FAFSA agent said Lenovo and Apple devices are 'incompatible' with application - is this true?

That's complete BS! I've filled out FAFSA forms on my MacBook Pro for the last 3 years with no problems. The agent was just making excuses for their glitchy website. The real issue is probably their overloaded servers this time of year or some browser compatibility thing. Try clearing your cache and cookies or using Chrome instead of whatever browser you're using now. Sometimes the site doesn't play nice with Firefox or Edge.

Actually, there is some truth to what the agent told you, but they didn't explain it correctly. It's not about the brand of device, but rather about browser compatibility and settings. The studentaid.gov website works best with the latest version of Chrome, Firefox, or Safari with JavaScript enabled and pop-up blockers disabled. Some older versions might have issues, especially with the tax information transfer tool. Here's what you should try: 1. Update your browser to the latest version 2. Clear cache and cookies 3. Disable pop-up blockers and ad blockers temporarily 4. Make sure JavaScript is enabled 5. Try using incognito/private browsing mode The tax information section often has technical issues because it interfaces with the IRS database, which adds another layer of complexity.

lol they told me the same thing about my Samsung tablet last week. I switched to my roommates HP laptop and got the EXACT same error. FAFSA's website is just garbage tbh

I had similar issues with the tax section freezing. After trying 4 different browsers and 2 different computers (including my daughter's Macbook!), I finally called and waited on hold for almost 2 hours before getting disconnected. So frustrating! Someone told me about Claimyr.com which got me through to a FAFSA agent in about 10 minutes. They helped me complete my application over the phone. There's a video that shows how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent I spoke with said they're having database issues with the tax information section that aren't related to what device you're using. She manually entered our tax info and pushed the application through.

Financial aid administrator here. I can confirm this information about device incompatibility is incorrect. The Federal Student Aid website is designed to work on all major operating systems and devices. However, there are some technical requirements: - The site works best with current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge - You need JavaScript enabled - Cookies must be enabled - Pop-up blockers may interfere with certain functions The tax information transfer tool (connecting to the IRS) is particularly problematic this application cycle due to some backend changes they've made. We've had many students reporting issues specifically at that step regardless of device. If you continue having problems, you can request a paper signature page and mail it in, though this will delay processing by 2-3 weeks. I'd recommend trying a different browser first, or calling back and asking for a supervisor who might be better informed about the technical requirements.

Went through this exact same thing last week!!! The FAFSA website is having major issues with the IRS Data Retrieval Tool right now. I was on my HP laptop and had the same freezing problem at the tax info section. I called three times and got three completely different answers: 1st agent: Said it was my browser (was using Chrome) 2nd agent: Told me to wait 24-48 hours and try again (didn't work) 3rd agent: Finally admitted they're having system-wide issues with the tax section I ended up manually entering all my tax info instead of using the retrieval tool, and that finally worked. Hope this helps!

this whole 2025-2026 fafsa rollout is a DISASTER!!! They completely redesigned the system and it's been nothing but problems. My financial aid office said they're getting flooded with students having technical issues. The whole SAI calculation change plus the new website design was too much at once. They should have tested this better.

I want to add one more thing - make sure you're using the right website. The official FAFSA site is studentaid.gov. There are some scam websites with similar URLs that might cause problems or try to charge you fees. The FAFSA is always free to complete.

Update: I got through! For anyone having the same issue, clearing cache/cookies AND using incognito mode in Chrome finally worked. The tax information section stopped freezing and I could complete my application. Thanks everyone for the help!

As someone who just went through this nightmare myself, I can confirm the agent was completely wrong about device compatibility! I had the exact same freezing issue at the tax section on my MacBook Air, and it had nothing to do with Apple vs PC. After reading through all these responses, I tried the incognito mode trick in Safari and it worked perfectly. The real problem seems to be browser cache conflicts with their new system. Don't waste time borrowing someone else's computer - just try a different browser or incognito mode first. Also, if you're still stuck, manually entering the tax info instead of using the IRS retrieval tool is a solid backup plan. Good luck with your deadline!