FAFSA 2025-26 sign-in button still greyed out - anyone else having this issue?
I've been trying to submit my FAFSA application for the past 3 days but the sign-in button on studentaid.gov is completely greyed out. I've tried different browsers (Chrome, Firefox, even Edge), cleared my cache, and even tried on my phone but nothing works. The site seems to be loading fine otherwise, but I just can't click the sign-in button to access my application. My college's priority deadline is coming up in 2 weeks and I'm getting really anxious. Is anyone else experiencing this? Has the system been down? I can't find any official announcements about outages.
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Mia Rodriguez
same here! been trying since tuesday... so frustrating
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Mason Davis
AuthorHave you tried calling their helpline? I've been trying but can't get through to anyone.
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Jacob Lewis
This happens EVERY SINGLE YEAR with FAFSA!! The website is GARBAGE and they never fix it! I had the exact same issue last year and ended up having to call like 37 times to get through to someone. Even then, the "solution" was to wait THREE DAYS for their system to "reset" whatever that means. Meanwhile my daughter almost missed her school's priority deadline. The whole system is designed to make it as difficult as possible to get aid!
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Amelia Martinez
Ugh, three days? My school's deadline is February 15th and I'm already cutting it close. I really hope it doesn't take that long to fix...
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Ethan Clark
I had this issue yesterday but it's working for me now. Try these troubleshooting steps: 1. Make sure you're using the latest version of your browser 2. Try incognito/private browsing mode 3. Check if you have any browser extensions that might be interfering 4. Try a completely different device if possible 5. Clear your browser cookies specifically for studentaid.gov Also, double-check that you're on the official site (https://studentaid.gov) and not a phishing site. There are a lot of scam FAFSA sites out there.
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Mason Davis
AuthorThanks for the tips! I just tried incognito mode with no extensions and I'm definitely on the right site, but still having the same problem. The weird thing is I can navigate to other pages on studentaid.gov just fine, it's specifically the sign-in function that's broken.
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Mila Walker
This is a known issue right now. They're doing a system update to accommodate changes to the 2025-2026 FAFSA simplification rollout. According to their Twitter, sign-in capabilities should be restored by tomorrow evening. If you're worried about missing your school's priority deadline, you should contact your school's financial aid office directly. Most schools are aware of the FAFSA system issues and many are extending their priority deadlines accordingly. Also, while the button appears "greyed out" on some browsers, it might actually still be clickable - try clicking it anyway even if it looks disabled.
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Mason Davis
AuthorOh that's a relief! I haven't seen anything on their Twitter (honestly didn't even know they had one). I just tried clicking the greyed-out button anyway but it's definitely not working. I'll contact my school's financial aid office tomorrow. Thanks for the info!
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Logan Scott
i had this issue 2! what fixed it for me was using microsoft edge (weirdly enough) and turning off my vpn. also make sure ur javascript is enabled. my friend said his wasnt working cuz his adblocker was somehow messing with the login page
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Mason Davis
AuthorI already tried Edge but I'll check my javascript settings. I don't use a VPN but I do have an adblocker, so maybe that's it. Thanks for the suggestion!
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Chloe Green
If you need to get through to someone at Federal Student Aid ASAP, try using Claimyr (claimyr.com). I was dealing with a similar issue last month and spent days trying to get through on the phone with no luck. Claimyr got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video demo showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent I spoke with was able to confirm it was a system issue on their end and gave me documentation to provide to my school proving I'd attempted to submit before the deadline. Saved me a ton of stress!
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Mia Rodriguez
omg thank you! going to try this now. i've been calling for 2 days straight with no luck
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Lucas Adams
This happened to me last year with my daughter's FAFSA too. We were so worried about missing deadlines but then my neighbor who works in the financial aid office at the community college told me this happens every year when they do updates. Not sure why they don't just put a big notice on the website explaining the downtime! Anyway I'm sure it'll be back up soon but definitely call your school to let them know you're trying.
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Mason Davis
AuthorIt's so frustrating they don't communicate better about these outages! I feel much better knowing it's not just me though. I'll definitely call my school tomorrow.
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Amelia Martinez
Has anyone tried the mobile app? I remember reading somewhere that sometimes the app works when the website is having issues. I haven't tried it myself though.
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Mila Walker
Good suggestion, but the mobile app is actually connecting to the same system, so if the authentication servers are down for maintenance, the app will have the same issue. However, it's absolutely worth trying as sometimes the app uses different authentication pathways, especially if you've previously logged in on the device.
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Ethan Clark
Quick update - just checked FAFSA's official social media and they posted that the sign-in functionality should be fully restored by 9pm Eastern time tonight. They're completing database maintenance related to the new SAI calculations for the 2025-2026 application cycle.
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Mason Davis
AuthorThank you for checking! That's a huge relief. I'll try again tonight after 9pm. Just glad to know it's not something wrong on my end.
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Mila Walker
For those worried about deadlines: I work at a university financial aid office, and I can confirm that most schools are aware of these system issues. If your school has a February deadline, you should email their financial aid office explaining the situation. Most institutions will grant extensions when FAFSA has system-wide issues like this. Just make sure to document your attempts to access the system (screenshots with dates/times can help).
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Jacob Lewis
That's good to know but it SHOULDN'T BE NECESSARY! Why can't they fix these problems BEFORE they affect thousands of students? Every single year there's some new disaster with the FAFSA system. My son is applying this year and I'm already dreading the inevitable technical problems.
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Mila Walker
I understand your frustration completely. This year's issues are largely related to the massive overhaul of the FAFSA system - they've completely changed how the Student Aid Index (formerly EFC) is calculated and streamlined the form from 108 questions down to 36. The transition hasn't been smooth. Your best approach is to apply as early as possible next cycle and document everything, just in case.
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Vince Eh
I'm having the exact same issue! Been trying since Monday and the sign-in button is completely unresponsive. Really appreciate everyone sharing their experiences and solutions here. I'm going to try disabling my adblocker like Logan suggested, and I'll definitely reach out to my school's financial aid office tomorrow morning to let them know about the situation. It's reassuring to hear from Mila that most schools are understanding about these technical issues. Fingers crossed it's working again by 9pm tonight like Ethan mentioned!
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