To boot into Safe Mode on Windows 11 or 10, hold Shift and click Power, Restart. Choose Troubleshoot, Advanced options, Startup Settings, Restart, then press 4 for Safe Mode or 5 for Safe Mode with Networking. Restart normally to leave it.
Safe Mode starts Windows with only the basics: the essential drivers and services, nothing extra. That makes it the go-to place to fix a PC that crashes, shows a black screen after an update or has picked up something nasty. Microsoft's rule of thumb is useful: if the problem disappears in Safe Mode, the cause isn't Windows' default settings or basic drivers, so look at something you added. Here's how to get in, from a working PC or a broken one.
Boot into Safe Mode from Windows
- Click Start, then the Power button.
- Hold Shift and click Restart.
- On the blue Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, then Startup Settings.
- Click Restart.
- When the Startup Settings list appears, press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode.
You can also reach the blue screen from Settings, System, Recovery: click Restart now next to Advanced startup. On Windows 10 it's under Update & Security, Recovery.
Which Safe Mode to choose
| Key | Option | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| 4 or F4 | Safe Mode | You're testing whether the problem goes away |
| 5 or F5 | Safe Mode with Networking | You need the internet, for example to download a driver |
| 6 or F6 | Safe Mode with Command Prompt | You're comfortable with commands and the desktop won't load |
| 3 or F3 | Low-resolution video | The screen goes black or garbled after a display change |
Option 3 is the one people miss. If your monitor shows nothing after changing the resolution or updating a graphics driver, low-resolution video starts Windows with simple display settings so you can put things right, without the limits of full Safe Mode.
Boot into Safe Mode when Windows won't start
If you can't reach the desktop, Windows can bring up the recovery screen by itself. Microsoft explains that after Windows fails to start several times it opens the Windows Recovery Environment automatically. To trigger it:
- Switch the PC on. As soon as the Windows or manufacturer logo appears, hold the power button until it turns off.
- Do this a second time.
- Switch it on a third time. You should see Automatic Repair.
- Choose Advanced options, then follow Troubleshoot, Advanced options, Startup Settings, Restart, and press 4.
Have your BitLocker key ready
Many laptops have BitLocker device encryption turned on without the owner realising. If yours does, Windows may ask for the BitLocker recovery key before it lets you into Startup Settings. Microsoft is clear that you'll need it to complete the task. The key is usually saved in your Microsoft account; look it up on another device before you start.
What to do once you're in Safe Mode
- Uninstall the app or update you installed just before the problem began.
- Roll back or remove a graphics or other driver in Device Manager.
- Run a full scan with your security software.
- Free up disk space if the drive is full.
- Use System Restore to go back to a point before the trouble.
Safe Mode looks plain, with a low resolution and the words Safe Mode in the corners. That's normal. If you're choosing new security software while you're there, my reviews of Bitdefender and McAfee can help you decide.
Work through the list one change at a time and restart normally after each, so you know exactly which fix solved it. Undoing several things at once leaves you guessing, and you may remove something you needed.
How to get out of Safe Mode
Usually a normal restart is enough: click Start, Power, Restart. If the PC keeps going back into Safe Mode, someone set it to always start that way. Press Windows key and R, type msconfig and press Enter, open the Boot tab, untick Safe boot and click OK, then restart.
Safe Mode on a Mac
Macs have a Safe Mode too, used when an app or login item causes trouble. On a Mac with Apple silicon, shut down, press and hold the power button until startup options appear, select your disk, then hold Shift and click Continue in Safe Mode. Intel Macs start in Safe Mode if you hold Shift during startup.
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Signs you need Safe Mode
- Windows crashes to a blue screen soon after you sign in.
- The screen goes black after a graphics driver update.
- An app launches at startup and freezes the PC before you can close it.
- Security software can't remove something while Windows runs normally.
If the PC works in Safe Mode but not normally, the cause is something that loads in a normal start: a driver, a startup app or a background service. Remove the most recent change first. If the problem happens in Safe Mode as well, it's more likely to be hardware or a damaged Windows install, and Reset this PC in the same recovery menu becomes the next step.
My verdict
Shift and Restart, then Troubleshoot, Advanced options, Startup Settings, and 4 is the route to remember. Pick 5 if you need the internet, try 3 for display problems, keep your BitLocker key to hand, and restart normally to get back to everyday Windows.
Frequently asked questions
How do I boot into Safe Mode on Windows 11?
Hold Shift, click Power, Restart, then go to Troubleshoot, Advanced options, Startup Settings, Restart, and press 4.
What is Safe Mode with Networking?
Safe Mode plus the network drivers, so you can use the internet. Press 5 to choose it.
How do I get into Safe Mode if Windows won't start?
Interrupt the start twice with the power button. The third start opens Automatic Repair.
Why is Windows asking for a BitLocker key?
Your drive is encrypted. Find the key in your Microsoft account.
How do I get out of Safe Mode?
Restart normally. If it sticks, untick Safe boot in msconfig.
