What Do I Do If I Forgot My FSA ID Username or Password?

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Mark Kantrowitz

By Mark Kantrowitz

October 13, 2020

An FSA ID is a username and password that are used to electronically sign the online version of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or make changes to the FAFSA. What do you do if you forgot your username or password, or forgot the answers to the challenge questions needed to recover your password?

Don’t try to guess your FSA ID. Your FSA ID will be locked after three unsuccessful login attempts. Once the FSA ID is locked, you’ll have to unlock your FSA ID and change your password before you can use the FSA ID again.

Here are a few hints to help you remember your password. 

  • The FSA ID password is 8-30 characters long.
  • The FSA ID password must include at least one uppercase letter, at least one lowercase letter and at least one number. The password is case-sensitive. 
  • Check your smartphone. Many students save their FSA ID and the challenge questions and answers in a picture on their smartphone.

If you don’t remember your username, you can try logging in with your email address or mobile phone number instead of your username. This works only if you have previously verified your email address or mobile phone number.

If you still don’t remember your FSA ID username or password, select Forgot My Username or Forgot My Password on the login page, then follow the instructions to recover or reset your username or password. 

There are three options for unlocking your FSA ID, retrieving your FSA ID username or resetting your FSA ID password. 

  • Text a code to your verified mobile phone number
  • Send a code to your verified email address
  • Answer the challenge questions

If you did not previously verify your telephone number or email address, that option will not be available to you. Codes are sent only to verified mobile phone numbers and email addresses. 

If you use your challenge questions to unlock your FSA ID, you will have to wait 30 minutes before logging in with your FSA ID. 

If none of these options works, call the Federal Student Aid Information Center at 1-800-4-FED-AID (1-800-433-3243).

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