How to Enter Safe Mode in Windows 10 and Windows 11

Safe Mode in Windows is a special startup mode that loads only the essential drivers and services needed to run the system. It's useful for troubleshooting issues when your operating system won’t start normally or when errors occur due to faulty drivers or applications. In this article, we will show you various ways to enter Safe Mode on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Method 1: Using System Settings

One of the easiest ways to enter Safe Mode is through the Windows Settings menu.

  1. Click Start and select Settings (or press Win + I).
  2. Navigate to Update & Security, then select Recovery.
  3. Under the Advanced startup section, click Restart now.
  4. After the restart, you’ll see the Choose an option screen. Select Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
  5. When your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Press 4 or F4 to start Safe Mode, or 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

Method 2: Entering Safe Mode via System Configuration (msconfig)

This method is suitable if your system is able to boot to the desktop.

  1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type msconfig and press Enter.
  3. Go to the Boot tab and check the Safe boot option.
  4. Select the type of Safe Mode:
    • Minimal — regular Safe Mode.
    • Network — Safe Mode with Networking.
  5. Click OK and restart your computer.

Method 3: Using the F8 Key During Boot

In Windows 10 and Windows 11, the F8 key option to enter Safe Mode is disabled by default. However, you can enable it manually:

  1. Open the Command Prompt as an administrator (press Win + X and select Command Prompt (Admin)).
  2. Type the following command and press Enter: 
    bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy
  3. Restart your computer and press F8 during startup to access the boot menu, then select Safe Mode.

Method 4: Using Windows Installation Media

If your system won’t boot, you can use a Windows installation disk or USB drive:

  1. Connect the installation media and boot from it.
  2. On the first setup screen, click Repair your computer in the bottom left corner.
  3. Go to Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings and click Restart.
  4. Choose 4 or F4 for Safe Mode, or 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.