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Quick Start Guide
Safe Mode (In Windows 10)
Safe mode allows your Windows 10 system to boot into a state in which the drivers that are activated are limited and program functionality is at a minimum. This can be used if the computer won’t start under normal circumstances as a troubleshooting step. It can also be used to remove viruses from your system.
If you are a veteran from Windows 7 or below and are wondering why you can’t press F8 at the Windows startup screen to activate safe mode, proceed to the section labeled “Enable Safe Mode Key” in order to reenable this feature if this was your preferred method. It will reenable that functionality.
Table of Contents
- Safe Mode Types
- Safe Mode Restart Simple Method
- Safe Mode Through Settings App
- Safe Mode Automatic Method
- Safe Mode At Startup
Safe Mode Types
Safe Mode (Regular)
The standard Safe Mode that has the most limited functionality but all normal desktop visuals.
Safe Mode With Networking
This version of Safe Mode allows you to still access your network and network-connected devices, such as cloud drives or other technologies.
Safe Mode With Command Prompt
The barest version of Safe Mode which doesn’t even load the visuals and instead simply gives you a command prompt to run commands. Most commonly used if graphics drivers are failing at the highest levels or the user wishes to minimize system usage.
How To Boot Into Safe Mode
Safe Mode Restart Simple Method
If you can boot into your computer properly to the point of the login screen, you can access safe mode by doing the following steps.
1: Right-click on the Windows icon.
Figure 1. Image of the search bar in Windows 10 and also the Windows button itself circled in red. Image by Steven Grevera.
2: Hold down shift on your keyboard as you click on “Restart.”
Figure 2. Image of what happens after you click the windows button and that you must press restart. Image by Steven Grevera.
3: You should now be presented with the “Advanced Startup” screen. Click on the “Troubleshoot” option.
Figure 3. Image of the user being presented with the Advanced Startup screen. Circling “Troubleshoot” with red to indicate it must be clicked. (Image From: https://www.tenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/259099d1576354505-boot-advanced-startup-options-windows-10-a-3-startup_options.jpg)
4: Click on Startup Settings.
Figure 4. Image of the user being presented with the next screen and being prompted to click on Startup Settings as it’s circled with red. (Image From: https://ms.codes/cdn/shop/articles/b6f591d9-227c-8ef1-80bc-5139e82b62ac.png?v=1709223211)
5: Click on “Restart” as it pops up.
6: Once the machine has restarted, a series of options will populate the screen for you to choose from. You have three options to choose from here and you will type the number of which you intend to use. 4 for Safe Mode, 5 for Safe Mode with Networking, or 6 for Safe Mode With Command Prompt.
Figure 5. Image of the user being presented options for safe mode or other options they could also choose. (Image From https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TwIOazT1BxU/maxresdefault.jpg)
7: After typing your selected Safe Mode type, your machine will restart and you will be booted into the Safe Mode of your choice.
Safe Mode Through Settings App
1: Select the search bar or the windows button at the bottom left of the screen.
Figure 6. Image of the search bar in Windows 10 and also the Windows button itself circled in red. Image by Steven Grevera.
2: Type “Settings”.
Figure 7. Image of the settings app once it’s been searched for as a visual to show what needs to be clicked. Image by Steven Grevera.
3: Click on “Settings”.
4: A new menu called “Settings” should open up. Click on “Update and Security”.
Figure 8. An image of the settings menu and a circle indicating that you should click on “Update and Security”. Image by Steven Grevera.
5: The update screen should open. Select “Recovery”.
Figure 9. Image of the Update and Security menu and circling the section which says “Recovery” to indicate what should be clicked on.. Image by Steven Grevera.
6: The recovery section should open. Navigate to “Advanced Startup” and click on “Restart now”.
Figure 10. An image showing the newly opened “Recovery” section and a red circle around “Restart now,” indicating what the user should click on. Image by Steven Grevera.
7: Once the machine has restarted, A series of options will populate the screen for you to choose from. You have three options to choose from here, and you will type the number you intend to use: 4 for Safe Mode, 5 for Safe Mode with Networking, or 6 for Safe Mode With Command Prompt. Your machine will restart and you will be booted into the Safe Mode of your choice.
Figure 11. Image of the user being presented options for safe mode or other options they could also choose. (Image From https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TwIOazT1BxU/maxresdefault.jpg)
8: After typing your selected Safe Mode type, your machine will restart and you will be booted into the Safe Mode of your choice.
Safe Mode Through System Configuration Tool
1: Navigate down to the search bar or the windows button.
Figure 12. Image of the search bar in Windows 10 and also the Windows button itself circled in red. Image by Steven Grevera.
2: Type into the bar: “msconfig.” Click on the program that pops up. A new menu will open.
Figure 13. Image of the search bar with “msconfig” typed in and the app that pops up when this is done. Image by Steven Grevera.
3: Click on the “boot” tab within the new menu.
Figure 14. Image of what pops up when the app is opened and a circle indicating the user should click on the “boot tab.” Image by Steven Grevera.
4: Under boot options, select “Safe Boot” with your mouse. Select Minimal for normal Safe Mode or Network to launch Safe Mode With Networking.
Figure 15. Showing the various options in the new menu and then circling the section where it says “Safe Boot” and lists other options as well. Image by Steven Grevera.
5: Click on apply.
Figure 16. Circling apply in red. Image by Steven Grevera.
6: Click on “OK”.
Figure 17. Circling OK in red. Image by Steven Grevera.
7: When the new window pops up, click on Restart.
Figure 18. Circling “Restart” in red to show the user what they should click to enter Safe Mode. Image by Steven Grevera.
8: Your machine shall now restart into Safe Mode.
9: When done, open “msconfig” again at the search bar, go to the boot tab and uncheck “Safe Boot.” Click “apply” and then close to boot normally again.
Figure 19. Circling in red how Safe Boot is no longer checked. Image by Steven Grevera.
Safe Mode Automatic Method
Please note that the ability to enter this mode will likely be determined by the speed of your hard drive. If it is an HDD (Hard Disk Drive), then this method should be simple. If it is an SSD, it may be hard to get the timings right and it may be simpler to use other methods.
1: Ensure your computer is off.
2: When the Windows 10 Logo appears, hold down the power button until the system turns off. Do this 2 more times (3 total times).
3: Turn on your PC for the 4th time and it should now begin automatic repair. Wait for Windows to diagnose your PC.
4: A new menu called “Startup Repair” will open. Select “Advanced Options”.
Figure 20. Image of the user being presented with the Startup Repair screen. Circling “Advanced Options” to show what should be clicked. (Image From: https://www.tenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/259099d1576354505-boot-advanced-startup-options-windows-10-a-3-startup_options.jpg)
5: You should now be presented with the “Advanced Startup” screen. Click on the “Troubleshoot” option.
Figure 21. Image of the user being presented with the Advanced Startup screen. Circling Troubleshoot with red to indicate it must be clicked. (Image From: https://www.tenforums.com/attachments/tutorials/259099d1576354505-boot-advanced-startup-options-windows-10-a-3-startup_options.jpg)
6: Click on Startup Settings.
Figure 22. Image of the user being presented with the next screen and being prompted to click on Startup Settings as it’s circled with red. (Image From: https://ms.codes/cdn/shop/articles/b6f591d9-227c-8ef1-80bc-5139e82b62ac.png?v=1709223211)
7: Click on “Restart” as it pops up.
8: Once the machine has restarted, a series of options will populate the screen for you to choose from. You have three options to choose from here and you will type the number of which you intend to use. 4 for Safe Mode, 5 for Safe Mode with Networking, or 6 for Safe Mode With Command Prompt. What each does will be listed below these steps.
Figure 23. Image of the user being presented options for safe mode or other options they could also choose. (Image From https://i.ytimg.com/vi/TwIOazT1BxU/maxresdefault.jpg)
9: After typing your selected Safe Mode type, your machine will restart and you will be booted into the Safe Mode of your choice.
Safe Mode At Startup
Accessing Safe Mode at startup means accessing Safe Mode at system startup as opposed to logging in and using the easier Windows 10 methods. Unfortunately, Windows 10 does not have a built-in functionality to allow you to enter the state under normal circumstances and this must be done beforehand to allow its use.
Step 1: Enable Safe Mode Key
1: Open Command Prompt by navigating down to the search bar or the Windows button.
Figure 24. An image indicating to use the search bar or the windows button via red arrows. Image By: Steven Grevera
2: Type “CMD” into the search bar
Figure 25. An image showing “CMD” typed into the search bar. (Image By: Steven Grevera
3: Hover your mouse over to the program name and then right-click it with your mouse. Select “Run as administrator.”
Figure 26. An image showing the user right-clicking on CMD with their mouse and circling the option “Run as administrator.” (Image By: Steven Grevera
4: You will be greeted with a black box that should say the following: “C:/Windows/system32”. (This may also say System 64 if you are using a 64-bit version of Windows 10.)
5: Copy this command into the line: “bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy.” Type enter.
Figure 27. An image inputting the “bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy” command into the “CMD” program. Image By: Steven Grevera
6: The following picture should be displayed. You have successfully enabled Safe Mode’s button press command. If this fails, ensure that you ran the program as outlined in #2 and #3.
Figure 28. An image showing what happens after the command is input successfully. Image By: Steven Grevera
Step 2: Boot Up
First, begin by turning on your computer. As this process begins, press the F8 key repeatedly to access the following screen.
Figure 29. An image showing what Windows 7 Style Safe Mode boot menu but in Windows 10, proven as it says “Windows 10” is being used. Image From: (https://www.drivereasy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/safe-mode-1.jpg)
Select the version of Safe Mode that suits your needs in the moment and the system will restart once again. You have successfully booted into Safe Mode. If the menu below does not pop up and instead it boots up normally, the button was likely not clicked fast enough.