ABHA Address vs ABHA Number: Difference + @abdm Setup
The ABHA address vs ABHA number question confuses millions of families, but the answer is simple. Your ABHA number is a 14-digit ID that the National Health Authority assigns once and never changes. Your ABHA address is a short, memorable username ending in @abdm that you pick yourself. Hospitals and apps can use either to find your account. Most people need both, and creating an @abdm address takes about three minutes on the official portal.
ABHA address vs ABHA number: side by side
The easiest way to understand the pair is to compare them on what they look like, who creates them and where you'll use them.
The comparison table
Feature | ABHA number | ABHA address |
Looks like | 91-1234-5678-9012 | priya.sharma@abdm |
Length | Fixed 14 digits | Your choice, within portal limits |
Who creates it | Assigned by NHA | Chosen by you |
Needs Aadhaar or DL verification | Yes | No, mobile OTP is enough |
Can you change it | No | You can create a new one |
Everyday comparison | Bank account number | UPI ID |
Best used for | Official records, insurance, KYC | Logging in, sharing, Scan and Share |
What is ABHA address, really?
So, what is ABHA address in practical terms? It's your login and sharing handle in the digital health system. Earlier, it was called the PHR address, short for personal health record address, and some apps still use that name. When a lab sends your report digitally, or when you scan a hospital QR code, the @abdm address is what routes the data to you.
Why the number matters more officially
The ABHA number is your verified identity in the system. Because it's tied to Aadhaar or a driving licence, it proves you are you. Government schemes and some hospital systems prefer it for this reason. It also appears on your ABHA card. If you need the printed version, our main guide to ABHA card download shows every route.
How to create ABHA address on the portal
If you already have an ABHA number, adding an @abdm address is quick. If you're starting fresh, the portal creates both in one flow.
Steps to create ABHA address
1. Open abha.abdm.gov.in and tap Create ABHA.
2. Choose Aadhaar (recommended) or driving licence, and verify the OTP.
3. Confirm your mobile number. The portal links your new ABHA number automatically.
4. On the ABHA address screen, pick a suggested @abdm address or type your own.
5. Tap Create. Your profile now shows both the number and the address.
Already have a number but no address? Log in, open your profile and look for the option to add an ABHA address. The ABHA app and Aarogya Setu 2.0 offer the same flow.
Tips for choosing a good @abdm address
Use your name plus something stable, such as your birth year: ramesh.gupta1972@abdm.
Avoid phone numbers. You may change your SIM, and it exposes your number.
Keep it easy to spell out loud at a busy hospital counter.
Create one per family member, never a shared address.
The mobile-only catch
You can create an @abdm address using only a mobile OTP, without Aadhaar. In that case, you may end up with an address but no verified 14-digit number. That works for storing records, but some hospitals and schemes want the verified number. If that's you, add Aadhaar verification from your profile later.
IN SIMPLE TERMS In simple terms: the ABHA number is like your bank account number, and the ABHA address is like your UPI ID. Both lead to the same health account, but the address is easier to remember. Create both, and save them together. |
Which one to share, and when
Knowing the ABHA address vs ABHA number difference only helps if you know which to hand over at the right moment.
At hospitals and labs
Most ABDM-enabled reception counters accept either. If you're using a hospital QR code to get an OPD token, the app shares your @abdm address and profile automatically. Our guide to the ABHA card vs Ayushman card explains which card a cashless insurance desk will actually ask for, because that's a different document altogether.
For family records
When a parent is admitted, keep their ABHA number and @abdm address on your phone. Discharge summaries from ABDM-linked hospitals can reach their account only if the hospital knows one of the two. If you've lost track of either, see our walkthrough to find ABHA number by mobile number.
What not to do
• Don't post your ABHA number or address on social media.
• Don't let anyone create an address for you without your OTP.
• Don't create a second ABHA number when you've only forgotten the first. Recover it instead.
WATCH OUT Watch out: Typing the wrong @abdm address can send a record to the wrong account, just like a mistyped UPI ID. Read it back to the receptionist before they hit save. |
When to see a doctor (and when to get ABHA help)
Your ID settings shouldn't delay medical care. Get help when:
A family member needs treatment and you can't find either identifier. Go anyway with Aadhaar.
You see records in your account from a hospital you never visited. Call the ABDM helpline at 1800-11-4477.
Your child's address was created on your phone and their reports are landing in your profile.
An elderly parent's verified number shows the wrong name or date of birth.
In an emergency, go to the nearest hospital or call 112 or 108. Neither an ABHA number nor an address is needed for emergency care.
FAQs
What is the difference in ABHA address vs ABHA number?
The ABHA number is a fixed 14-digit ID assigned by the National Health Authority after Aadhaar or driving licence verification. The ABHA address is a username you choose, ending in @abdm. Both link to the same health account. The number proves identity, while the address is easier for logging in and sharing records.
Is ABHA address vs ABHA number a choice, or do I need both?
You'll benefit from both. The verified number is what official systems and the ABHA card rely on, while the @abdm address makes logging in and sharing easier. When you create an ABHA through Aadhaar on the portal, you get the number and can set an address in the same flow.
How do I create ABHA address without Aadhaar?
You can create an @abdm address with just your mobile number and an OTP through the ABHA portal or an ABDM-enabled app. This gives you a working address for storing records. However, you may not get a verified 14-digit number without Aadhaar or driving licence verification, which some hospitals and schemes prefer.
Can I change my @abdm address?
Your 14-digit number never changes, but you can create a new @abdm address from your profile on the portal or app. Choose something stable and easy to spell. If you switch, update the address saved with your regular hospital or lab so that future digital records reach the right place without any mix-up.
Is the ABHA address the same as an email address?
No. It only looks like one. An @abdm address can't send or receive emails. It's a username inside India's digital health network, used to log in, receive digital health records and share them with consent. Treat it as private health information and share it only with hospitals, labs and doctors you trust.
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Sources and references
National Health Authority. Create ABHA — ABHA number and ABHA address. abha.abdm.gov.in. Accessed 7 October 2026.
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission. ABHA user FAQs and building blocks of ABDM. abdm.gov.in.
Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. "Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission" backgrounder, July 2026. static.pib.gov.in.
Unique Identification Authority of India. Aadhaar authentication and OTP services. uidai.gov.in.
Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Seht helps families stay informed, but is not a substitute for professional healthcare guidance.
