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Start Windows 11 or 10 in Safe Mode

Safe Mode starts Windows with only the essential drivers and services, so most malware and faulty software cannot load.

Applies to
Windows 11 and 10
Difficulty
Moderate
Time
About 7 minutes
Updated

Quick answer

Open Settings, then System, then Recovery, and select Restart now next to Advanced startup. Choose Troubleshoot, Advanced options, Startup Settings, Restart, then press 5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

Use Safe Mode when malware blocks a scan, when a program will not uninstall normally, or when Windows crashes during startup. The screen looks plain and low-resolution in Safe Mode. That is normal.

  1. Before you start

    • Save your work and close your apps.
    • If your drive uses BitLocker encryption, Windows may ask for the recovery key. Find it at aka.ms/myrecoverykey on another device and keep it handy.
    • Open this page on your phone, so you can follow along while the PC restarts.

  2. From Settings (Windows is working)

    Open Settings, then System, then Recovery. Next to Advanced startup, select Restart now. In Windows 10, the same option is under Update & Security, then Recovery.

    A blue menu appears. Choose Troubleshoot, then Advanced options, then Startup Settings, then Restart.

  3. With the Shift key (from the sign-in screen)

    If you cannot open Settings, go to the sign-in screen or the Start menu. Hold down Shift, select the power button, then Restart. Keep holding Shift until the blue menu appears, then follow the same choices as in step 2.

  4. If Windows will not start at all

    Windows opens the recovery menu automatically after it fails to start twice in a row. If the PC keeps crashing during startup, let that happen, or turn the PC off with the power button as the Windows logo appears, twice. The next start shows Automatic Repair. Choose Advanced options and continue from Troubleshoot as in step 2.

  5. Choose the type of Safe Mode

    After the restart, a list of options appears. Press:

    • 4 or F4 for Safe Mode, with no internet
    • 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking, which you need for virus definition updates or downloading official removal tools

  6. Do what you came to do

    In Safe Mode you can run a full scan in Windows Security, uninstall a stubborn program from Settings, then Apps, or run an official removal tool such as the ones described in our uninstall guide.

  7. Return to normal mode

    Restart the PC normally from the Start menu. Windows starts in normal mode again on its own.

    Avoid the "Safe boot" box in System Configuration (msconfig) unless you are comfortable with it. If you forget to untick it, the PC keeps restarting into Safe Mode until you do.

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