Windows 11 Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode that starts the computer with only essential drivers and services, helping troubleshoot software and hardware problems. To enter Safe Mode, you typically restart into the recovery environment and select Safe Mode from the startup settings.
How to Enter Safe Mode in Windows 11
- From the Start menu, hold the Shift key and click Restart. This reboots the system into the recovery environment.
- On the blue screen, select Troubleshoot → Advanced Options → Startup Settings → Restart.
- After reboot, press 4 (or F4) to start in Safe Mode. For networking-enabled Safe Mode, press 5 (or F5).
- If you can't log in, you can do the same from the sign-in screen by clicking Power, holding Shift, and clicking Restart.
- Alternatively, use the System Configuration tool (msconfig) to set Safe Mode boot and restart.
This Safe Mode disables most non-essential drivers and software, allowing you to troubleshoot issues preventing normal starts. To exit Safe Mode, simply restart the computer normally or disable Safe Mode boot in msconfig if set there.
Additional Details
- Windows 11 no longer allows pressing F8 during boot to enter Safe Mode by default due to Fast Startup optimizations.
- To restore legacy F8 functionality, you can enable the legacy boot menu via command line tools.
- Safe Mode with Networking has essential network drivers enabled, while regular Safe Mode disables networking.
- These steps provide reliable access to Safe Mode even if the system is otherwise unbootable or unresponsive.
This process offers a robust way to troubleshoot and fix issues affecting Windows 11 startup and operation.
