Start your PC in safe mode in Windows 10, Windows 11

Start your PC in safe mode in Windows 11, Windows 10

From Setting;

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

  2. Select Update & Security  > Recovery .
    Open Recovery Settings

  3. Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.

  4. 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.

    Choose an option screen in the Windows Recovery Environment.

    Troubleshoot screen in the Windows Recovery Environment.

    Advanced options screen in the Windows Recovery Environment.

    Startup Settings screen in the Windows Recovery Environment.

  5. 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.

From the sign-in screen ;

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

  1. On the Windows sign-in screen, press and hold the Shift key while you select Power  > Restart .

  2. 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.

    Choose an option screen in the Windows Recovery Environment.

    Troubleshoot screen in the Windows Recovery Environment.

    Advanced options screen in the Windows Recovery Environment.

    Startup Settings screen in the Windows Recovery Environment.

  3. 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.

From a black or blank screen;

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:

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

  2. Press the power button again to turn on your device.

  3. 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.

  4. Press the power button again to turn on your device.

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

  6. Press the power button again to turn on your device.

  7. 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:

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

    Choose an option screen in the Windows Recovery Environment.

    Troubleshoot screen in the Windows Recovery Environment.

    Advanced options screen in the Windows Recovery Environment.

    Startup Settings screen in the Windows Recovery Environment.

  2. 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.

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:

  1. Press the Windows logo key  + R.

  2. Type msconfig in the Open box and then select OK.

  3. Select the Boot tab.

  4. Under Boot options, clear the Safe bootcheckbox.

Leave a Comment