FAFSA website keeps giving 401 error - can't submit application

I had the exact same problem last week! The 401 error usually means there's an authentication issue. Try these steps that worked for me: 1. Don't just clear cookies - do a full cache clear in your browser settings 2. Make sure your FSA ID password hasn't expired (they force changes every 18 months) 3. Log out completely from studentaid.gov 4. Wait 15 minutes before trying again 5. Use private/incognito mode when you log back in For me, it was actually my FSA ID that had some verification flag on it, even though the site never told me directly. Once I updated some security questions and reverified my email, it suddenly started working.

this happens EVERY YEAR with fafsa i swear!! the whole system is garbage. last yr i couldnt submit for 3 weeks bcuz of some stupid error and almost missed my schools deadline. ended up having to use my roomates laptop to get it to work lol. try a different device completely if u can

This 401 error is actually quite common during high-volume submission periods for the FAFSA. Based on my experience working with students, here are some additional technical solutions to try: 1. Check that your browser is on the latest version - the FAFSA site often has compatibility issues with older browsers 2. Ensure any browser extensions or ad-blockers are disabled when using studentaid.gov 3. Verify that the name/SSN on your FSA ID exactly matches what you entered on your FAFSA application 4. If you're using a VPN, turn it off as some school and public networks are flagged by the system Regarding reaching someone by phone - typical wait times this time of year are 2-3 hours because everyone is trying to submit before priority deadlines. Email responses are currently running 5-7 business days according to their latest update.

I actually managed to get through to a FAFSA agent yesterday after struggling with a verification issue for weeks. I used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that holds your place in line and calls you back when an agent is available. Saved me from having to stay on hold forever. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/TbC8dZQWYNQ The agent I spoke with said the 401 errors are happening because they're updating parts of the system for the new FAFSA Simplification Act changes. She manually pushed my application through after verifying some information.

When I was getting the 401 error last month it turned out my parents tax info was causing the problem?? Something about a mismatch between what they reported on their taxes and what I entered in FAFSA. The REALLY ANNOYING part is the error message doesn't tell you what's actually wrong! Did you use the IRS Data Retrieval Tool or did you manually enter your tax info?

omg i had this EXACT SAME ISSUE for like two weeks!!! what fixed it for me was logging out, then submitting a password reset request (even though i knew my password), then waiting for the reset email, creating a new password, and then when i logged back in it somehow fixed whatever was broken with my account. the whole FAFSA system is such a mess this year with all the changes they're making to the SAI formula. good luck!!!!!

Have you checked if your session is timing out? Sometimes if you spend too long on a page filling out information (especially the financial sections), your session expires but the page doesn't refresh to tell you. Then when you hit submit, you get the 401 error because your session is no longer valid. Try completing each section more quickly and save as you go. Also, the busiest times on the FAFSA site are evenings and weekends - if possible, try submitting early morning on a weekday.

Just wanted to follow up - were you able to resolve this issue? For anyone else finding this thread with the same problem, I recently learned that the 401 errors can also happen if you have multiple saved applications in your account. Try going to "My FAFSA" section and delete any incomplete or duplicate applications before submitting your final one.

So glad to hear you got it resolved! That $45 AGI difference causing such a major headache is absolutely ridiculous - the FAFSA system really needs better error handling. Your experience is going to help so many other students who run into this same issue. For anyone else reading this thread, here's a quick summary of what worked for Jamal: 1. Use Claimyr service to actually reach a human agent without waiting on hold for hours 2. Double-check that manually entered tax info matches IRS records EXACTLY (even small differences can cause 401 errors) 3. Try resetting your FSA ID password even if you think it's correct 4. Clear browser cache completely and use incognito mode 5. Check for multiple saved applications in your account Thanks for updating us with the solution - this thread is going to be a lifesaver for future students dealing with the same problem!