To start a Windows PC in Safe Mode, follow these steps:
- Click the Start button, then select the Power icon.
- Hold down the Shift key and click Restart.
- When the computer restarts, select Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings.
- Click Restart.
- After the PC restarts again, press 4 to enable Safe Mode, or press 5 to enable Safe Mode with Networking if internet access is needed.
Alternatively, if the PC cannot boot normally, repeatedly interrupt the boot process 2-3 times by powering off the computer as soon as it tries to start, which triggers Automatic Repair. Then follow the path to Startup Settings as above to access Safe Mode. On older Windows versions like Windows 7, pressing F8 during startup also brings up the option for Safe Mode. This method applies to Windows 10 and 11 PCs for troubleshooting issues like crashes, malware, or startup problems.
