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How to Boot in Safe Mode on Windows 10
Safe Mode is Windows' built-in troubleshooting feature that disables unnecessary drivers and programs during startup. It allows you to isolate problems and fix them without non-essential applications interfering. Let's take a quick look at booting into Safe Mode with Windows 10 and what to do if you cannot boot into Safe Mode.
Method 1: System Configuration
To open the System Configuration screen, type msconfig in your Start Menu search bar and select the Best Match. Open the Boot tab and note the Boot Options. Selecting the Safe Boot option will force your system to boot into Safe Mode following its next restart.
You can choose from additional options. Here's what they do:
- Minimal: Starts Safe Mode with the absolute minimal amount of drivers and services but with the standard Windows GUI (Graphical User Interface). This is the standard Safe Mode option.
- Alternate Shell: Starts Safe Mode with a Command Prompt, without the Windows GUI. Requires knowledge of advanced text commands, as well as navigating the operating system without a mouse.
- Active Directory Repair: Starts Safe Mode with access to machine-specific information, such as hardware models. If you unsuccessfully install new hardware that corrupts the Active Directory, Safe Mode can be used to restore system stability by repairing corrupted data or adding new data to the directory. Active Directory is used in business settings, so you're unlikely to need this on your personal machine.
- Network: Starts Safe Mode with the necessary services and drivers for networking with the standard Windows GUI. Choose this if you need to get online while troubleshooting.
Select Minimal > Apply > OK. System Configuration will now ask if you want to restart your system. Selecting Restart will immediately initiate the restart process, so be sure to save any active documents or projects.
: The ONE Windows 10 Feature You MUST Enable Now! (Viral Tech)
Method 2: Advanced Startup
Your next option is Windows 10 Advanced Startup. It isn't that advanced, but it is really useful to know. To reach it, type advanced start up in your Start Menu search bar and select the Best Match.
- In the resulting menu, under Advanced start-up, select Restart Now.
- This will restart your system in recovery mode, where you will encounter three options: Continue, Troubleshoot, or Turn Off Your PC.
- Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options. You now have a new range of options to choose from.
- Select Start-up Settings > Restart. Your system will restart. The Startup Settings screen will load after you reboot. From here, choose the requisite option for Safe Mode.
Advanced Startup Shortcut
You can skip this somewhat lengthy clicking process by holding down Shift and clicking Restart under Power, which is found in the Windows 10 Start Menu. This reboot takes you straight to the Recovery options, where you can select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings.
Method 3: Tapping F8 During Startup
Until the introduction of Windows 8, the most common method for entering Safe Mode was tapping F8 on your keyboard during startup. Tapping F8 brings up the Safe Mode options screen, listing the options found under Method 1 (above) and several alternatives.
To improve boot times, Windows 10 (and Windows 11) has F8 Safe Mode access disabled by default. However, you can sacrifice a couple of seconds during startup by enabling the F8 menu using the Command Prompt:
- Begin by opening an elevated Command Prompt. Right-click the Start menu and select Command Prompt (Admin). Select Yes in the User Account Control dialog if it appears. Command Prompt should now be open.
- Input (or copy/paste) the following command:
- bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy
- To undo this legacy command at any time, reopen the elevated Command Prompt as per the above instructions and type:
- bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy standard
The reversal command returns the startup process to its original state. So to reach Safe Mode, you'll then have to use one of the alternate options discussed.
The steps above work on Windows 11, too!
What If I Cannot Access Safe Mode?
Even if none of the above works, you still have two aces up your sleeve.
If you installed Windows 10 via a disc or USB flash drive, you can boot straight into recovery mode by inserting the installation media before turning your system on.
Choose your keyboard layout, followed by Repair Your Computer, in the bottom-left of the screen. From here, you can head to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options, where you'll find:
- System Restore
- System Image Recovery
- Startup Repair,
- Command Prompt
- Go Back to the Previous Build
For System Image Recovery to work, you'll have to have made a backup image before your system error, something we would absolutely advise you to do. You can create a System Image by typing recovery into the Start Menu search bar and selecting the Best Match. The Advanced Recovery Tools will open. Select Create a Recovery Drive and follow the steps.
System Repair Disc
Another helpful tool at your disposal is the System Repair Disc. Unlike the System Image, these aren't machine-specific, so you can acquire one via a friend if all goes wrong.
Head to Control Panel > System and Security > Back-up and Restore (Windows 7).
Don't let the Windows 7 tag put you off: you're in the right place. Select Create a System Repair Disc from the left column and follow the instructions.
How Do I Get Out of Safe Mode?
Once you fix your Windows 10 issue, you can leave Safe Mode. But how do you get out of Safe Mode once you're in there?
There are two options, depending on how you booted into Safe Mode:
- If you entered Safe Mode using Method 1 (via System Configuration), you must turn the Safe Mode option off in the same configuration window. Otherwise, Windows 10 will boot back into Safe Mode after each restart.
- If you entered Safe Mode using Method 2 (via Advanced Startup) or Method 3 (via Tapping Your Keyboard), shut down or restart your system to leave Safe Mode.
The first option can catch people out (me included!), so don't forget to check the System Configuration menu if something seems wrong.
You now know the three easiest methods to access Windows 10 Safe Mode. Make sure to take note of the final section on System Image Recovery and System Repair Discs. Do remember the former only works if you've set the recovery location before your world began collapsing in a BSOD-induced nightmare.
