How to Download APAAR ID From DigiLocker and Save Your Digital ID
If you are searching for how to download APAAR ID from DigiLocker, the quickest method is to sign in to the official DigiLocker website or app and open Issued Documents. After your school, college, or authorised institution creates your APAAR ID, DigiLocker receives a virtual APAAR card that you can view and download as a PDF.
This guide explains the exact download process, what to do when the card is missing, the requirements for generating an ID, and how to safely save or share your digital copy.
Key Takeaways
- APAAR ID is a unique 12-digit student identifier for academic records in India.
- You can download it only after the ID has been generated and pushed to your DigiLocker account.
- The card normally appears under Issued Documents, not DigiLocker Drive.
- School students generally need school verification, a PEN/UDISE+ record and parental consent if they are minors.
- Your name and demographic details should match Aadhaar and institutional records.
- Creating an APAAR/ABC ID through official DigiLocker, ABC or UDISE channels does not involve a fee.
What Is APAAR ID?
APAAR stands for Automated Permanent Academic Account Registry. It is part of the Government of India’s “One Nation, One Student ID” initiative. The ID is designed to help store and manage academic credits, marksheets, certificates, degrees, diplomas and other learning achievements.
APAAR and ABC ID refer to the same student identifier in current DigiLocker guidance. The Ministry of Education’s official APAAR portal describes it as a unique 12-digit code that supports the storage and transfer of academic records between institutions.
DigiLocker is the digital document wallet; APAAR is the academic identity linked to that wallet. They are integrated, but they are not the same thing.
Before You Download: Is Your APAAR ID Already Created?
DigiLocker cannot generate a card from nothing unless the required institutional process has been completed.
For school students, the usual process is:
- The school verifies the student’s demographic details.
- Parents provide consent when the student is a minor.
- The student’s identity is authenticated.
- The UDISE+ system generates an APAAR ID against the student’s PEN (Permanent Education Number).
- The ID is pushed to the student’s DigiLocker account.
The official APAAR portal states that the student’s name in UDISE+ should match the name in Aadhaar, and that a PEN is mandatory for generation. Required information may include the student’s name, date of birth, gender, mobile number, parents’ names and Aadhaar details.
Students below 16 cannot create an APAAR ID directly through the DigiLocker app or website. The official DigiLocker expert FAQ advises such students to contact their school.
College and university students may receive an APAAR/ABC ID through their institution or by registering through the official Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) portal, depending on the institution’s process.
How to Download APAAR ID From DigiLocker
Use only the official DigiLocker website, digilocker.gov.in, or the official DigiLocker application downloaded from your device’s recognised app store.
Method 1: Download on the DigiLocker Website
- Open DigiLocker in a browser.
- Select Login/Register.
- Sign in using your registered mobile number, Aadhaar-based authentication or the available login option.
- Enter the OTP or security PIN requested by DigiLocker.
- Open Issued Documents from the dashboard or navigation menu.
- Look for a document named APAAR ID, APAAR Card or Academic Bank of Credits.
- Select the document to open its details.
- Click the download icon or Download PDF option.
- Choose a folder on your device and save the file.
The exact button name can change when DigiLocker updates its website. The important distinction is that an issued APAAR card should be opened from Issued Documents.
Method 2: Download Using the DigiLocker Mobile App
- Install the official DigiLocker app from Google Play or the Apple App Store.
- Open the app and sign in to your DigiLocker account.
- Tap Issued Documents.
- Select the APAAR or Academic Bank of Credits document.
- Tap the download, save or share icon.
- Save the PDF to your phone’s Files, Downloads or Documents folder.
On Android, the file may be stored in Downloads or DigiLocker. On an iPhone, use Save to Files and select a location such as On My iPhone or iCloud Drive.
If the document opens inside the app but you do not see a download button, use the share option and select Save to device, Save to Files or Print. App menus vary by version and operating system.
Where Is APAAR ID Located in DigiLocker?
The card should appear in Issued Documents after it has been generated and uploaded. It will not normally appear in DigiLocker Drive, because Drive is intended for files uploaded manually by the user.
If the list is long, use DigiLocker’s document search and try these terms:
- APAAR
- APAAR ID
- APAAR Card
- Academic Bank of Credits
- ABC ID
- Student ID
Open only the document issued by the authorised education authority. Avoid downloading similarly named files from unknown websites.
How to Save and Print Your APAAR Card
After downloading the PDF:
- Rename it clearly, for example
APAAR_ID_2026.pdf. - Store one copy in your phone and another in a secure cloud or computer folder.
- Keep the original PDF unchanged so its QR code or digital signature remains available for verification.
- Print the card only when a school, college, examination authority or employer specifically asks for a physical copy.
- Check that the 12-digit ID, name and date of birth are readable before submitting it.
A screenshot may be useful for quick reference, but a downloaded DigiLocker PDF is generally preferable because it preserves the document’s verification features. DigiLocker says its issued digital documents are legally valid when used electronically, although a particular organisation may still request a printout for its own administrative process.
APAAR ID Not Showing in DigiLocker? Try These Fixes
1. Confirm that the ID was generated
Ask your school or college to check the APAAR status. The official APAAR portal says institutions can view generation status through the UDISE+ APAAR module.
2. Check the correct DigiLocker account
Sign in with the mobile number or Aadhaar-linked account used during the creation process. If a parent helped register a minor, verify which account the school submitted.
3. Resolve a name mismatch
DigiLocker may not fetch or display records when the name in Aadhaar differs from the school, board or university record. Ask the relevant authority to correct the institutional record, or update Aadhaar where appropriate.
4. Wait for institutional upload
The ID is not necessarily available immediately after consent or verification. It must first be generated by the authorised system and pushed to DigiLocker.
5. Update the app and retry
Install the latest official DigiLocker app update, sign out and sign in again, then check Issued Documents. You can also try the website if the app is not loading correctly.
6. Contact the correct authority
- School students: contact the school office or class coordinator.
- College students: contact the institution’s ABC/APAAR or examination section.
- DigiLocker technical issues: use the DigiLocker support portal.
When raising a support request, include your registered mobile number, institution name, approximate date of birth, a screenshot of the error and relevant registration details. Do not send your Aadhaar number or OTP through social media or to unofficial agents.
Security Tips When Downloading APAAR ID
APAAR contains personal and academic information, so use basic precautions:
- Type digilocker.gov.in yourself or use the official app-store listing.
- Do not install an APK shared through WhatsApp, Telegram or an unknown download site.
- Never disclose an OTP, DigiLocker PIN or MPIN to another person.
- Avoid sharing the full PDF publicly or posting it on social media.
- Use DigiLocker’s official share or QR-verification feature when an organisation needs proof.
- Set an app MPIN and enable device screen locking.
According to DigiLocker’s published FAQ, account access uses authentication measures such as OTP and PIN validation, and document access and sharing are logged. These protections reduce risk, but you should still protect your login credentials and device.
Is There a Fee to Download APAAR ID?
No. The DigiLocker expert FAQ states that there are no charges for creating an APAAR/ABC ID through DigiLocker, ABC or UDISE portals. Be cautious if a website or agent asks for money to “activate” or “unlock” your card.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I download APAAR ID without DigiLocker?
DigiLocker is the normal place to access the virtual APAAR card after generation. Your institution or the ABC portal may help with creation or status checking, but do not use unofficial download websites.
Is APAAR ID the same as ABC ID?
Yes. Current DigiLocker guidance states that APAAR and ABC ID refer to the same unique academic ID. The terminology may differ between portals and institutions.
Can students under 16 create APAAR ID themselves?
Generally, no. Students under 16 should contact their school. School verification and parental consent may be required for minors.
Why does DigiLocker show “document not found”?
The ID may not have been generated, the institution may not have completed its upload, you may be using a different DigiLocker account, or your Aadhaar and institutional details may not match.
Can I download APAAR ID on an iPhone?
Yes. Sign in through the official DigiLocker app or website, open Issued Documents, select the APAAR card and save it to the Files app.
Can I use a screenshot instead of the PDF?
A screenshot may show the ID, but submit the original DigiLocker PDF or official share link whenever possible. The PDF is more useful for retaining QR or verification details.
Does knowing someone’s APAAR ID reveal their other DigiLocker documents?
No. DigiLocker’s official FAQ says that knowing an ABC/APAAR ID alone does not provide access to a person’s other documents.
What should I do if my APAAR card has incorrect details?
Contact your school, college, board or university—the authority that supplied the data. DigiLocker generally cannot alter the underlying academic record itself.
