How to Start Windows 11 in Safe Mode

How to Start Windows 11 in Safe Mode

Safe Mode starts Windows with only the basic drivers and services it needs. If a problem goes away in Safe Mode, you know Windows itself is fine and the cause is a driver, an app or something that starts with Windows. It's also the place to remove a bad driver, a stubborn program or malware that blocks you in normal mode.

Windows 11 offers three versions:

Option	Key	Use it when
Safe Mode	4 or F4	Most troubleshooting
Safe Mode with Networking	5 or F5	You need the internet (download a driver, run an online scan)
Safe Mode with Command Prompt	6 or F6	Advanced repairs from the command line

Method 1: From Settings (Windows Starts Normally)

1. Open Settings > System > Recovery.
2. Next to Advanced startup, select Restart now and confirm.
3. On the blue Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
4. When the PC restarts, press 4 (or F4) for Safe Mode, 5 for Safe Mode with Networking, or 6 for Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

BitLocker note: if your drive is encrypted, Windows may ask for the BitLocker recovery key. You can find it at aka.ms/myrecoverykey when signed in to your Microsoft account on another device.

Method 2: From the Sign-In Screen or Start Menu

Useful when you can't get to Settings, for example a black screen after sign-in.

1. On the sign-in screen (or in the Start menu), select the Power icon.
2. Hold down Shift and select Restart.
3. Continue from step 3 of Method 1.

Method 3: When Windows Won't Start

If Windows fails to start twice in a row, it normally opens the recovery screen by itself on the next start. You can trigger this:

1. Turn on the PC. When the maker's logo or the spinning dots appear, hold the power button for about 10 seconds until it turns off.
2. Repeat this two or three times.
3. On the next start you should see Please wait or Preparing Automatic Repair, then the Automatic Repair screen. Select Advanced options.
4. Continue with Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, then press 4, 5 or 6.

If the PC never reaches the recovery screen, you can start it from a Windows 11 installation USB drive and choose Repair your computer. Our guide to Windows that won't boot covers more options for PCs that don't start at all.

Method 4: With System Configuration (msconfig)

This makes the PC start in Safe Mode every time until you turn it off again, which is useful if you need several restarts.

1. Press Windows + R, type msconfig and press Enter.
2. Open the Boot tab.
3. Under Boot options, tick Safe boot and choose Minimal (normal Safe Mode) or Network (with networking).
4. Select OK and restart.

Remember to undo it when you're done (see "How to Exit Safe Mode" below), or the PC will keep starting in Safe Mode.

What to Do in Safe Mode

You'll see a black background with "Safe Mode" in the corners and a low screen resolution. That's normal. Useful things to try:

• Uninstall a recent app or update: Settings > Apps > Installed apps, or Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates.
• Roll back a driver: right-click Start, choose Device Manager, open the device, select the Driver tab and choose Roll Back Driver (or uninstall the device).
• Scan for malware: run a full scan in Windows Security. Our step-by-step guide to remove malware from Windows explains what to do next.
• Use System Restore to go back to a restore point from before the problem started.
• Back up files if the PC is unstable in normal mode. Copy them to an external drive before trying bigger fixes.
• Test: if the problem (crashes, freezing, black screen) doesn't happen in Safe Mode, the cause is probably a driver or a program that starts with Windows.

How to Exit Safe Mode

Normally you just restart: Start > Power > Restart.

If the PC keeps returning to Safe Mode:

1. Press Windows + R, type msconfig and press Enter.
2. On the Boot tab, clear Safe boot.
3. Select OK and restart.

Why F8 Doesn't Work

Older Windows versions opened the boot menu with F8. Windows 10 and 11 start too fast for that on most PCs, so Microsoft moved the options to the recovery screen described above. Some maker keys (such as F11 or F12 at power-on) open the maker's own recovery tools instead; check your PC's manual if you use those.

Still Stuck?

If the PC crashes or freezes even in Safe Mode, the cause may be hardware (drive, memory, overheating) or badly damaged Windows files. Back up what you can first, then check the drive and memory, or consider repairing or reinstalling Windows.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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