FAFSA application keeps showing 'Failed to Save' error message - can't submit

Yes! This happened to me last week. The error message is super frustrating because it doesn't tell you what's actually wrong. I discovered the issue was related to special characters in some of my text fields. Try avoiding using apostrophes, dashes or any symbols in text fields - just stick to letters and numbers. After I removed those, I was able to get past that section. Also make sure your session hasn't timed out (which happens after about 20-30 minutes of inactivity).

happens to everybodyyyyy. the FAFSA site is horrible this year after the "simplification" lol. i had to try 5 different times before it worked.

This error can happen for several technical reasons: 1. Browser cache/cookies issues - Try clearing your cache completely or use an incognito/private window 2. Special characters in text fields (as mentioned above) 3. Incorrect date formatting - Make sure all dates are in MM/DD/YYYY format 4. Network connectivity problems - If you're on Wi-Fi, try a wired connection or different network 5. Server-side issues during high traffic periods One specific recommendation: after entering data in each section, wait about 5-10 seconds before clicking 'Save and Continue' to allow background validation to complete. The system does some checks before submitting that aren't visible to users, and rushing through can trigger the error.

I dealt with this exact problem when helping my son with his FAFSA application. After trying all the usual troubleshooting (clearing cache, different browsers, etc.), we finally called Federal Student Aid directly. They told us there was actually a bug in the system affecting certain accounts based on the first digit of the Social Security Number (weird, I know). They fixed something on their end and we were able to continue. If you keep having problems after trying the suggestions here, I'd recommend using Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to a FSA agent without waiting on hold forever. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. It saved us hours of frustration and the agent was able to resolve our issue in minutes.

Ugh I had this happen all last week!! So what fixed it for me was logging out completely, clearing my browser history/cookies/cache, then restarting my computer before trying again. Also dont use Safari if ur on a Mac - Chrome worked better for me. These errors are so frustrating bc they dont tell u what's actually wrong!

This is EXACTLY why I tell everyone to apply with a paper form instead of the online system. The FAFSA website has been broken for YEARS and nobody at the Department of Education seems to care. They keep telling us they're "simplifying" the process but all they've done is create MORE technical problems. I've helped 3 kids through college and every single year there are new glitches and errors. It's absolutely ridiculous that billions in aid depend on a system that doesn't even work properly!

Any update? Were you able to get past the error using any of these suggestions?

Congratulations on getting it submitted! This is such a helpful thread - I'm bookmarking it in case I run into similar issues. The combination approach seems to be key since there are multiple potential causes for this error. For anyone else reading this, it's also worth noting that the FAFSA site tends to have fewer issues during off-peak hours (early morning or late evening) when there's less traffic on the servers.

As someone who just went through this nightmare last month, I can confirm that the FAFSA system is absolutely terrible this year. What finally worked for me was doing it at 2 AM when the servers weren't overloaded - sounds crazy but it made all the difference! Also, if you're using autofill features in your browser, turn them OFF completely. The system seems to conflict with autofilled data and throws random errors. One more tip: don't use copy/paste for any fields, type everything manually. The system is super finicky about how data gets entered. Hope this helps other people struggling with the same issues!

Just want to add another potential solution that worked for my roommate last week - if you're still having issues after trying all the great suggestions here, check if you have any browser extensions enabled (especially ad blockers, password managers, or privacy tools). She was getting the same "Failed to Save" error and it turned out her ad blocker was interfering with the FAFSA site's background scripts. After disabling all extensions and trying again, it worked perfectly. Also seconding the off-peak hours advice - we both had much better luck applying late at night when the servers weren't overwhelmed. The FAFSA system is definitely frustrating but don't give up!