAN should remain the same, but Company B may create a different PF Member ID. Both Member IDs can be connected under Priya’s single UAN.
Why Is a UAN Important?
Once your UAN is active and the required details are linked, it can help you access several EPFO services.
You may use it to:
- Log in to the EPFO Member Portal
- View or download your PF passbook
- Check contributions from different employers
- Download your UAN card
- Update or review KYC information
- Submit eligible PF withdrawal, advance, transfer or pension claims online
- Add or update an e-nomination
- Update your date of exit where the facility is available
- Track eligible claims and service requests
Your UAN does not itself hold money. The money is recorded in the EPF accounts linked with the UAN.
How to Find Your UAN Number
If an employer has already enrolled you as an EPF member, you may already have a UAN even if you have never logged in to the portal.
Try the following methods.
1. Check your salary slip
Many employers print the UAN on monthly salary slips. Look near your employee ID, PF number, deductions or statutory information.
If you have a PDF salary slip, search the document for “UAN.” Make sure the number contains 12 digits before treating it as your UAN.
2. Ask your employer or HR team
Your employer’s payroll or HR team may be able to provide the UAN associated with your EPF membership. This can be especially helpful if the UAN is not printed on your salary slip.
When joining a new company, give the employer your existing UAN instead of requesting another one.
3. Use “Know Your UAN” on the EPFO Member Portal
If you cannot locate the number through your employer, use the official EPFO service:
- Open the EPFO Unified Member Portal.
- Select Know Your UAN.
- Enter the requested mobile number and captcha.
- Verify the mobile number using the OTP.
- Enter the requested identity details. The portal may ask for a Member ID, Aadhaar or PAN along with your name and date of birth.
- Submit the details after checking that they match EPFO’s records.
- Your UAN should be shown or sent to the verified mobile number, depending on the current portal flow.
Use only the official epfindia.gov.in portal. WeCredit does not ask for or retrieve a person’s UAN.
What Do You Need Before Finding or Activating a UAN?
Keep the following information ready:
- Aadhaar number
- Mobile phone capable of receiving an OTP
- Name and date of birth as recorded in Aadhaar and EPFO records
- Existing UAN, if you are activating rather than generating one
- PF Member ID, PAN or employment details if requested
- A smartphone with the official UMANG app for allotment or activation
A mismatch in your name, date of birth or other personal details can prevent verification. Do not enter a nickname if your EPFO or Aadhaar record uses your full legal name.
How to Generate a New UAN Through UMANG
Before generating a new UAN, check whether one has already been allotted to you. An employee should normally use one UAN across different jobs.
EPFO’s Member Portal currently states that direct UAN allotment through the web portal has been discontinued. New UAN generation is now available through the UMANG app using Aadhaar-based face authentication.
The general process is:
- Download the official UMANG app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
- Open UMANG and locate EPFO Services.
- Select UAN Services Through Face Auth.
- Choose UAN Allotment and Activation.
- Enter the requested Aadhaar and mobile details.
- Provide the required consent and complete OTP verification.
- Follow the application’s instructions for Aadhaar-based face authentication.
- Review the displayed details before submitting.
- Save the confirmation and UAN provided after successful verification.
The screen names or order may change when the app is updated. Follow the instructions shown inside the official UMANG app rather than a screenshot from an old article.
How to Activate an Existing UAN in 2026
Finding a UAN and activating it are different steps. Finding tells you the number. Activation gives you access to online member services.
Many older guides still tell users to activate their UAN through the EPFO website. However, EPFO’s current Member Portal says that activation through the portal has been discontinued and directs members to UMANG.
To activate an existing UAN:
- Open the official UMANG app.
- Select EPFO Services.
- Open UAN Services Through Face Auth.
- Select UAN Activation.
- Enter your UAN and the requested Aadhaar and mobile details.
- Complete OTP verification and give the required consent.
- Follow the face-authentication instructions displayed in the app.
- Wait for the successful activation confirmation.
- Use your UAN and the provided or created password to access the EPFO Member Portal.
EPFO does not charge a fee for UAN activation. Do not pay an agent or caller who promises to activate it faster.
Member Portal and Employer Portal: Which One Should You Use?
EPFO operates separate portals for members and employers.
EPFO Member Portal
Employees use the Member Portal to access personal EPF services such as UAN login, Know Your UAN, claims, KYC details and employment records.
EPFO Employer Portal
Companies and establishments use the Employer Portal for employer-related compliance and member administration.
If you are an employee trying to find your UAN or view your PF records, do not attempt to sign in through the Employer Portal.
How to Log In After UAN Activation
After your UAN has been activated:
- Visit the official EPFO Member Portal.
- Enter your 12-digit UAN.
- Enter your password.
- Complete the captcha.
- Select Sign In.
After signing in, check that your name, mobile number, Aadhaar information, bank details and employment records are accurate. Some services may remain unavailable until the required KYC information is linked or verified.
What If You Forget Your UAN Password?
Use the Forgot Password facility on the EPFO Member Portal.
The portal will normally ask for your UAN and captcha before sending an OTP to the registered mobile number. After successful verification, you can set a new password.
If you no longer use the registered mobile number, the recovery flow may ask you to verify personal details and Aadhaar before adding another mobile number. Follow only the instructions displayed on the official portal.
Never share the OTP or new password with an employer, colleague, agent or caller.
What Happens to Your UAN When You Change Jobs?
Your UAN should not change merely because you join another company.
When completing the joining formalities:
- Tell the new employer that you already have a UAN.
- Provide the existing UAN accurately.
- Check later whether the new PF Member ID appears under the same UAN.
- Transfer the previous PF balance if it has not moved through the applicable process.
Do not deliberately request a new UAN for every job. Multiple UANs can divide your employment records and make transfers or claims more complicated.
What Should You Do If You Have Two UANs?
Two UANs may be created when an employee does not provide the existing UAN to a new employer or when previous employment details are incomplete.
If this happens:
- Do not continue using both UANs without addressing the issue.
- Inform your current employer about the duplicate UAN.
- Review the Member IDs and employment records linked with each UAN.
- Use the applicable EPFO transfer facility, such as One Member–One EPF Account, to request consolidation where eligible.
- Contact EPFO or raise a grievance if the records cannot be corrected online.
Do not publish either UAN on social media or share it with an unknown “PF consultant.”
Common UAN Problems and Their Solutions
“My details do not match Aadhaar”
Compare the spelling of your name, date of birth and gender across Aadhaar and EPFO records. Even a small difference can interrupt verification. Use the official correction facility or contact your employer if approval is required.
“My UAN is not appearing on the salary slip”
Ask the payroll or HR team. You can also use Know Your UAN on the EPFO Member Portal.
“The portal says my UAN is inactive”
Use UAN Activation under UAN Services Through Face Auth in the UMANG app. Web-portal activation instructions found in older articles may no longer work.
“I changed my phone number”
Try the official password-recovery or mobile-update process. You may need to verify your Aadhaar and personal details before registering the new number.
“My new job is not visible”
Ask the new employer whether the PF Member ID has been created and linked with your existing UAN. Allow time for the latest contribution and employment records to appear.
“My passbook is not available”
EPFO states that members working in certain exempted establishments may not see a passbook on the UAN portal. In that situation, request the PF statement from the establishment.
How to Keep Your UAN Account Safe
Your UAN is not a password, but it is still personal information. Protect the account connected with it.
- Use only websites ending in
epfindia.gov.inand the official UMANG app. - Never share your UAN password, Aadhaar OTP or portal OTP.
- Do not pay anyone to activate a UAN or release PF money.
- Avoid opening PF links received from unknown WhatsApp accounts or SMS senders.
- Do not install screen-sharing applications at a caller’s request.
- Use a strong password that you do not reuse on other websites.
- Contact EPFO at 14470 or use the official grievance portal if you need assistance.
EPFO states that it does not request Aadhaar, PAN, bank details, passwords or monetary deposits over the phone.
A Real-World Example
Suppose Aman worked for a retail company for three years and then joined a technology company. During onboarding, his new HR team asks for his UAN.
Aman initially thinks he needs another UAN because he has changed jobs. Instead, he checks his previous salary slip and finds the same 12-digit number. He gives that UAN to the new employer, which connects the new PF Member ID with it.
Think of the UAN as Aman’s permanent folder number and each PF Member ID as a new page added when he changes jobs. Opening a new folder every time would scatter his records. Using the same folder keeps his employment-linked PF information together.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the full form of UAN?
UAN stands for Universal Account Number. It is a 12-digit number allotted to an EPF member by EPFO.
How many digits are there in a UAN?
A UAN contains 12 digits.
Is UAN the same as a PF number?
No. The UAN is the main permanent identifier, while a PF Member ID is connected with a particular employer or employment record. Several Member IDs can be linked with one UAN.
How can I find my forgotten UAN?
Check your salary slip, contact your employer or use Know Your UAN on the official EPFO Member Portal. You will need to complete OTP and identity verification.
Can I activate my UAN through the EPFO website?
EPFO’s current Member Portal says that web-portal UAN activation has been discontinued. It directs members to use UAN Activation in the UMANG app with Aadhaar-based face authentication.
How can I generate a UAN for the first time?
First check that you do not already have one. For new allotment, EPFO currently directs members to UAN Allotment and Activation under UAN Services Through Face Auth in the UMANG app. Employers can also have a role in EPF enrolment and member administration.
Does a UAN change after switching jobs?
Normally, no. Give the existing UAN to your new employer so that the new PF Member ID can be linked with it.
Can one employee have two UANs?
Duplicate UANs can be generated by mistake, but an employee should normally use one UAN. Inform the employer and use EPFO’s applicable transfer or grievance process to consolidate the records.
Is there a fee for UAN activation?
No. EPFO states that UAN registration and activation are free.
Can I activate a UAN without Aadhaar?
The current UMANG process uses Aadhaar-based face authentication. If Aadhaar information is missing or does not match your EPFO record, contact your employer or EPFO for the appropriate correction process.
What is the EPFO helpdesk number?
EPFO lists 14470 for assistance. Use official contact channels and never disclose an OTP or password to a caller.
Does WeCredit generate or activate UANs?
No. UAN allotment, activation and EPF services are provided by EPFO through its official systems. WeCredit is an independent financial-information and loan-facilitation platform and is not affiliated with EPFO for UAN services.
Final Word
Your UAN is the permanent 12-digit identity that connects your EPF records across jobs. Find an existing UAN through your salary slip, employer or the official Know Your UAN service. If you need to generate or activate a UAN, follow EPFO’s current instructions in the UMANG app instead of relying on old web-portal screenshots.
Most importantly, use the same UAN when changing jobs, keep your Aadhaar and personal details accurate, and never share your password or OTP.
