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How to Add Documents to DigiLocker (India)
DigiLocker, the Government of India's digital document wallet (digilocker.gov.in), is best known for pulling government-issued documents — like your Aadhaar card or driving license — directly from the issuing department. But it also gives you personal storage, called DigiLocker Drive, where you can manually upload your own scanned documents. Here's how to prepare a file before you add it.
By GaryLast updated 4 min read
DigiLocker Drive vs. issued documents
Most documents in DigiLocker arrive automatically: once you link your Aadhaar number, participating departments (transport, education boards, and others) push verified digital copies of your existing records straight into your account. DigiLocker Drive is a separate, smaller storage space for documents you upload yourself — useful for anything not issued digitally, like a scanned certificate from an older institution or a personal record you want to keep alongside your official documents.
Uploading to DigiLocker Drive is optional. Most people only ever use the automatically-issued documents section and never touch the manual upload feature at all.
Preparing a file before you upload it
Since DigiLocker Drive is meant for personal reference copies rather than officially verified documents, there's no special certification process — you're simply storing a file. The main thing worth doing beforehand is making sure the file is clean, legible, and reasonably sized.
- Scan or photograph the document clearly, with even lighting and no glare
- Convert a photo into a PDF so the file opens consistently across devices
- Compress the file if it's larger than a few megabytes
- Give the file a clear name before uploading, since DigiLocker Drive can hold many documents
A note on file size and format
DigiLocker's own site doesn't publish one fixed size limit that applies to every upload, and we couldn't independently confirm a specific number worth repeating here. Rather than aiming for an exact figure, the safest approach is the same one that works for most upload forms: keep the file as small as it can be while still being clearly readable, and compress it first if it came from a high-resolution phone camera.
Keeping a personal archive
Because DigiLocker Drive is meant for documents that aren't issued digitally elsewhere, it's a reasonable place to keep PDF copies of things like old certificates, personal agreements, or records from institutions that don't participate in the automatic issuance system — as long as you're comfortable with how DigiLocker's own privacy and security terms handle stored files.
Why the issued and uploaded sections are treated differently
Documents in the Issued section come straight from the department that created them, and DigiLocker states that they are treated on par with the original physical documents under the Information Technology rules for digital lockers. That is why an issued driving licence or marksheet can be shown or shared in place of the paper one.
A file you upload to DigiLocker Drive has no such standing. It is your own scan, stored for convenience. An organisation that asks for a verified document will not accept an uploaded scan as proof just because it sits in DigiLocker. Before scanning anything, search the issued documents list first: if your board, university or department is a registered issuer, fetching the document is both easier and worth more than uploading a copy.
Step by step: from paper to an upload-ready PDF
- Lay the document flat on a plain, dark surface in daylight and photograph each page from directly above.
- Open Scan to PDF or JPG to PDF and add the photos in page order. Both sides of a two-sided certificate go in as two pages.
- Download the PDF and check it. If a page is sideways, fix it with Rotate PDF. If there is a wide border of table around the paper, trim it with Crop PDF.
- If the file is larger than you would like, run it through Compress PDF on Balanced and compare the result with the original at full zoom.
- Rename the file so it describes the document, for example degree-certificate-2014.pdf, then upload it to DigiLocker Drive.
Multi-page records
Keep each record as one file. A four-page property document uploaded as four separate photos is easy to lose track of, and you will not thank yourself when you need page three in a hurry. Merge the pages into one PDF before uploading, and use folders in Drive to group related records such as education, property and insurance.
DigiLocker is not your only copy
Treat Drive as one of two copies. Keep the original paper somewhere dry and safe, and keep the PDFs on your own device or backup as well. If you lose access to the mobile number linked to your account, getting back in takes time, and you may need a document that same day.
Frequently asked questions
Is uploading to DigiLocker Drive required?
No. Most DigiLocker documents come from linked government departments automatically. Manual upload to DigiLocker Drive is an optional feature for your own personal copies.
What file formats does DigiLocker accept?
DigiLocker Drive is generally used for common document formats like PDF, JPG, and PNG. Check the current upload screen on digilocker.gov.in for the exact accepted formats at the time you use it.
Is there a maximum file size?
We couldn't confirm one consistent, official size limit. Keep files reasonably small and legible rather than assuming a specific number.
Are documents uploaded to DigiLocker Drive officially verified?
No. Only documents issued directly by a linked government department carry that verified status. Manually uploaded files are personal copies only.
Should I upload a scan of a document that is also available as an issued document?
There is little reason to. The issued version comes from the department itself and is the one organisations accept. Upload your own scan only for documents no issuer provides.