How to Access Safe Mode in Windows 11

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

Safe ModeWindows 11TroubleshootingBootSystemSettingsSecurityRecoverySteps

Troubleshooting computer problems can often be a daunting task, especially when you are experiencing technical malfunctions, unwanted software behavior, or other disruptions. Safe Mode is an important feature in Windows 11 that allows you to start the operating system with a minimal set of drivers and services. This is useful when you need to troubleshoot problems or when you are trying to resolve issues without interference from other applications. In this detailed guide, we will explain how to access Safe Mode in Windows 11 in different ways.

Understanding Safe Mode

Before delving into the access methods, it's important to understand why Safe Mode exists. Safe Mode is a special way to load Windows 11 when there is a serious problem in the system that interferes with the normal functioning of Windows. This allows you to fix what's wrong before the problem worsens. When in Safe Mode, Windows will load only the software necessary to start the operating system. This means that third-party applications and drivers that can cause problems are not running, giving the system a clean environment to explore and fix.

Ways to access Safe Mode in Windows 11

1. Accessing Safe Mode via Settings

The easiest way for most users to start their Windows 11 PC in safe mode is through the Settings app. Here's how you do it:

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
2. In Settings, click on System.
3. In the System tab scroll down and select Recovery.
4. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now. A prompt will ask for confirmation.
5. Once your PC restarts, you will be shown several options. Select Troubleshoot.
6. then proceed to advanced options
7. Click on Startup Settings.
8. Press the restart button.
9. When your PC restarts, you will see a list of options. You can choose to enter Safe Mode in different ways:
   • Press 4 or F4 to start Safe Mode.
   • Press 5 or F5 to start Safe Mode with Networking.
   • Press 6 or F6 to start Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

2. Use Shift + Restart from the sign-in screen

Another direct way to access Safe Mode in Windows 11 is through the sign-in screen using a keyboard shortcut. This method works well if you can't log into Windows normally.

1. On the sign-in screen, hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.
2. While holding down the Shift key, click the Power button at the bottom-right corner of the screen, then choose Restart.
3. Your PC will restart into the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
4. From there, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
5. Once it restarts, select the appropriate Safe Mode option from the list shown, as mentioned in the first method.

3. Booting into Safe Mode using System Configuration (msconfig)

The System Configuration tool is another effective way to boot into Safe Mode. It does not require constant access through the boot menu and can be useful if you need to make configuration changes every time you boot. Here's how it's done:

1. Open the Run dialog by pressing the Windows + R keys.
2. Type msconfig and press Enter to open the System Configuration window.
3. Go to the Boot tab.
4. In the Boot Options section, check the Safe Boot checkbox.
5. Below this, you can choose the type of Safe Mode:
   • Minimal: Basic safe mode.
   • Alternate Shell: Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
   • Network: Safe Mode with Networking.
6. Once you've made your selections, click OK. A prompt will appear asking if you want to restart now or later.
7. Click Restart to boot into Safe Mode immediately.
8. If you need to revert back to normal boot, repeat the steps and uncheck the Safe Boot option.

4. Access Safe Mode using Command Prompt

For advanced users, the Command Prompt can be a powerful tool for loading Safe Mode. If the graphical user environment of the system is similarly compromised, this method may be useful to you. Follow these steps:

1. Start by launching the Command Prompt with elevated privileges. You can do this by searching for cmd in the Start menu, right-clicking the correct result, and selecting Run as administrator.
2. To configure the system to boot in safe mode, enter the following command:
   • For regular safe mode: bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal
   • For safe mode with networking: bcdedit /set {default} safeboot network
3. After executing the command, restart your computer by typing shutdown /r and pressing Enter.
4. Your computer will reboot into the selected Safe Mode type.
5. To return to normal boot, re-run Command Prompt as administrator and input: bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot, then restart the system.

5. Use a bootable USB drive or CD

A traditional but still relevant way to access Safe Mode is to use a bootable USB or CD. This is especially useful for machines that cannot access Windows 11 normally.

1. Insert the bootable Windows 11 installation USB drive or DVD and restart your computer.
2. Press the key required to boot from USB or CD. This could be F12, Esc, F2, or another key depending on your system.
3. When Windows Setup begins, choose your language preferences and click Next, but instead of Install, choose the Repair your computer option in the bottom left corner.
4. Now go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
5. When the command prompt opens, type:

   bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal

6. Close the Command Prompt and manually restart the computer, which will now boot into Safe Mode.
7. When the troubleshooting in Safe Mode is done and you want to return to normal operations, repeat the steps and remove the Secure Boot configuration in Command Prompt:

   bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot

Example of using safe mode

Imagine a situation where your Windows 11 is constantly crashing and you suspect that this problem is being caused by an application that starts with Windows. Here, accessing Safe Mode can be incredibly beneficial. In Safe Mode:

• You enter an environment with minimal services.
• Go to Task Manager by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Esc and go to the Startup tab.
• You can disable all the applications one by one to find out which application is the culprit.
• Alternatively, use system check tools or antivirus utilities to perform troubleshooting without the interference of potentially problematic third-party software.

After identifying and fixing the problem, you can restart in normal mode and check if the system problems persist.

Important considerations

While Safe Mode is an invaluable tool, it needs to be used with some caution. Being in this mode means you're actively troubleshooting. Be sure to take careful steps to identify and resolve issues because Safe Mode doesn't automatically resolve problems - it just provides an environment to check and fix them.

Knowing how to access and effectively use Safe Mode not only enhances your troubleshooting abilities but also gives you more control over your system's health and functionality. The various methods explained offer flexibility, whether dealing with frequent failures or optimizing boot processes. Once used, it will prove to be an indispensable part of your Windows 11 experience.

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