Skip to main content

5 Ways to Start Your PC in Safe Mode: There are several ways to start in Safe Mode in Windows 10, but you may have already noticed that the old ways to start in Safe Mode in older versions of Windows don't seem to work. on Windows 10. Previous users were able to boot into Windows Safe Mode simply by pressing the F8 key or the Shift + F8 key at boot. But with the introduction of Windows 10, the boot process has become much faster and therefore all those features were disabled.

5-ways-to-start-your-pc-in-safe-mode-7373380

This was done because users did not always need to see the advanced inherited boot options at startup, which was only hampering boot, so in Windows 10 this option was disabled by default. This does not mean that Safe Mode does not exist in Windows 10, but there are several ways to achieve it. Safe mode is essential if you need to troubleshoot your computer. Similar to Safe Mode, Windows starts with a limited set of files and drivers that are essential for starting Windows, but other than that, all third-party applications are disabled in Safe Mode.

Now you know why Safe Mode is important and there are several ways to start your PC in Safe Mode in Windows 10, so it's time for you to start the process by following the steps below.

5 ways to start your PC in safe mode

Make sure to create a restore point in case something goes wrong.

Method 1: Start your PC in safe mode using system settings (msconfig)

1.Press Windows Key + R, then type msconfig and hit Enter to open System Configuration.

msconfig-29-2004176

2.Now switch to the boot tab and check the "Safe boot" option.

now-switch-to-boot-tab-and-check-mark-safe-boot-option-3-8285516

3. Make sure the Minimum radio button is checked and click OK.

4.Select Restart to boot your PC in Safe Mode. If you have work to save, select Exit without restarting.

Method 2: Boot Into Safe Mode Using Shift + Reboot Key Combination

1.Open the start menu and click the power button.

2.Now hold the shift key on your keyboard and click Restart.

now-press-hold-the-shift-key-on-the-keyboard-and-click-on-restart-5-5401534

3.If for some reason you cannot get past the login screen, you can use the Shift + Restart combination of the login screen as well.

4.Click the power option, hold down the Shift key and then click Restart.

hold-shift-and-then-click-on-restart-1-9680735

5.Once the PC has restarted, on the "Choose an option" screen, select "Troubleshoot".

choose-an-option-at-windows-10-automatic-startup-repair-37-7799657

4.On the troubleshooting screen, click Advanced Options.

select-advanced-option-29-3577735

5.On the advanced options screen, click Startup Settings.

startup-setting-in-advanced-options-1-7980212

6.Now from the startup settings click the reset button at the bottom.

startup-settings-4-8994439

7.Once Windows 10 restarts, you can select the boot options you want to enable:

  • Press the F4 key to activate safe mode
  • Press the F5 key to activate safe mode with the network
  • Press the F6 key to activate safe mode with the command prompt

enable-safe-mode-with-command-prompt-1-8924903

8. That's it, you were able to start your PC in safe mode using the above method, let's move on to the next method.

Method 3: Start your PC in safe mode using settings

1.Press Windows key + I to open the Settings application or you can type "settings" in Windows search to open it.

update-security-31-8369730

2.Then click Update & Security and in the left menu click Recovery.

3.From the right part of the window, click "Restart Now" under Advanced startup.

click-on-restart-now-under-advanced-startup-in-recovery-3-2884878

4.Once the PC restarts you will see the same option as above, that is, you will see the Choose an option screen, then Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Startup settings -> Restart.

5.Selecting the various options listed in Step 7 of Method 2 to boot into Safe Mode.

enable-safe-mode-with-command-prompt-1-8924903

Method 4: Start Your PC In Safe Mode Using Windows 10 Installation / Recovery Drive

1.Open Command and type the following command in cmd and press Enter:

bcdedit / set {default} safeboot minimal

bcdedit-set-default-safeboot-minimal-in-cmd-to-boot-pc-in-safe-mode-8145441

Note: If you want to boot Windows 10 in safe mode with the network, use this command instead:

bcdedit / set {stream} secure boot network

2. You will see a success message after a few seconds and then close the command line.

3.On the next screen (Choose an option) click Continue.

4.Once the PC restarts, it will automatically boot into Safe Mode.

Alternatively, you can enable the legacy advanced boot options so that you can boot into safe mode at any time with the F8 or Shift + F8 key.

Method 5: Interrupt the Windows 10 boot process to start Automatic Repair

1. Make sure you hold down the power button for a few seconds while Windows is starting to interrupt it. Just make sure it doesn't pass the boot screen or else you'll have to restart the process.

make-sure-to-hold-the-power-button-for-few-seconds-while-windows-is-booting-in-order-to-interrupt-it-4972939

2.Follow this 3 times in a row like when Windows 10 does not boot consecutively three times, the fourth time it goes into auto repair mode by default.

3.When the PC starts up for the fourth time it will prepare the Automatic Repair and give you the option to Restart or the Advanced option.

4.Click Advanced Options and you will be taken back to the Choose an option screen.

choose-an-option-at-windows-10-automatic-startup-repair-37-7799657

5. Again follow this hierarchy Troubleshooting -> Advanced Options -> Startup Settings -> Restart.

startup-settings-4-8994439

6.Once Windows 10 restarts, you can select the boot options you want to enable:

  • Press the F4 key to activate safe mode
  • Press the F5 key to activate safe mode with the network
  • Press the F6 key to activate safe mode with the command prompt

enable-safe-mode-with-command-prompt-1-8924903

7.Once you have pressed the desired key, it will automatically connect to safe mode.

Recommended for you:

  • Disable the lock screen in Windows 10
  • Fix Hmm, we can't get to this error page in Microsoft Edge
  • How to fix ERR_NETWORK_CHANGED in chrome
  • Fix ERR_INTERNET_DISCONNECTED in chrome

That's all you've learned about starting your PC in safe mode, but if you still have any questions about this post, feel free to ask them in the comment section.

R Marketing Digital