Win 10 / 11 · Maintenance

Start Windows in Safe Mode

Safe Mode loads Windows with only the drivers it cannot do without. If a problem disappears there, it's software — and knowing that one fact saves hours of guessing.

  • Difficulty Easy
  • Estimated time 5 min
  • Platform Win 10 / 11
  • Last updated
Start Windows in Safe Mode — schematic diagram

Before you start

Low risk. This change is reversible — you can return to the previous state without professional help or data loss.

Steps

  1. From a working desktop: Settings → System → Recovery → Advanced startup → Restart now
  2. From the sign-in screen: hold Shift while you click Restart
  3. Then follow Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart, and press 4 for Safe Mode or 5 if you need networking
  4. If Windows won't boot at all, cut the power during startup three times running — the fourth attempt opens Recovery on its own
  5. If it keeps booting into Safe Mode afterwards: Win + R → msconfig → Boot tab → untick Safe boot

How to verify the fix

Windows boots into Safe Mode (option 4/5), and you can confirm whether the problem disappears there.

If this didn't fix it

It keeps booting into Safe Mode afterwards — untick Safe boot in msconfig → Boot tab to return to normal startup.

Next stop: the related fixes below, or start a guided diagnosis.

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