To reboot your Windows PC into Safe Mode, you can follow these common methods depending on your Windows version:
For Windows 10 and Windows 11
Method 1: Using Shift + Restart
- Click the Start menu and select the Power icon.
- Hold down the Shift key and click Restart.
- When the "Choose an option" screen appears, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- After the PC restarts, a list of options will appear. Press 4 or F4 to start in Safe Mode. If you need internet access, press 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking
Method 2: Using System Configuration (msconfig)
- Press Windows key + R , type
msconfig, and press Enter. - Go to the Boot tab.
- Under Boot options, check Safe boot and select the type of Safe Mode you want (Minimal for regular Safe Mode, Network for Safe Mode with Networking).
- Click OK and restart your PC. It will boot into Safe Mode.
- To exit Safe Mode, repeat the steps and uncheck Safe boot , then restart
Method 3: From Settings (Windows 11)
- Open Settings (Windows key + I).
- Go to System > Recovery.
- Under Advanced startup , click Restart now.
- Follow the prompts: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- Choose Safe Mode option as above
For Windows 7 and older versions
- Restart the computer and repeatedly press the F8 key before the Windows logo appears.
- When the Advanced Boot Options menu appears, use the arrow keys to select Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking.
- Press Enter to boot into Safe Mode
Additional Notes
- In Safe Mode, you cannot log in using a PIN; you must use your full password
- Safe Mode loads only essential drivers and services, which can help troubleshoot issues like crashes, malware infections, or driver problems
- To exit Safe Mode, simply restart your computer normally or disable Safe Boot in msconfig if you enabled it there
This covers the most reliable and widely used methods to reboot into Safe Mode on Windows PCs.
