FAFSA establishes your eligibility for all federal aid programs, including work-study, loans, grants, and scholarships. A major overhaul of the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) 2024 is underway to improve accessibility and streamline the application process. However, a lot of users have reported that the FAFSA website is not loading or working for them.
This guide has included some simple steps to resolve issues with the website. Be with the guide to resolve if you are also facing problems accessing the FAFSA website.
Check server status
In general, if the FAFSA website is refusing to open or load on your browser it may be due to a server outage or a system issue. It is recommended to check the server status before proceeding to any troubleshooting steps. If there is a server issue, wait and try after some time.
Visit https://downdetector.com/status/fafsa/ to see if there is a spike.
How To Resolve Issues With the FAFSA Website If it is not loading or Working?
Refresh The Page
Press Ctrl + F5 to refresh the page – Sometimes the problem is temporary which can be resolved by simply refreshing the page. Alternatively, you can close the tab and launch the FAFSA website in a new tab.
Clear Browser’s History, Cache & Cookies Data
Try to clear the browser’s cache to avoid the problem with the FAFSA website. Your browser cache may get corrupted and prevent the FAFSA website from loading or opening.
Chrome Browser:
Click on Three vertical dots -> Settings -> Privacy and Security -> Clear browsing data -> Select time “All time” -> Tick boxes – “Browsing History”, “Download History”, “Cookies and other site data”, and “Caches images and files”.
If you are a Safari user or any other browser user follow the steps respectively to clear your browsing history and data so that the FAFSA website can open smoothly.
Update Your Browser
If your browser is running its older version then it might face issues running some websites such as FAFSA. Update your browser to the latest version and launch the website again. It should work.
Read: How to update your Chrome?
Check Internet connection
Poor internet connection may cease the website and spoil your experience. To prevent it, make sure you have a stable internet connection. You can also opt for a different internet connection or reset your router to resolve the issue.
Check the information for accuracy
Make sure that you filled out all required fields and entered the information correctly, and beware of deadlines. Verify the method that ensures timely submissions.
Verify soft launch updates
Make sure that you’re connected to the official sources for updates and soft launch phase information.
Contact support
If you are still facing the issue after following the above solutions, then do not hesitate to reach out to FAFSA support through official channels for further assistance.
Visit https://studentaid.gov/help-center/contact to get help.
FAQs
How can I reach out for assistance with the FAFSA?
You can contact the FAFSA Office through 800-4-FED AID, chat, or email.
What is the difference between the FAFSA and CSS profiles?
The FAFSA is used to access federal financial aid, while the CSS Profile is utilized by some private colleges to allocate their institutional funds.
Final Words
Encountering issues with FAFSA 2024 can be frustrating, but you can overcome the problem by following the above-mentioned troubleshooting guide.
After following the above solutions, if you are still facing issues, try to contact FAFSA Customer Support for professional assistance and an in-depth solution according to your situation.
