For many Windows 10 users, starting their computer in Safe Mode can be a common and perplexing challenge. Understanding how to initiate Safe Mode can be essential to troubleshoot issues, remove malware, or resolve system glitches.
Sometimes, your computer gets into big trouble. It might have problems like bad drivers, broken files, or even sneaky viruses. Safe Mode is like a special mode that helps fix these issues. It only starts the most important things on your computer and leaves out the extra stuff. This makes it easier to find and solve the big problems. So, it’s a super helpful tool to improve your computer.
In this article, we’ll guide you on how you can easily start Windows 10 in safe mode. So, let’s take a look.
How To Start Windows 10 in Safe Mode
To start Windows 10 in safe mode, follow the below methods;
Method 1: Start Safe Mode By Pressing F8 at the Startup
This method must be manually enabled from within Windows. If you haven’t already enabled it, and you can’t access Windows to do so, skip to method 2 below.
All you have to do to press the F8 button on startup. To do so, follow the below steps;
Step 1: Enable the F8 Key Method
On Windows 7, you could press the F8 key as your computer was booting to access the Advanced Boot Options menu. From there, you can access Safe Mode.
But on Windows 10, the F8 key method doesn’t work by default. You have to manually enable it.
Here’s how to get the F8 key to start Safe Mode in Windows 10:
1) Click the Windows start menu and type cmd, then click Run as administrator.
2) Paste the copied command into the Command Prompt (right-click in the Command Prompt to paste), then press the Enter key on your keyboard.
bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy
3) Reboot your PC.
Step 2: Start Safe Mode Using the F8 key
Now that you’ve enabled the F8 method, you can use it to start Safe Mode:
1) Ensure your computer is turned off.
2) Turn your computer on.
3) Before anything appears on your screen, press F8 repeatedly until the Boot Options menu below displays. Then select Safe Mode.
If the Boot Options menu above doesn’t display, and instead Windows just launches normally, it’s likely that you didn’t press F8 early enough.
Method 2: Start Safe Mode by Turning Off Your PC 3 Times
If you’re unable to launch Windows, and you haven’t enabled the F8 method above, this is how to start Safe Mode:
Step 1: Ensure your computer is off.
Step 2: Press the power button to turn on your PC, and when you see the small spinning circle of dots that indicates Windows is starting, press and hold the power button until your PC shuts down. You’ll have to hold it for 4-5 seconds.
Do this again, and then again. After you’ve done it 3 times, start your computer again and let it run. It should now go into Automatic Repair mode:
Step 3: Wait for Windows to diagnose your PC.
Step 4: Click Advanced Options.
Step 5: Click Troubleshoot.
Step 6: Click Advanced options.
Step 7: Click Startup Settings.
Step 8: Click Restart. Your computer will restart and present a list of different startup options.
Step 9: On your keyboard, press the number 4 key to enter Safe Mode without Internet access or the number 5 key to enter Safe Mode with Internet access.
Method 3: Start Safe Mode Using the System Configuration Tool
If you follow these instructions, Windows will start in Safe Mode every time it restarts, until you undo your changes.
Step 1: Click the Windows start menu and type “msconfig“, then click Open.
Step 2: Select the Boot tab, then check Safe Boot and click OK.
Step 3: When you’re prompted to restart your computer to apply these changes, click Restart and you’ll boot into Safe Mode.
Method 4: Start Safe Mode From the Login Screen
If you can boot to the login screen, you can enter Safe Mode from there:
Step 1: On your keyboard, hold down the Shift key.
Step 2: While holding down the Shift key, click the power button at the bottom right of the screen, then select Restart. The Windows RE (Recovery environment) screen will then display.
Step 3: Click Troubleshoot.
Step 4: Click Advanced options.
Step 5: Click Startup Settings.
Step 6: Click Restart. Your computer will then restart and another screen will open showing a lot of different startup options.
Step 7: On your keyboard, press the number 4 key to enter Safe Mode without Internet access or the number 5 key to enter Safe Mode with Internet access.
How to Turn Off Safe Mode?
To turn off Safe Mode and go back to normal mode, you have to follow the below steps;
When you want to return Windows to normal mode, you just have to undo your changes:
Step 1: Click the Windows start menu and type msconfig, then click Open.
Step 2: Select the Boot tab, then UNcheck Safe Boot and click OK.
Step 3: When you’re prompted to restart your computer to apply these changes, click Restart and you’ll boot into normal mode.
