Do you want to learn how to start windows 10 in safe mode? This blog is a real savage.
It’s a bad day (or night) when you turn your system on & see it frozen or stopped working just because of a program. Obviously, you can find a way out with troubleshooting in Safe Mode. You’re blessed if you know how to boot into recovery mode windows 10! Let us get you lucky today.
What is the windows safe mode?
What's in this article...
Windows safe mode is nothing but a troubleshooting option that lets you know what pulls your device from starting normally. It also helps you revert back to the normal functioning state safely.
Sometimes, your device may take too long to start. Or, it may not start at all. You can start your device using minimal functionality under safe mode. The only limitation is the allowed applications and process currently running in your system is limited.
No wonder many malicious files reside in our systems & disturb the smooth performance. The best part is, you have Safe Mode. You can simply run an antivirus scan as you start windows 10 in safe mode.
On the contrary, you cannot run Safe Mode as many times as you want. This happens because of several functions like networking or a non-operating system. But, you can trust Safe Mode just as we do.
When should you boot windows 10 in safe mode?
Before we proceed to understand when to boot windows 10 in safe mode, let’s imagine a scenario. You have turned on your system & it has been several minutes. You only see a blank screen; no text is visible. Sometimes, the windows ten loading screen is not moving further to the sign-in screen.
Now you know that you should access windows 10 safe mode.
We have the following scenarios in common when people access safe mode:
- System Diagnostics
- The device does not start.
- Restore System
Meanwhile, if you are not interested in reading long text, try this Windows 10 Safe Mode HP Tutorial.
We also have Windows 10 safe mode Dell tutorial.
How to access your system’s boot manager?
You may wonder how to use safe mode when your system does not show anything. You will have to load the boot manager first.
Press Ctrl + F8 while the startup process is running in your system. You can then select the desired Safe Mode to start your system.
Do not panic if it takes you multiple attempts to reach out to Boot Manager. This problem happens in the systems with faster SSD & so it is difficult to hit Ctrl + F8 at the right time.
How to start safe mode directly from Windows?
If the above alternative does not work, try this one.
- Click the combination of the Windows button + Power button.
- Hold on to the Shift key & click on Restart.
- You will see three options: Continue, troubleshoot & turn off your PC. Click on Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced Options & click Start-up Settings.
- Click Restart & you will see the following options:
6. In most cases, the highlighted options are considered safe i.e., No. 4, 5, and 6. You can select any of them by pressing F4, F5, or F6, respectively.
If you want to view more options, press F10.
Now, let’s move towards the tutorial. It will help you to access safe mode in windows 10 whenever needed. You can try either of them if you are not able to access your system running on windows 10.
5 Proven Ways to Start Windows 10 in Safe Mode
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Interrupt the normal boot process
When your system fails to boot normally three times repeatedly, it enters Automatic Repair mode. This mode can be used to enter Safe Mode.
You have to enter into Automatic Repair mode first by interrupting the normal boot process three times consecutively.
To do so, use the Power/Reset button to halt loading before your system finishes loading Windows 10.
Keep the Power/Reset button pressed for at least 4 seconds for forceful power off.
When you see Windows entering Automatic Repair mode, you will view the following on your screen:
Next, you will have to select the user account to continue. Make sure you choose the one with admin permissions. It’s great if you are not asked for it. Skip to the next step.
Windows 10 will initiate the diagnosis & you will see the following screen appearing:
As you see the Automatic Repair screen, click on Advanced Options.
Click on Troubleshoot.
Then follow the path Advance Options -> Startup Settings -> Restart
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Use Command Prompt with Windows 10 Installation Drive
It’s great if you have a bootable drive for Windows 10. It can help you boot your system in Windows 10 Safe Mode.
Follow this tutorial & learn how to create windows 10 installation drive. Accomplish the steps as directed. & wait for the installation environment to load.
Then do this:
Step -1: Select the preferred language & keyboard layout. Click Next.
Step -2: Click on Repair your Computer
Step -3: You will see Choose an Option screen. Click on Troubleshoot.
As you are taken to the next screen, choose Advanced options -> Command Prompt
The command prompt window will open. You can then type this:
bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal and press Enter
When the screen displays the message, ‘The operation completed successfully,’ close the command prompt. Select Continue on the next screen.
Once all the steps are complete, Windows 10 will start into Safe Mode. After that, you can log in with your admin credentials & perform the operations you want.
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Access Windows 10 Flash USB recovery drive
If possible, you can create a system recovery drive for your system from another system running Windows 10. Before you do this, you should check out this tutorial by Microsoft to create a system recovery USB drive.
After creating the USB recovery drive, you can easily boot your PC.
You will have to select the keyboard layout first. Click on the one you want to access. If you don’t see your preference listed, click on See more keyboard layouts.
Once the keyboard layout is selected, you can go to ‘Choose an option’ screen -> Troubleshoot.
Then follow the path Advance Options -> Startup Settings -> Restart
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Use Settings App for Recovery options
This step can be useful if you can log in to Windows 10 at least once. You can use the Settings app to enter the Safe Mode.
Click on Update & Security, and you will see the following screen. You will have to click on Recovery from the left panel and then click on Restart now button in Advanced Startup.
This will make your system Restart. Once your system restarts, choose the Troubleshoot option.
Then follow the path Advance Options -> Startup Settings -> Restart
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Try Shift + Restart on Windows 10 Start Menu.
If your system starts at least once, you can enter into safe mode easily.
- Press & hold the Shift key
- Hold on the Shift key, click on Start + Power + Restart
You will be taken to ‘Choose an option’ screen. Click on Troubleshoot
Then follow the path Advance Options -> Startup Settings -> Restart
How to exit Safe mode in windows 10?
When you are done with windows ten safe more, you may want to exit it without interrupting the system. Here is how you can do it:
- Press Windows Logo Key + R
- Type msconfig in the search box & select OK
- Select the Boot tab
- Clear the Safe Boot checkbox under Boot options
You will successfully have windows boot into safe mode hereafter.
We hope we have helped you out. In case, if you need further help, feel free to drop your queries & we will try to assist you.