Start your PC in safe mode in Windows 10

Safe mode starts Windows in a basic state, using a limited set of files and drivers. If a problem doesn’t happen in safe mode, this means that default settings and basic device drivers aren’t causing the issue. Observing Windows in safe mode enables you to narrow down the source of a problem, and can help you troubleshoot problems on your PC.

There are two versions of safe mode: Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Networking. Safe Mode with Networking adds the network drivers and services you’ll need to access the Internet and other computers on your network.

Select from the following sections to find out how to start your PC in safe mode from Settings, from the sign-in screen, or from a black or blank screen.

Press Windows logo key + I on your keyboard to open Settings. If that doesn’t work, select the Start button, then select Settings .

Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.

After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. You may be asked to enter your BitLocker recovery key.

After your PC restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select 4 or press F4 to start your PC in Safe Mode. Or if you’ll need to use the Internet, select 5 or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

When you can’t open Settings to get into safe mode, restart your device from the Windows sign-in screen.

On the Windows sign-in screen, press and hold the Shift key while you select the Power > Restart .

After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. You may be asked to enter your BitLocker recovery key.

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.

Note: If you’ve encrypted your device, you’ll need your BitLocker key to start in safe mode.

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.

After your device restarts, you’ll see a list of options. Select option 5 from the list or press F5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

If you need more info on a black or blank screen error, see Troubleshoot black or blank screen errors.

Notes: If you need to exit safe mode, simply restart your device, or:

Press the Windows logo key + R.

Type msconfig in the Open box and then select OK.

Select the Boot tab.

Under Boot options, clear the Safe boot checkbox.

Advanced startup options (including safe mode)

The Advanced Boot Options screen lets you start Windows in advanced troubleshooting modes. You can access the menu by turning on your computer and pressing the F8 key before Windows starts.

Some options, such as safe mode, start Windows in a limited state, where only the bare essentials are started. If a problem doesn’t reappear when you start in safe mode, you can eliminate the default settings and basic device drivers and services as possible causes. Other options start Windows with advanced features intended for use by system administrators and IT professionals. For more information, go to the Microsoft website for IT professionals.

Repair Your Computer

Shows a list of system recovery tools you can use to repair startup problems, run diagnostics, or restore your system. This option is available only if the tools are installed on your computer’s hard disk. If you have a Windows installation disc, the system recovery tools are located on that disc.

Safe Mode

Starts Windows with a minimal set of drivers and services.

To start in safe mode:

Remove all floppy disks, CDs, and DVDs from your computer, and then restart your computer. Click the Start button , click the arrow next to the Shut Down button (or the arrow next to the Lock button), and then click Restart.

Do one of the following:

If your computer has a single operating system installed, press and hold the F8 key as your computer restarts. You need to press F8 before the Windows logo appears. If the Windows logo appears, you’ll need to try again by waiting until the Windows logon prompt appears, and then shutting down and restarting your computer.

If your computer has more than one operating system, use the arrow keys to highlight the operating system you want to start in safe mode, and then press F8.

On the Advanced Boot Options screen, use the arrow keys to highlight the safe mode option you want, and then press Enter.

Log on to your computer with a user account that has administrator rights.

Safe Mode with Networking. Starts Windows in safe mode and includes the network drivers and services needed to access the Internet or other computers on your network.

Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Starts Windows in safe mode with a command prompt window instead of the usual Windows interface. This option is intended for IT professionals and administrators.

Enable Boot Logging. Creates a file, ntbtlog.txt, that lists all the drivers that are installed during startup and that might be useful for advanced troubleshooting.

Enable low-resolution video (640×480). Starts Windows using your current video driver and using low resolution and refresh rate settings. You can use this mode to reset your display settings. For more information, see Change your screen resolution.

Last Known Good Configuration (advanced). Starts Windows with the last registry and driver configuration that worked successfully.

Directory Services Restore Mode. Starts Windows domain controller running Active Directory so that the directory service can be restored. This option is intended for IT professionals and administrators.

Debugging Mode. Starts Windows in an advanced troubleshooting mode intended for IT professionals and system administrators.

Disable automatic restart on system failure. Prevents Windows from automatically restarting if an error causes Windows to fail. Choose this option only if Windows is stuck in a loop where Windows fails, attempts to restart, and fails again repeatedly.

Disable Driver Signature Enforcement. Allows drivers containing improper signatures to be installed.

Start Windows Normally. Starts Windows in its normal mode.

How to Start Windows 7 in Safe Mode

Easy, 5-minute-or-less process!

Starting Windows 7 in Safe Mode is an excellent next step when starting Windows normally is not possible. Safe Mode only starts the most important Windows 7 processes, so depending on the problem you’re having, you might be able to troubleshoot or even fix the problem from here.

Not using Windows 7? See How Do I Start Windows in Safe Mode? for specific instructions for your version of Windows.

How to Start Windows 7 in Safe Mode

As of January 2020, Microsoft is no longer supporting Windows 7. We recommend upgrading to Windows 10 to continue receiving security updates and technical support.

To begin entering Windows 7 Safe Mode, turn on or restart your PC.

Just before the Windows 7 splash screen appears, press the F8 key to enter Advanced Boot Options.

You should now see the Advanced Boot Options screen. If not, you may have missed the short window of opportunity to press F8 in the previous step and Windows 7 is probably now continuing to boot normally, assuming it’s able to. If this is the case, just restart your computer and try pressing F8 again.

Once you’re in the Advanced Boot Options, you are presented with three variations of Windows 7 Safe Mode you can enter. Using the arrow keys on your keyboard, highlight either Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, or Safe Mode with Command Prompt and press Enter.

• Safe Mode: This is the default option and is usually the best choice. This mode will load only the absolute minimum processes necessary to start Windows 7.
• Safe Mode with Networking: This option loads the same processes as Safe Mode but also includes those that allow the networking functions in Windows 7 to work. You should choose this option if you think you might need to access the internet or your local network while troubleshooting in Safe Mode.
• Safe Mode with Command Prompt: This version of Safe Mode also loads a minimum set of processes but starts the Command Prompt instead of Windows Explorer, the usual user interface. This is a valuable option if the Safe Mode option didn’t work.

Wait for the Windows 7 files to load. The minimum system files necessary to run Windows 7 will now load. Each file being loaded will be displayed on the screen.

If Safe Mode freezes here, document the last Windows 7 file being loaded, then search the internet for troubleshooting advice.

You don’t need to do anything here, but this screen could provide a good place to start troubleshooting if your computer is experiencing very serious problems and Safe Mode won’t completely load.

To start Windows 7 in Safe Mode, you must log on with an account that has administrator permissions. If you’re not sure if any of your personal accounts have administrator privileges, log in using your own account and see if that works.

If you’re not sure what the password is to an account with administrator access, see How to Find the Administrator Password in Windows for more information.

Entry into Windows 7 Safe Mode should now be complete. Make any changes you need to make and then restart the computer. Assuming there are no remaining problems preventing it, the computer should boot to Windows 7 normally after a restart.

As you can see in the screenshot above, it’s very easy to identify if a Windows 7 computer is in Safe Mode. The text «Safe Mode» will always appear in each corner of the screen when in this special diagnostic mode of Windows 7.

Windows: Safe Mode – Start from Boot|Reboot & CMD

Safe Mode in Windows is a special diagnostic mode that allows to use Windows with basic drivers and can help to troubleshoot various problems.

Windows can be started in Safe Mode in different ways, depending on the OS version (Windows 10, 8, 7, XP) and the hardware vendor (Lenovo, DELL, HP, Asus, Acer).

In this note i am showing how to boot Windows 10, 8, 7, XP in Safe Mode from startup (cold boot) and how to restart it and boot it in Safe Mode from a login screen or directly from Windows.

I am also showing how to configure Windows to boot in Safe Mode from the command-line interface (CMD).

Cool Tip: Kill a hanging process in Windows from the CMD! Read more →

Start Windows 10, 8, 7, XP in Safe Mode from Boot

To start Windows 10, 8, 7, XP in Safe Mode from boot, repeatedly press F8 key or one of the key combinations Ctrl + F8 or Shift + F8 or Fn + F8 during the system startup, but before the Windows logo appears (try all these combinations because for different vendors e.g. Lenovo, DELL, HP, Asus, Acer, etc. the key combination for booting in Safe Mode may be different).

Fast Boot: Because of the current fast computers and laptops with fast boot or SSD, it is sometimes complex to catch the exact time frame for pressing the required key combinations during the boot process and it might take several attempts to access the Boot Manager this way.

Restart Windows 10, 8 in Safe Mode

To restart Windows 10, 8 in Safe Mode from login screen or directly from Windows GUI:

1. Click the Windows Power button, hold down the Shift key and click on Restart
2. Select Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Startup Settings -> Restart . Here you may be asked to enter your BitLocker recovery key.
3. The relevant options for booting in Safe Mode are the numbers 4 , 5 or 6
   • Press the keys 4 or F4 to boot in Safe Mode
   • Press the keys 5 or F5 to boot in Safe Mode with Networking
   • Press the keys 6 or F6 to boot in Safe Mode with Command Prompt

Start Windows 10, 8, 7 in Safe Mode from CMD

It requires administrative privileges to modify boot configuration, so firstly it needs to start CMD as administrator.

Press the Win key to open the Start menu, type in cmd to search for the command prompt and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to launch it as administrator.

Configure Windows to boot in Safe Mode:

Configure Windows to boot in Safe Mode with Networking:

Configure Windows to boot in Safe Mode with Command Prompt:

Restart Windows and it will be started in Safe Mode:

When you don’t need to boot in Safe Mode anymore, change it back to normal: