FAFSA website keeps crashing mid-application - losing all my data!

OMG same!!!! Happened to me twice yesterday! So frustrating!!

Try switching browsers. The site doesn't work well with Safari or Firefox sometimes. I had to use Chrome in incognito mode to get it to work without crashing. Also save your progress like every 5 minutes using that save button at the bottom.

The FAFSA website has been having issues since they launched the new "simplified" version. Some technical tips that might help: 1. Use a desktop/laptop instead of mobile 2. Clear your browser cache completely before starting 3. Don't use autofill for any fields 4. Save every page before proceeding to the next section 5. If you're uploading tax documents, keep file sizes under 3MB If you still have problems, try working on it between 11pm-6am when server traffic is lower. Priority deadlines are important, but schools will still process aid if you're slightly late due to technical difficulties - just document your attempts.

After spending 5 HOURS trying to fix this same issue, I finally got through to an actual person at Federal Student Aid who fixed something on their end to let me complete the application. I used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to skip the hold queue - you should check out their video demo at https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ. I was seriously about to give up before finding this service. The agent told me they've been having database connection issues with certain tax info combinations that trigger timeouts.

The new "simplified" FAFSA is anything but simplified!! I think ur browser might be the issue but also their servers r totally overwhelmed. Make sure you're NOT using any VPN when accessing the site - that can trigger security flags. My sons financial aid advisor said they've had tons of families with the same problem.

I've been working in college admissions for 15 years, and this year's FAFSA rollout has been the worst I've ever seen. A few things to know: 1. Almost every school is extending their priority deadlines because of these issues 2. The calculated SAI (Student Aid Index) is often wrong on the first submission anyway 3. The system is especially glitchy for families with multiple dependents in college If you absolutely cannot submit online, you can request a paper FAFSA by calling 1-800-433-3243, though that takes longer to process. Also, many schools are accepting CSS Profile submissions temporarily while FAFSA issues are being resolved.

the entire site is garbage lol... my daughters school told us to just take screenshots of the errors to prove we were trying by the deadline. they said a LOT of families are having issues. good luck!

Did anyone get the weird glitch where it shows your income as $999,999? That happened to me and I nearly had a heart attack thinking my SAI would be astronomical. Had to clear all cookies, restart my computer, and then it finally showed the correct income from my tax return.

Just a quick update for everyone - the Department of Education announced yesterday they're implementing server upgrades this weekend to address the crashes. They're recommending users avoid submitting applications between Friday 8pm and Monday 6am EST if possible. This might help those still struggling to complete their forms!