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

There are three easy ways you can start Windows 11/10 in Safe Mode:

1. Press Shift and then click on Restart
2. Open Recovery section in Update & Settings and click on Restart now.
3. Use MSConfig or System Configuration Utility and select the Safe boot and Minimal options setting and restart.
4. Boot in Safe Mode using Command Prompt
5. Via the Logon screen
6. Enable F8 key and use it
7. Boot from Windows Recovery Drive
8. Using Windows Installation Media

Let us take a look at them in detail.

How to startup Windows in Safe Mode

1] Press Shift and then click on Restart

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

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.

bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal

Boot into Safe Mode with Networking

bcdedit /set {current} safeboot network

Boot into Safe Mode with Command Prompt

bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal bcdedit /set {default} safebootalternateshell yes

To exit Safe Mode, use:

bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot

5] Via the Logon screen

• Once you reach the logon or sign-in screen, hold the Shift key down and click on the Power button and then select Restart.
• When your PC restarts, click on Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
• On the restart, select option 4 to boot into Safe Mode.

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

You need to have already created a USB recovery drive.

1. Now reboot the computer and boot to the recovery drive
2. Select your keyboard layout based on your preferred language
3. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart
4. On the restart, select option 4 to boot into Safe Mode.

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:

bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal

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?

The Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) is a companion operating system installed alongside Windows, in a separate partition.

1. You can use recovery media to boot into Windows RE.
2. Execute reagentc /boottore in an elevated command prompt and restart the device to boot into WinRE.
3. Execute shutdown /r /o in an elevated command prompt and restart the device to boot into WinRE instead of Windows.

Also read:

1. Cannot boot in Safe Mode in Windows.
2. How to add Safe Mode to Boot Menu options in Windows.
3. How to directly reboot in Safe Mode in Windows.
4. PC is stuck and cannot exit Safe Mode.