To start a laptop in safe mode on Windows, there are multiple methods depending on your situation:
- During startup, repeatedly press the F8 key before the Windows logo appears to open the "advanced boot options" menu, then select Safe Mode.
- From within Windows (if accessible), press Win + R, type "msconfig" and open System Configuration. Under the Boot tab, check "Safe boot" and restart.
- If Windows is running, hold Shift and click Restart from the Start menu or login screen. This leads to recovery options:
- Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- After reboot, press 4 or F4 to enter Safe Mode (or 5/F5 for Safe Mode with Networking).
- If Windows won't start normally, power on and off forcibly 3 times to trigger recovery mode, then select Startup Settings and Safe Mode.
The Safe Mode screen will display "Safe Mode" in the corners to confirm the mode. These methods apply for Windows 10 and Windows 11 laptops generally. The exact steps may vary slightly by manufacturer but are consistent across most Windows systems.
