Safe Mode is a built-in Windows troubleshooting feature that disables unnecessary drivers and programs during startup. It allows you to isolate problems and fix them without interfering with unnecessary applications. Let's take a quick look at how to boot into Safe Mode with Windows 10 and what to do if you can't boot into Safe Mode!
Method 1: System Configuration
To open the System Configuration screen, enter msconfig Go to the search bar in the Start menu and select the most suitable result. Open tab Boots and note Boot Options. Select options Safe Boot will force your system to boot into Safe Mode after the next reboot.

You can choose from additional options. Here's what they do:
- Minimal: Starts Safe Mode with the absolute minimum number of drivers and services but with the standard Windows GUI (Graphical User Interface). This is the standard Safe Mode option.
- Alternate Shell: Start Safe Mode using Command Prompt, no Windows GUI. Requires knowledge of advanced text commands as well as navigating the operating system without a mouse.
- Active Directory Repair: Start Safe Mode with access to device-specific information, such as hardware model. If a failed installation of new hardware damages 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 may not need this on your personal machine.
- Network: Boot into Safe Mode with the services and drivers needed to connect to the network with the standard Windows GUI. Select this option if you need to be online while troubleshooting.
Select Minimal > Apply > OK. System Configuration will now ask if you want to reboot your system. Choosing Restart will immediately begin the restart process, so be sure to save any active documents or projects.
Method 2: Advanced Startup
Your next option is Windows 10 Advanced Startup. Enter advanced start up Go to the search bar in the Start menu and select the most suitable result.

- In the resulting menu, in section Advanced start-upsselect Restart Now.
- This will reboot your system into recovery mode, where you will encounter three options: Continue, Troubleshoot or Turn Off Your PC.
- Select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options. Now, you have a bunch of new options to choose from.
- Select Start-up Settings > Restart. Your system will reboot. The Startup Settings screen will load after you reboot. From here, select the required option for Safe Mode.

Advanced Startup Shortcuts
You can skip this somewhat lengthy clicking process by holding down the key Shift and click Restart in Power, found in the Windows 10 Start menu. This restart will take you straight to the options Recoverywhere you can choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings.
Method 3: Press F8 at startup
Until Windows 88 was released, the most common method to enter Safe Mode was to press F8 on the keyboard during startup. Press F8 will display the Safe Mode options screen, listing the options found in method 1 (above) and some alternatives.
To improve boot times, Windows 10 (and Windows 11) has disabled Safe Mode F8 access by default. However, you can sacrifice a few seconds during the boot process by enabling the F8 menu using Command Prompt:
- Start by opening Command Prompt with admin rights. Select Yes in the User Account Control dialog box if it appears. Command Prompt will now be opened.
- Enter (or copy/paste) the following command:
bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy
- To undo this old command at any time, reopen Command Prompt with admin rights as instructed above and type:
bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy standard

The reverse command returns the boot process to its original state. So, to access Safe Mode, you will have to use one of the alternative options discussed.
Note: The above steps also work on Windows 11!
Method 4: Enter Safe Mode from Windows Recovery
Some computers that cannot boot are stuck on the Windows start screen.
However, you can force your computer into Safe Mode by interrupting the boot process 3 times in a row by holding the power button, automatically activating Windows Recovery. When the Windows Recovery menu appears, do the following:
From the window Choose an option recoveryselect Troubleshoot, Advanced options and Startup Settings.

From Startup Settingsyou can restart your computer into Safe Mode, and you can turn the Internet on or off. Both options can work.

Method 5: Enter Safe Mode with the Windows 10 recovery drive
If you can't enter Safe Mode, you must create a Windows 10 USB recovery drive. The recovery drive contains the Windows 10 recovery environment – previously accessible by pressing F8 at startup. Unfortunately, Microsoft has decided to remove this feature.
To create a recovery drive, you need another Windows 10 or 11 computer and a USB drive with at least 1GB of storage capacity. If you want to create a system backup (you'll see the option to back up system files to a recovery drive), you'll need at least 16GB of storage.
Launch Control Panel > Create a recovery drive.

Then, follow the instructions.
After creating a recovery drive, you can only boot your computer from that drive if you have enabled the USB drive to boot from the POST environment, also known as UEFI or BIOS. After activating the USB boot drive, insert the drive into the computer and reboot (may need to press the reset button or hold the power button for a few seconds).
It's also worth mentioning that a fully installable copy of Windows 11 or 10 created with the Windows Media Creation Tool offers the same features as a recovery drive.
How to exit Safe Mode?
After troubleshooting Windows 10, you can leave Safe Mode. But how do you get out of Safe Mode once you're in it?
There are two options, depending on how you boot into Safe Mode:
- If you entered Safe Mode using method 1 (via System Configuration), you must disable the Safe Mode option in the same configuration window. Otherwise, Windows 10 will reboot into Safe Mode after each reboot.
- If you entered Safe Mode using method 2 (via Advanced Startup) or method 3 (via pressing the keyboard), shut down or restart your system to leave Safe Mode.
Don't forget to check the System Configuration menu if something seems amiss.
Now you know the 3 easiest methods to access Safe Mode on Windows 10. Make sure to note the last section about System Image Recovery and System Repair Discs. Remember that the former only works if you have set a recovery location before sinking into a BSOD-induced nightmare.
Wish you success!
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