How to Boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode and When to Use It

Safe mode is vital for the efficient troubleshooting of Windows 10. However, there is a problem. Windows 10 starts at such a speed that it is very difficult to enable safe mode with the F8 or Shift + F8 shortcuts. You can tap all these keys, but the chances of saving them are rather slim.

But do not worry. There are many other methods you can use to get your computer started in safe mode. As long as you're there, your computer will not lose any data. For added security, remove third-party programs from Windows 10 startup. So without further ado, let's take a look at some ways to learn how to start Windows 10 in safe mode.

1. Press Shift + Restart

If you can boot Windows 10 normally, the easiest way to boot your PC into safe mode is to perform a simple reboot of the computer. Calm down! You must do it slightly differently than usual.

Step 1: Click the Power icon on the Start menu. Then, hold down the Shift key and click Restart.

2nd step: Your PC will then restart. But instead of starting Windows 10, you will come across a screen titled – Choose an Option. Click Troubleshoot to continue.

Step 3: On the Troubleshooting screen, select Advanced Options to continue.

Step 4: On the Advanced Options screen, click Startup Settings.

SStep 5: Click Restart to access the Windows 10 Boot Settings menu.

SStep 6: After your computer restarts and the Startup Settings menu appears, you must press an appropriate number key (4, 5, or 6) depending on how you want to enable safe mode.

• Press 4 to activate safe mode in its most basic form (no internet or network access).
• Press 5 to enable safe mode with networking (supports Internet and network access).
• Press 6 to enable safe mode with the Command Prompt console instead of the Windows 10 GUI (for advanced users only).

After pressing the desired key, your computer will reboot and start in safe mode.

2. Use the Settings app

Another convenient way to set up Windows 10 so that it starts in safe mode is to use the application recovery options settings.

Step 1: Type recovery options in the Start menu, and then clicking Open in the right pane.

Note: If the Start or Windows Search menu does not appear or does not work, open the Settings application through the Notification Center. Then click Update & Security, then Recovery.

S2nd step: Once the Settings application finishes, click Restart Now under the Advanced Startup section.

This should restart your computer. Similar to the previous method, click Troubleshooting> Advanced Options> Startup Settings> Restart in the menus that appear later. Finally, press the corresponding number (4, 5 or 6) in the Startup Settings menu to start in safe mode.

3. Startup process of interruption

If Windows 10 crashes on startup and you can not start at all in the operating system, you can force the forced load of safe mode.

Step 1: During the boot process, hold down the physical power button or reset your computer for a few seconds until it restarts. Repeat this three times.

S2nd step: After the third time, the computer will greet you with a screen preparing the auto repair. Wait patiently for a few minutes.

SStep 3: Once the Auto Repair screen appears, click Advanced Options to continue.

SStep 4: On the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot.

After that, navigate to Advanced Options> Startup Settings> Restart. Then, press the appropriate numeric key (4, 5, or 6) as desired in the Startup Settings menu to start in safe mode.

Point: This method is also ideal if you want to access safe mode without starting Windows completely if your computer is infected or compromised.

4. Use the installation media

Do you have a bootable Windows 10 installation DVD or USB flash drive? If this is the case, you can boot into safe mode using the command prompt console built into the Windows installation.

Step 1: Insert or connect the bootable DVD or Windows 10 flash drive, and then restart your computer. Press any key when booting to boot from bootable media. On the Windows Setup screen that appears, click Next.

S2nd step: On the next screen, click Repair your computer.

SStep 3: In the Choose an Option screen, click Troubleshooting.

SStep 4: On the Advanced Options screen, click Command Prompt.

Step 5: Depending on how you want Safe Mode to work, enter a command from the list below in the Command Prompt console and press Enter:

Safe mode

 bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal 

Safe mode with network

 bcdedit /set {default} safeboot network

Safe Mode with Command Prompt

 bcdedit /set {default} safebootalternateshell yes 

SStep 6: After running the command, exit the command prompt console.

SStep 7: You will come back to the Choose an option screen. This time, click Continue.

Your computer will restart and start automatically in safe mode.

5. Use system configuration

Do you want to start in safe mode multiple times? Sometimes you may need to do several diagnoses and it is not fun to repeat the procedures mentioned above. A simple adjustment can force safe mode to display during subsequent reboots.

Note: You can make the change using Windows 10 normally or in safe mode.

Step 1: Type system configuration in the Start menu, and then press Enter. In the System Configuration dialog box that appears, click the Boot tab.

S2nd step: Check the box next to Safe Boot. Then select Minimal, Other Shell, or Network, depending on the desired mode of operation of Safe Mode.

• Minimal – Safe Mode
• Other shell – Safe mode with command prompt
• Network – Safe Mode with Networking

Finally, click Apply and OK to save the changes. The next time you restart your computer, it will automatically start in safe mode. This repeats indefinitely until you return to the System Setup dialog box and uncheck the box next to Safe Start.

When to use safe mode

Safe Mode starts Windows 10 in a basic state without loading hardware drivers, unnecessary services, or third-party startup programs. Although the screen resolution leaves a lot to be desired, safe mode is the perfect way to perform a range of troubleshooting activities on your computer.

For example, you can run a specific program or perform a task that fails when you use Windows 10 normally. If it works in safe mode, then you can determine the reason for the erratic behavior that is usually a hardware driver or service in the background problematic.

Safe mode also works best when it comes to uninstalling or restoring drivers. If a recent hardware driver update causes performance issues, you can cancel the change without failing your attempts.

Malware attacks offer another major reason to use safe mode. In the event of a serious infection, starting in safe mode without network capability will prevent malicious code from downloading additional code or transmitting sensitive information. Then you can isolate them and remove these harmful programs from your computer.

The uses of safe mode are unlimited. In short, be sure to start in safe mode whenever you encounter a problem that you simply can not solve normally. This can mean the difference between a tedious visit to a PC repair shop and fixing the problem yourself in minutes.

Then: The clean boot and the safe mode in Windows 10 are two separate things. Learn how they differ from each other.