how to boot into safe mode windows 10

Windows 10 has a few different ways to start in Safe Mode, depending on whether you can still get to the desktop or login screen. Safe Mode loads only essential drivers and services so you can troubleshoot problems.

If you can sign into Windows

1. Press the Windows key + I to open Settings, then go to Update & Security → Recovery.
2. Under “Advanced startup,” click “Restart now.”
3. After restart, choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
4. When you see the numbered options, press 4 for Safe Mode or 5 for Safe Mode with Networking.

From the login screen

1. At the bottom-right of the login screen, click the power icon.
2. Hold down Shift on your keyboard and click Restart.
3. After restart, pick Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart, then press 4 or 5 to choose the Safe Mode you need.

Using System Configuration (msconfig)

This method is good if you want it to always boot into Safe Mode until you change it back.

1. Press Windows key + R, type msconfig, and press Enter.
2. In the Boot tab, check “Safe boot,” click OK, then Restart.
3. When you are done troubleshooting, repeat the steps and uncheck “Safe boot” to return to normal startup.

If Windows won’t start normally

1. Turn the PC on, then as Windows starts to load, hold the power button to turn it off; repeat this on–off process three times.
2. On the next start, Windows should enter its recovery environment.
3. There, choose Advanced options → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart, then press 4 or 5 for Safe Mode.

Optional F8 shortcut (must be enabled first)

1. When Windows is working, open an elevated Command Prompt (right‑click Start → Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin)).
2. Run the command to enable the legacy boot menu policy (which re‑enables F8).
3. After that, you can repeatedly tap F8 during startup to get the boot options menu and pick Safe Mode.