How to Enter Safe Mode & Advanced Options in Windows

Safe Mode and the Advanced Options (WinRE) menu are your first line of defense when Windows won’t boot normally or keeps crashing. This guide shows you the reliable ways to reach them, whether Windows starts or not, and how to fix common problems along the way.

What You’ll Need

• A working keyboard (USB or PS/2).
• If Windows won’t start at all, you may need a Windows installation USB drive or recovery drive (optional, but helpful).
• Administrator access to your PC (for some methods).

Step-by-Step

Method 1: From a Working Windows Desktop (Windows 11 / 10)

1. Click the Start button (Windows icon) and then click the Power icon.
2. Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.
3. While holding Shift, click Restart. Keep holding Shift until the screen goes blue and says “Please wait”.
4. You’ll see a blue screen with several options. Click Troubleshoot.
5. Click Advanced options.
6. Click Startup Settings.
7. Click Restart (the button on the bottom right).
8. After the PC restarts, you’ll see a list of startup options. Press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode, 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking, or 6 or F6 for Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

Method 2: When Windows Won’t Start (Boot Loop or Black Screen)

1. Turn on your PC. As soon as the Windows logo appears, press and hold the power button to force a shutdown.
2. Repeat this process three times. On the third start, Windows should detect a problem and automatically load the Automatic Repair screen.
3. Wait for the diagnostic to run. It may take a few minutes.
4. When the “Automatic Repair” screen appears, click Advanced options.
5. From there, follow the same steps as above: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
6. Press the appropriate number key for the Safe Mode variant you need.

Method 3: Using a Windows Installation USB or Recovery Drive

1. Plug in your Windows installation USB or recovery drive.
2. Boot from the USB (you may need to press a key like F12, F2, or Esc during startup to select the boot device).
3. On the first screen, choose your language and click Next.
4. Click Repair your computer in the bottom-left corner.
5. You’ll now see the same blue Advanced Options screen. Navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

Method 4: Using System Configuration (msconfig) – For Quick Access Next Time

1. Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
2. Type msconfig and press Enter.
3. Go to the Boot tab.
4. Under “Boot options”, check the Safe boot box. Choose Minimal for regular Safe Mode, Network for Safe Mode with Networking, or Alternate shell for Command Prompt.
5. Click OK and then Restart.
6. Important: After you’re done in Safe Mode, repeat steps 1-3 and uncheck the Safe boot box to return to normal startup.

Common Mistakes

• Not holding Shift long enough: If you release Shift too early, Windows restarts normally. Keep holding until the blue screen appears.
• Forcing shutdown too many times: Three interruptions is enough. More can trigger a deeper repair loop that takes longer.
• Choosing the wrong Safe Mode: If you need internet access (to download drivers), pick “Safe Mode with Networking”. If you don’t, pick plain Safe Mode – it’s more secure.
• Forgetting to disable Safe boot in msconfig: This is the #1 reason people get stuck in Safe Mode. Always uncheck the box before restarting.
• Pressing a function key repeatedly: The old F8 trick (from Windows 7) is disabled by default in Windows 10/11. It may work if you enable it manually, but don’t rely on it.

Tips

• If you can get to a login screen, hold Shift while clicking the power icon and then Restart – this works even if you don’t log in.
• Safe Mode loads only essential drivers and services. If a problem disappears in Safe Mode, it’s likely caused by a third-party driver or startup program.
• Use Safe Mode with Command Prompt if you need to run commands like sfc /scannow or dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth to repair system files.
• Create a recovery drive before you have problems. Search for “Create a recovery drive” in Windows, and follow the prompts. It can save you if Windows won’t start.
• In the Advanced Options menu, you also have access to System Restore, Startup Repair, and Command Prompt – try these before reinstalling Windows.

Troubleshooting

• Automatic Repair doesn’t appear after 3 shutdowns: Try 4 or 5 times. If it still doesn’t work, use a Windows installation USB (Method 3).
• You see a black screen after choosing Safe Mode: Wait a few minutes – Safe Mode can be slow to load, especially on older hardware. If nothing happens after 10 minutes, force a shutdown and try again.
• Safe Mode asks for a password: You’ll need the password for your Microsoft account or local account. If you’ve forgotten it, you’ll need to reset it from another device or use a password reset disk.
• You can’t boot from USB: Check your BIOS/UEFI settings – you may need to disable Secure Boot temporarily or change the boot order. Look for a “Boot Menu” key (often F12 or Esc) at startup.
• Safe Mode loads but the problem still occurs: This suggests a hardware issue (like failing RAM or a dying hard drive) or a corrupted Windows installation. Run hardware diagnostics from the Advanced Options menu or use a bootable diagnostic tool.
• The Shift+Restart method just restarts normally: This can happen if your Shift key is stuck or if you’re using a remote desktop session. Try the physical keyboard and ensure Shift is fully pressed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Networking?

Safe Mode loads only the minimum drivers and services. Safe Mode with Networking adds network drivers and services, so you can access the internet and your local network. Use it if you need to download drivers or troubleshoot network-related issues.

Why can’t I use F8 to enter Safe Mode anymore?

Starting with Windows 10, Microsoft disabled the F8 key by default to speed up startup. You can re-enable it by running bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy in an elevated Command Prompt, but the Shift+Restart method is more reliable.

How do I exit Safe Mode if I used msconfig?

Open msconfig again (Win+R, type msconfig), go to the Boot tab, uncheck “Safe boot”, click OK, and restart. If you can’t get to the desktop, restart in Safe Mode and follow the same steps.

Can I enter Safe Mode from the lock screen?

Yes. On the lock screen, click the power icon in the bottom-right corner, hold Shift, and click Restart. You’ll be taken to the Advanced Options menu.

Will Safe Mode fix my problem?

Not by itself. Safe Mode is a diagnostic environment – it helps you determine if a driver or software is causing the issue. You’ll still need to uninstall the problematic program, update a driver, or run system repair tools from within Safe Mode.

What if I don’t have a Windows installation USB?

You can create one from another working PC using Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool (free from Microsoft’s website). You’ll need a USB drive with at least 8GB of space. Alternatively, you can use the recovery partition if your PC manufacturer included one – press the designated recovery key (often F11) during startup.

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