Start your PC in safe mode

December 16, 2020

Safe mode is a diagnostic mode of a computer operating system and provides access to diagnostic programs so a user can troubleshoot what is preventing the operating system from working normally. Most viruses are inactive when using Windows in Safe Mode and they can be easily removed because Windows loads just the basic drivers and a minimum of operating system components, so only a few applications work.

Start your PC in safe mode in Windows 10

From Settings

1. Press the Windows logo key + I on your keyboard to open Settings. If that doesn’t work, click the Start button in the lower-left corner of your screen, then select Settings .

2. Select Update & security , then click on Recovery .

3. Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.

4. After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

5. After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Click 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 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, hold the Shift key down while you click Power , then select Restart.

2. After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

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

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.

Start your PC in safe mode in Windows 8/8.1

Before you choose one of the methods described here, make sure you know the password you’ve set up on your account (if you’re using a PIN). You cannot use a PIN to log in to your account in Safe Mode. You will have to use the full password.

Method 1

Move the mouse cursor to the upper right corner of your screen and wait until the Charms Bar is displayed.
Go to Settings → Change PC settings → Update and recovery → Recovery and in the menu item “Advanced start-up”, click Restart now.

3. Once your PC restarts, on the Choose an option screen, click the option Troubleshoot and then Advanced options.

4. Tap or click Startup Settings and then Restart.

5. After the restart, you’ll see a list of options. Select 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

6. Sign in to your PC with a user account that has administrator rights.

Method 2

1. Launch System Configuration in Windows by simultaneously pressing the Windows + R keys on your keyboard. Then write msconfig in the text field and press OK.

2. Switch to Boot tab and, in the Boot options section, select the Safe Boot with Network. Then click OK.

NOTE: After you finished your work in Safe Mode, please open System Configuration again (step 1) and uncheck the Safe Boot option (step 2). Click OK and restart your machine. Your computer will now boot normally.

3. Windows will tell you that you need to reboot your computer in order for the new setting to take effect. After the reboot, your computer will automatically boot into Safe Mode.