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How to Boot Windows in Safe Mode

Written by

Alice Jane

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When your Windows computer is misbehaving—crashing, freezing, or simply refusing to start normally—Safe Mode is your go-to diagnostic tool. Safe Mode is a special startup environment that loads only the bare minimum of services, drivers, and programs required for Windows to run. This helps in isolating issues caused by third-party software, faulty drivers, or malware that might be preventing your system from operating correctly in standard mode. Knowing how to access Safe Mode is a crucial skill for any Windows user troubleshooting their PC.

Understanding Safe Mode

Safe Mode significantly simplifies the Windows environment by:

  • Loading only essential drivers: This means your graphics card might run at a lower resolution, and some peripherals might not function.
  • Disabling non-essential services: Background applications and services that aren’t critical for basic operation are turned off.
  • Not running startup programs: No third-party applications will launch automatically.

This “clean” environment allows you to:

  • Uninstall problematic software: Remove applications that are causing crashes or conflicts.
  • Update or roll back drivers: Fix issues caused by faulty or outdated drivers.
  • Run antivirus scans: Scan for and remove malware that might be difficult to detect in normal mode.
  • Perform System Restore: Revert your system to a previous working state.

There are several ways to enter Safe Mode, depending on whether your Windows computer can boot normally or not.

Method 1: Booting into Safe Mode via Settings (For Bootable PCs)

This is the most common and straightforward method if your Windows PC can still boot into the desktop.

  1. Open Settings:
    • Click the Start button (the Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of your screen).
    • Click on the Gear icon to open Settings, or type “Settings” into the search bar and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to Recovery Options:
    • In the Settings window, click on “Update & Security” (for Windows 10) or “System” > “Recovery” (for Windows 11).
    • In the left-hand menu (Windows 10) or under “Recovery options” (Windows 11), click on “Recovery.”
  3. Access Advanced Startup:
    • Under the “Advanced startup” section, click the “Restart now” button.
    • Windows will warn you that it’s about to restart. Click “Restart now” again to confirm.
  4. Choose Safe Mode Option:
    • Your PC will restart and boot into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), which provides a blue screen with several options.
    • Click on “Troubleshoot.”
    • Click on “Advanced options.”
    • Click on “Startup Settings.”
    • Click the “Restart” button.
  5. Select Safe Mode:
    • After another restart, you’ll see a list of startup options.
    • Press 4 or F4 on your keyboard to enable Safe Mode.
    • Press 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking (if you need internet access for troubleshooting, e.g., downloading drivers).
    • Press 6 or F6 for Safe Mode with Command Prompt (for advanced users who prefer command-line tools).

Your computer will then boot into Safe Mode. You’ll typically see “Safe Mode” written in the corners of your screen.

Method 2: Booting into Safe Mode from the Sign-in Screen (For PCs that reach Login)

If your PC boots to the login screen but goes no further, you can use this method.

  1. Access Advanced Startup:
    • On the Windows sign-in screen, click the Power icon in the bottom-right corner.
    • Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard while you click “Restart.”
    • Keep holding Shift until the “Choose an option” (blue screen) appears.
  2. Choose Safe Mode Option:
    • Follow steps 4 and 5 from Method 1:
      • Click “Troubleshoot.”
      • Click “Advanced options.”
      • Click “Startup Settings.”
      • Click “Restart.”
      • Press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode, or 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

Method 3: Force Windows to Enter Safe Mode (When PC Won’t Boot Normally)

If your Windows PC fails to start normally multiple times, it will usually automatically enter the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE). You can sometimes force this behavior.

  1. Interrupt the Boot Process:
    • Turn on your computer.
    • As soon as you see the Windows logo (indicating Windows is trying to start), immediately press and hold the power button for 5-10 seconds to force a shutdown.
    • Repeat this process two more times.
    • On the third or fourth startup attempt, Windows should automatically enter the “Automatic Repair” screen.
  2. Access Advanced Options:
    • On the “Automatic Repair” screen, click “Advanced options.”
  3. Choose Safe Mode Option:
    • Follow steps 4 and 5 from Method 1:
      • Click “Troubleshoot.”
      • Click “Advanced options.”
      • Click “Startup Settings.”
      • Click “Restart.”
      • Press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode, or 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

This method is particularly useful when you can’t even get to the desktop or the sign-in screen.

Method 4: Using a Windows Installation Media (For Completely Unbootable PCs)

If none of the above methods work, and your PC is completely unbootable (e.g., black screen on startup), you’ll need a Windows 10 or 11 installation USB drive or DVD. You can create this on another working computer.

  1. Boot from Installation Media:
    • Insert your Windows installation USB or DVD into the problematic PC.
    • Restart your computer and repeatedly press the boot menu key (commonly F2, F10, F12, Del, or Esc – check your PC’s manufacturer for the exact key) to open the boot menu.
    • Select your USB drive or DVD as the boot device.
  2. Access Repair Options:
    • On the Windows Setup screen, select your language and other preferences, then click “Next.”
    • Instead of clicking “Install now,” click “Repair your computer” in the bottom-left corner.
  3. Choose Safe Mode Option:
    • This will take you to the same Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) as in the previous methods.
    • Click “Troubleshoot.”
    • Click “Advanced options.”
    • Click “Startup Settings.” (If “Startup Settings” is not available directly, you may need to go to “Command Prompt” and then use the bcdedit commands, which is more advanced.)
    • Click “Restart.”
    • Press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode, or 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

Exiting Safe Mode

To exit Safe Mode and boot back into normal Windows:

  1. Simply Restart Your Computer:
    • Go to the Start button.
    • Click the Power icon.
    • Select “Restart.”
    • Windows should automatically boot into normal mode.
  2. Check System Configuration (msconfig) if Stuck:
    • In rare cases, if your PC repeatedly boots into Safe Mode, it might be due to a setting in System Configuration.
    • Type “msconfig” into the Windows search bar and press Enter.
    • Go to the “Boot” tab.
    • Make sure the “Safe boot” checkbox is unchecked.
    • Click “Apply” and “OK.”
    • Restart your computer.

What to Do in Safe Mode

Once in Safe Mode, you can perform various troubleshooting tasks:

  • Uninstall recent software: Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features and remove any recently installed programs that might be causing issues.
  • Update or Roll Back Drivers: Open Device Manager (right-click Start button > Device Manager) to update or roll back drivers for problematic hardware.
  • Run System Restore: Use a previously created restore point to revert your system (type “Create a restore point” in search).
  • Run a full antivirus scan: Use your installed antivirus software to scan for and remove malware.
  • Check Disk for Errors: Open This PC, right-click on your C: drive, go to Properties > Tools > Check.
  • Run System File Checker (SFC): Open Command Prompt as Administrator and type sfc /scannow to scan for and repair corrupted system files.

Safe Mode is an invaluable diagnostic environment that can help you resolve many Windows issues. By familiarizing yourself with these methods, you’ll be well-equipped to tackle common PC problems.

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