How to boot your computer into Safe Mode in Windows 10

Every now and then our computers run into certain functions where they simply don't work as expected. When this happens, you can always try calling a technician for help or sending the device in for repair, but if you don't prefer to do that and want to deal with it yourself, booting your computer into Safe Mode in Windows is one of the ways you can troubleshoot the problems.

There are several ways to boot Windows 10 into Safe mode and this will depend on the problem and the condition of your computer and here you will find the different methods that you can use. Note that for Windows XP, Windows 7 and Windows 8 the solution is different.

How to boot Windows 10 into Safe Mode

From settings

If you are still able to log in to your computer:

1. Click the Start button and select Settings (or press Windows key + I)
2. Select Update & Security
3. Go to Recovery option
4. In the Advanced startup area, click Restart
5. Once your PC restarts, you will be presented with a few options
6. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings
7. Click on “Restart” and your computer will restart once again
8. Once the restart is complete, press 4 or F4 to start your computer in Safe Mode or press 5 or F5 to start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking

From the Sign-In screen

If you can't log in or access the Settings menu:

1. Hold down the Shift key and click the Power button in the lower-right corner of the login screen
2. Once your computer restarts, you will be presented with a few options
3. Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings
4. Click on “Restart” and your computer will restart once again
5. Once the restart is complete, press 4 or F4 to start your computer in Safe Mode or press 5 or F5 to start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking

From a black screen

If Windows doesn't load and you can't access the login screen:

1. Turn off your computer completely
2. Turn it on again
3. When your computer manufacturer's logo (or motherboard logo) appears, press and hold the power button for 5-10 seconds until your device turns off
4. Turn your computer back on and repeat the step above
5. Turn your computer back on and let it run normally, then set it to Repair Mode
6. In Repair Mode, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings
7. Click on “Restart” and your computer will restart once again
8. Once the restart is complete, press 4 or F4 to start your computer in Safe Mode or press 5 or F5 to start your computer in Safe Mode with Networking

Boot into Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key

In previous builds of Windows, users could boot into Safe Mode by pressing the F8 key on their keyboards while their computer was booting. Microsoft has disabled this action in Windows 10, but you can re-enable the feature for easier access in the future.

1. Press Windows key + R to bring up the Run application
2. Type cmd to launch the command prompt and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to run the application as administrator
3. Type bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy

Now every time you restart your computer, you can press the F8 key before the Windows logo appears to access the “Boot Options” menu. From there, you will be able to choose to boot your computer into Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking.

What is Safe Mode?

Safe Mode may be a term you come across often when it comes to troubleshooting Windows-related issues. It basically starts your computer and Windows in one of its most basic states, meaning it will only load the software it needs, ignoring third-party apps or programs.

The idea is that allowing users to enter Safe Mode gives them access to the most basic version of Windows to help users figure out what the problem is, such as faulty drivers or third-party applications or drivers.

Why boot into Safe Mode?

With Safe Mode presenting users with the most basic version of Windows, it will allow users to try and troubleshoot the problem themselves. For example, a third-party application may be causing a problem, so while users are in Safe Mode, they can choose to remove the application or prevent it from starting.

It can also be useful when your computer is infected with malware that runs when Windows starts, so by booting into Safe Mode, it will prevent the malware from starting and give you a chance to find the files and remove them. You can also use this opportunity to download a malware scanner to detect and delete the malware on your computer.