How to boot in safe mode

Start your PC in safe mode in Windows

Safe mode starts Windows in a basic state, using a limited set of files and drivers. If a problem doesn’t happen in safe mode, this means that default settings and basic device drivers aren’t causing the issue. Observing Windows in safe mode enables you to narrow down the source of a problem, and can help you troubleshoot problems on your PC.

There are two versions of safe mode: Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Networking. Safe Mode with Networking adds the network drivers and services you’ll need to access the internet and other computers on your network.

Select from the following sections to find out how to start your PC in safe mode from Settings, from the sign-in screen, or from a black or blank screen.

Under Recovery options, next to Advanced startup, select Restart now.

After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. You may be asked to enter your BitLocker recovery key.

After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select 4 or press F4 to start your PC in Safe Mode. Or if you’ll need to use the internet, select 5 or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

When you can’t open Settings to get into safe mode, restart your device from the Windows sign-in screen.

After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. You may be asked to enter your BitLocker recovery key.

After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select 4 or F4 to start your PC in safe mode. Or if you’ll need to use the internet, select 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

Note: If you’ve encrypted your device, you’ll need your BitLocker key to start in safe mode.

Before you enter safe mode, you need to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (winRE). To do this, you will repeatedly turn your device off, then on:

Hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.

Press the power button again to turn on your device.

On the first sign that Windows has started (for example, some devices show the manufacturer’s logo when restarting) hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.

Press the power button again to turn on your device.

When Windows restarts, hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.

Press the power button again to turn on your device.

Allow your device to restart into Automatic Repair, and select Advanced options to enter winRE.

Now that you are in winRE, you will follow these steps to take you to safe mode:

On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

After your device restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select option 5 from the list or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

If you need more info on a black or blank screen error, see Troubleshoot black or blank screen errors.

Notes: Restarting your device should be sufficient to exit you from Safe Mode back into normal mode. However, if for some reason your machine is still booting into Safe Mode on its own after restarting, try this:

Press the Windows logo key + R.

Type msconfig in the Open box and then select OK.

Select the Boot tab.

Press Windows logo key + I on your keyboard to open Settings. If that doesn’t work, select the Start button, then select Settings .

Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.

After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. You may be asked to enter your BitLocker recovery key.

After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select 4 or press F4 to start your PC in Safe Mode. Or if you’ll need to use the internet, select 5 or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

When you can’t open Settings to get into safe mode, restart your device from the Windows sign-in screen.

After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. You may be asked to enter your BitLocker recovery key.

After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select 4 or F4 to start your PC in safe mode. Or if you’ll need to use the internet, select 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

Note: If you’ve encrypted your device, you’ll need your BitLocker key to start in safe mode.

Before you enter safe mode, you need to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (winRE). To do this, you will repeatedly turn your device off, then on:

Hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.

Press the power button again to turn on your device.

On the first sign that Windows has started (for example, some devices show the manufacturer’s logo when restarting) hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.

Press the power button again to turn on your device.

When Windows restarts, hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.

Press the power button again to turn on your device.

Allow your device to fully restart. You will enter winRE.

Now that you are in winRE, you will follow these steps to take you to safe mode:

On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

After your device restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select option 5 from the list or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

If you need more info on a black or blank screen error, see Troubleshoot black or blank screen errors.

Notes: Restarting your device should be sufficient to exit you from Safe Mode back into normal mode. However, if for some reason your machine is still booting into Safe Mode on its own after restarting, try this:

Press the Windows logo key + R.

Type msconfig in the Open box and then select OK.

Select the Boot tab.

Advanced startup options (including safe mode)

The Advanced Boot Options screen lets you start Windows in advanced troubleshooting modes. You can access the menu by turning on your computer and pressing the F8 key before Windows starts.

Some options, such as safe mode, start Windows in a limited state, where only the bare essentials are started. If a problem doesn’t reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and basic device drivers and services as possible causes. Other options start Windows with advanced features intended for use by system administrators and IT professionals. For more information, go to the Microsoft website for IT professionals.

Repair Your Computer

Shows a list of system recovery tools you can use to repair startup problems, run diagnostics, or restore your system. This option is available only if the tools are installed on your computer’s hard disk. If you have a Windows installation disc, the system recovery tools are located on that disc.

Safe Mode

Starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services.

To start in safe mode:

Do one of the following:

If your computer has a single operating system installed, press and hold the F8 key as your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you’ll need to try again by waiting until the Windows logon prompt appears, and then shutting down and restarting your computer.

If your computer has more than one operating system, use the arrow keys to highlight the operating system you want to start in safe mode, and then press F8.

On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight the safe mode option you want, and then press Enter.

Log on to your computer with a user account that has administrator rights.

Safe Mode with Networking. Starts Windows in safe mode and includes the network drivers and services needed to access the Internet or other computers on your network.

Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Starts Windows in safe mode with a command prompt window instead of the usual Windows interface. This option is intended for IT professionals and administrators.

Enable Boot Logging. Creates a file, ntbtlog.txt, that lists all the drivers that are installed during startup and that might be useful for advanced troubleshooting.

Enable low-resolution video (640×480). Starts Windows using your current video driver and using low resolution and refresh rate settings. You can use this mode to reset your display settings. For more information, see Change your screen resolution.

Last Known Good Configuration (advanced). Starts Windows with the last registry and driver configuration that worked successfully.

Directory Services Restore Mode. Starts Windows domain controller running Active Directory so that the directory service can be restored. This option is intended for IT professionals and administrators.

Debugging Mode. Starts Windows in an advanced troubleshooting mode intended for IT professionals and system administrators.

Disable automatic restart on system failure. Prevents Windows from automatically restarting if an error causes Windows to fail. Choose this option only if Windows is stuck in a loop where Windows fails, attempts to restart, and fails again repeatedly.

Disable Driver Signature Enforcement. Allows drivers containing improper signatures to be installed.

Start Windows Normally. Starts Windows in its normal mode.

Start your PC in safe mode in Windows

Safe mode starts Windows in a basic state, using a limited set of files and drivers. If a problem doesn’t happen in safe mode, this means that default settings and basic device drivers aren’t causing the issue. Observing Windows in safe mode enables you to narrow down the source of a problem, and can help you troubleshoot problems on your PC.

There are two versions of safe mode: Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Networking. Safe Mode with Networking adds the network drivers and services you’ll need to access the internet and other computers on your network.

Select from the following sections to find out how to start your PC in safe mode from Settings, from the sign-in screen, or from a black or blank screen.

Under Recovery options, next to Advanced startup, select Restart now.

After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. You may be asked to enter your BitLocker recovery key.

After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select 4 or press F4 to start your PC in Safe Mode. Or if you’ll need to use the internet, select 5 or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

When you can’t open Settings to get into safe mode, restart your device from the Windows sign-in screen.

After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. You may be asked to enter your BitLocker recovery key.

After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select 4 or F4 to start your PC in safe mode. Or if you’ll need to use the internet, select 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

Note: If you’ve encrypted your device, you’ll need your BitLocker key to start in safe mode.

Before you enter safe mode, you need to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (winRE). To do this, you will repeatedly turn your device off, then on:

Hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.

Press the power button again to turn on your device.

On the first sign that Windows has started (for example, some devices show the manufacturer’s logo when restarting) hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.

Press the power button again to turn on your device.

When Windows restarts, hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.

Press the power button again to turn on your device.

Allow your device to restart into Automatic Repair, and select Advanced options to enter winRE.

Now that you are in winRE, you will follow these steps to take you to safe mode:

On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

After your device restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select option 5 from the list or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

If you need more info on a black or blank screen error, see Troubleshoot black or blank screen errors.

Notes: Restarting your device should be sufficient to exit you from Safe Mode back into normal mode. However, if for some reason your machine is still booting into Safe Mode on its own after restarting, try this:

Press the Windows logo key + R.

Type msconfig in the Open box and then select OK.

Select the Boot tab.

Press Windows logo key + I on your keyboard to open Settings. If that doesn’t work, select the Start button, then select Settings .

Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.

After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. You may be asked to enter your BitLocker recovery key.

After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select 4 or press F4 to start your PC in Safe Mode. Or if you’ll need to use the internet, select 5 or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

When you can’t open Settings to get into safe mode, restart your device from the Windows sign-in screen.

After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. You may be asked to enter your BitLocker recovery key.

After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select 4 or F4 to start your PC in safe mode. Or if you’ll need to use the internet, select 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

Note: If you’ve encrypted your device, you’ll need your BitLocker key to start in safe mode.

Before you enter safe mode, you need to enter the Windows Recovery Environment (winRE). To do this, you will repeatedly turn your device off, then on:

Hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.

Press the power button again to turn on your device.

On the first sign that Windows has started (for example, some devices show the manufacturer’s logo when restarting) hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.

Press the power button again to turn on your device.

When Windows restarts, hold down the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device.

Press the power button again to turn on your device.

Allow your device to fully restart. You will enter winRE.

Now that you are in winRE, you will follow these steps to take you to safe mode:

On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

After your device restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select option 5 from the list or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

If you need more info on a black or blank screen error, see Troubleshoot black or blank screen errors.

Notes: Restarting your device should be sufficient to exit you from Safe Mode back into normal mode. However, if for some reason your machine is still booting into Safe Mode on its own after restarting, try this:

Press the Windows logo key + R.

Type msconfig in the Open box and then select OK.

Select the Boot tab.

How to Boot Safe Mode Windows 10, 8, 7 (7 ways)

What is Safe Mode and how to boot Safe mode Windows.

💡 For Windows 10, 8, 7; for laptop and computer.

Contents

Safe Mode and Options

is a diagnostic mode of a computer operating system. Safe mode is intended to help fix most, if not all problems within an operating system.

Booting in Safe Mode Windows is often used to remove viruses and programs that cannot be removed during normal mode of the Operating System (OS).

Safe Mode Windows 10

In this mode, the minimum set of system programs and services necessary to start the system is loaded.

Starting non-system services from startup and not system programs is ignored.

🔔 The ability to work in this mode is limited.

There are three modes for starting Windows Safe Mode:

Three modes of Safe Mode Windows 10

Safe mode after reboot (Windows 10, 8)

An easy way to reboot Windows in safe mode.

💡 Suitable for Windows 10, 8.

5. In the Troubleshoot window, select the Advanced options;

Troubleshoot

6. In the Advanced options window, select the Startup Settings;

Advanced options

7. In the Startup Setting window, click the Restart button;

Startup Settings

8. After restarting your computer, In the Boot Options window (Advanced Boot Options), select the required Windows boot mode.

Advanced Boot Options for Windows 10

Windows will boot in Safe mode.

To exit Safe Mode, restart your computer.

Using msconfig (Windows 10, 8, 7)

We use the msconfig utility to boot Windows in safe mode.

💡 Suitable for Windows 10, 8, 7.

To exit Safe mode, restart your computer.

🔔 The msconfig utility provides additional options for starting the computer (disabling the launch of services and applications).

Enable Advanced boot options (Windows 10, 8)

💡 Suitable for Windows 10, 8.

In Windows 10, 8, the call to this menu with the F8 button must be turned on manually.

Close the command prompt window, restart the computer.

Before loading the operating system, press the F8 button, the Advanced boot options menu opens, where we can choose several options for starting Safe Mode or other Windows boot options.

🔔 If you have a laptop, you may have to press the Fn + F8 key combination.

Advanced Boot Options for Windows 10

Safe Mode from System Restore (Windows 10, 8)

💡 Suitable for Windows 10, 8.

You can boot Safe Mode Windows 10, 8 from Recovery mode, after an incorrect OS boot.

After three consecutive power outages when loading Windows 10, 8, the system will start to boot Recovery mode.

Recovery mode Windows 10, 8

Select See advanced repair options recovery options.

Further, the launch of Safe Mode will occur as in paragraph – Safe Mode after reboot (Windows 10, 8).

🔔 We dont recommend using this method of loading Windows Safe Mode, as this can cause permanent damage to the system!

Safe mode from the command prompt (bcdedit)

The bcdedit command changes persistent Windows boot options. After enabling Safe Mode, enter the command to change the configuration and disable booting into Safe Mode.

You can also use the bcdedit command in the command prompt in Windows Recovery mode.

You can boot Windows in Safe Mode by running the bcdedit command in the Command Prompt running with administrator rights.

Enable Safe Mode:

Enable Safe Mode with Networking:

Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt (enter two commands):

Restart your computer to apply the new configuration settings.

To disable booting Safe Mode, in Windows configuration, run:

Safe mode using shutdown utility

The shutdown utility is a built-in Windows program that allows you to restart, shutdown, hibernate, or end a user session.

After rebooting, in the System Restore window, select the required option.

Learn more about the startup parameters of the shutdown utility – here.

I hope you were able to boot Windows in Safe Mode in a convenient way.

How to boot Windows Safe Mode:

Hold the SHIFT button and press Reset button. More…

Run the msconfig utility, select the Safe Mode – Minimal option. More…

Use the bcdedit command to enable the Advanced boot menu and the press F8 button (as on Windows 7, XP) to call up the menu, when the Windows boot. More…

Three times, power off the system to enable the Recovery mode and boot Windows Safe Mode. More…

These were the available options for boot Safe Mode Windows 10, 8, 7.

🟢 How to boot Safe Mode in Windows 10, 8, 7 was discussed in this article. I hope you can now configure Windows to start in Safe Mode. However, if you run into any problems, do not hesitate to write in the comments. I will try to help.

How to boot or start Windows in Safe Mode – Windows 11/10

Windows 11/10 Safe Mode loads the operating system with a minimal set of system files and device drivers – just enough to boot the Windows OS. In Safe Mode, the startup programs, add-ons, etc. settings, do not run. We usually boot into Safe Mode, when we need to troubleshoot issues. This post will show you how to enable and start or boot Windows 11/10 in Safe Mode. There may be other ways, but we will cover only 2 of the most convenient ways.

How to start Windows 11/10 in Safe Mode

Let us take a look at them in detail.

1] Press Shift and then click on Restart

The easiest way to boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode, would be to press Shift and then click on Restart. This will reboot your Windows 10 computer into Advanced Startup Options.

2] Open Recovery section and click on Restart now

In Windows 11, open Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup and click on Restart now.

In Windows 10, open the Settings app > Update & Security > Recovery. Under Advanced startup, click on Restart now.

When you follow any of the two methods mentioned, your Windows computer will restart, and you will see the following screen.

Click on Troubleshoot to proceed.

Now follow the steps laid down in Advanced Startup options in Windows.

It will take you through the entire process starting with – Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart > Press No 4 key.

If you have followed the procedure correctly, you will finally reach Startup Settings screen, from where you will be able to enable Safe Mode.

Press the ‘4’ key, and your computer will restart and enter Safe Mode. To reboot in Safe Mode with Networking, press ‘5’ key. To reboot in Safe Mode with Command Prompt, press the ‘6’ key.

You will see a black desktop with a Safe Mode watermark in the bottom left and right sides.

Read: How to Enable F8 Key to Boot into Safe Mode on Windows 11/10.

3] Use MSConfig or System Configuration Utility

The other simple way, of course, is by using the built-in System Configuration Utility. From the Win+X Menu, open Run box, type msconfig and hit Enter.

Under the Boot tab, check the Safe boot and Minimal options. Click Apply/OK and exit. On a restart, your computer will enter Safe Mode directly.

You can now work in the Safe Mode.

Before you exit, remember to open msconfig and uncheck the Safe Boot check box, click Apply/OK and then on Restart, so that on reboot, your computer will not again boot in safe mode – but instead will boot to your desktop.

4] Boot in Safe Mode using Command Prompt

You can execute the following command in an elevated command prompt, and restart, to boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode.

Boot into Safe Mode with Networking

Boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt

To exit Safe Mode, use:

5] Via the Logon screen

6] Enable F8 key and use it

You need to enable the F8 key first and then use it to boot into Safe Mode,

7] Boot from Windows Recovery Drive

8] Using Windows Installation Media

Boot the computer to the Windows Installation Media

Click on Repair Your Computer

Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.

Execute the following command:

Select Continue to exit and boot into Safe Mode.

Is F8 Safe Mode for Windows working?

The F8 key that helped you earlier to boot the computer in Safe Mode is not enabled by default. You have to use this procedure using CMD to enable it first. Then you will be able to boot in Windows Safe Mode using the F8 key.

How do I boot into Windows Recovery?