EPFO password reset lets you set a new UAN password when you have forgotten the old one, using an OTP sent to your Aadhaar linked mobile. If you still know your password and only want a new one, there is a separate change password option inside the portal.
Your UAN login password, the one asked at every UAN password login, also opens the passbook site, so a single EPFO login password reset fixes both. Nobody from this independent guide will ask for your password or a reset OTP.
Quick facts
Where
Forgot Password link on the member portal sign in pageYou need
UAN and the mobile linked with AadhaarChecks
Name, date of birth, gender and Aadhaar OTPChange known password
Account menu after sign inAlso used on
Forgot UAN too
Find it first through Know Your UANCost
Free
When to use forgot password and when to change it
| Your situation | Option | Where |
|---|---|---|
| You cannot remember the password | Forgot Password | Sign in page, below the Sign In button |
| Account locked after wrong tries | Forgot Password, after the lock period | Sign in page |
| You know the password and want a new one | Change Password | Account menu after signing in |
| You fear someone else knows it | Change Password at once | Account menu |
| You do not know your UAN either | Know Your UAN first | Sign in page links |
If the UAN itself is the problem, go to know your UAN and come back here once you have it.
EPFO password reset steps for a forgotten password
- On the portal's sign in screen, click Forgot Password.
- Enter your UAN and the captcha, then submit.
- Fill in name, gender and birth date as held in EPFO records and verify.
- Enter your Aadhaar number, type the captcha and give consent for Aadhaar based checking.
- Type the OTP that arrives on the mobile tied to your Aadhaar.
- Type a new password twice and submit.
- Go back to the sign in page and log in with the new password.
The new password can take a little time to start working on every EPFO service. If the passbook site rejects it at first, try again later.
How to change your EPFO password when you know it
- Log in with your UAN, current password and captcha.
- Open the Account menu and choose Change Password.
- Enter the current password, then the new one twice.
- Complete an OTP check if one is requested.
- Save, sign out and sign in again with the new password.
Change your password when you share a phone, after using a cyber cafe, or if you ever typed it on a page you now doubt. Sign in help is on our UAN login guide.
Rules for a valid UAN password
The portal shows the exact rules next to the password box. Under the current screen, a password must mix:
- at least one capital letter,
- at least one small letter,
- numbers,
- at least one special character such as @ or #,
- and stay within the minimum and maximum length shown.
Example pattern. A phrase like Rain@Pune47Tea has 14 characters: capital letters, small letters, two digits and one special character. Do not use this exact example. Pick your own and avoid your name, birth date or mobile number.
Errors during password reset and how to fix them
| Problem | Why | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Details do not match | Name, birth date or gender differ from EPFO records | Enter them as on your payslip. If wrong in EPFO, correct them through your employer or profile correction |
| Aadhaar OTP not received | Mobile linked to Aadhaar is old or switched off | Update the mobile with UIDAI, then retry |
| Aadhaar not linked to UAN | KYC never completed | Ask the employer to seed Aadhaar, or contact EPFO |
| New password rejected | Rule not met | Add a special character, digit and capital letter |
| UAN not activated | Activation never done | Activate in UMANG first |
If the UAN was never activated, reset will not help. Follow the UAN activation guide instead.
No access to your Aadhaar linked mobile
The online reset depends on the Aadhaar OTP. If that number is lost, update the mobile number in Aadhaar at an Aadhaar centre. Once Aadhaar shows the new number, the EPFO reset will send the OTP there.
If your name changed after marriage and EPFO records still show the old name, the details step can fail. Correct the name first with your employer's approval or through the joint declaration process, then reset. For stuck cases, raise a grievance as explained on helpline and grievance.
Keeping your PF password safe
No EPFO officer needs your password. People who offer to reset it for you and then file your claim may change the bank account on record. Do the reset yourself on the official site.
- Use a password you do not use for email or banking.
- Do not write it on your payslip or ID card.
- If you see a claim or KYC change you did not make, change the password and report it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the EPF passbook password different from the UAN password?
No. One password serves both the passbook site and the member portal. Resetting one resets both.
Can I reset my UAN password without Aadhaar?
The online forgot password route needs a code sent to the mobile tied to your Aadhaar. Without it, update the mobile in Aadhaar or ask your employer and EPFO office for help.
I forgot my UAN number and my password. What first?
Recover the UAN first with the Know Your UAN option, then return to forgot password.
What does an account locked message mean?
Several wrong passwords in a row lock the account for a while. Wait for the time shown, then reset rather than guessing again.
How often should I change my PF password?
There is no fixed rule. Change it whenever you think someone else may know it, after using a shared device, or before filing a large claim.
Can someone reset my password if they have my UAN?
Not without the reset code and your matching details. That is why you should never share an OTP.