How do you access Safe Mode in Windows 10 using the 'Shift + Restart' method?

Open the Start Menu and select the Power button. Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard and select the Restart option while still holding down the Shift key. Your computer will restart and you will see a blue screen with several options. Select the Troubleshoot option. Select Advanced Options. Select Startup Settings. Select Restart. Your computer will restart again and you will see a list of startup settings. Select 4 or press F4 to start your computer in Safe Mode.

Can you use the 'Shift + Restart' method to access Safe Mode if your computer won't boot normally?

Yes, the 'Shift + Restart' method can be used to access Safe Mode if your computer won't boot normally. To do this, press and hold the Shift key while you click the Restart button in the Start menu. This will open a troubleshooting menu where you can select the option to boot into Safe Mode.

What is the 'System Configuration' method for accessing Safe Mode, and how does it work?

The System Configuration method for accessing Safe Mode is a Windows feature that allows users to access the Safe Mode boot options from the Windows operating system. It works by accessing the System Configuration window from the Start menu, clicking on the Boot tab, then selecting the Safe Boot option and choosing either Minimal or Alternate Shell. This will then restart the computer and load the Safe Mode boot options.

What is the difference between the 'Minimal' and 'Alternate shell' options when using the 'System Configuration' method?

The Minimal option is the default option for the System Configuration method. It will only load the essential drivers and services, which can help speed up the boot process and reduce the amount of resources used by the system. The Alternate shell option will load a different shell than the default one, such as Bash or PowerShell. This can be useful for troubleshooting or for running specific commands.

How do you access Safe Mode using the 'F8' key during startup, and why is this method less reliable?

To access Safe Mode using the 'F8' key during startup, press and hold the F8 key while the computer is booting up. This method is less reliable because some computers are now configured to boot too quickly for the F8 key to be recognized.

Windows Safe Mode: How to Boot Your PC Safely

Author: Vladimir Artiukh
Editor: Oleg Afonin
Updated: 7.11.2024 9:54

Protect Your PC: Learn How to Boot Windows in Safe Mode with Ease! Need to troubleshoot Windows issues or remove problematic software? Booting Windows in safe mode is the solution! In this comprehensive tutorial, we’ll show you step-by-step how to boot Windows in safe mode. Whether you’re experiencing startup problems or need to perform maintenance tasks, safe mode provides a stable environment for troubleshooting. From accessing advanced startup options to selecting safe mode options, we’ve got you covered.

Windows Safe Mode: How to Boot Your PC Safely

Contents

Safe Mode in Windows 10

If you already spent some time working in Windows 10, you must have noticed that old ways of booting a computer in Safe Mode don’t work anymore. That is, pressing the keys F8 or Shift + F8 while booting you can no longer send your machine into the Safe Mode.

Characteristic	Description
Purpose	Safe Mode loads the system with a minimal set of drivers and services to troubleshoot issues that may be caused by third-party software or drivers.
Types of Safe Mode	With networking support (for internet access) and without networking support.
Mode Activation	Via boot options in the Windows menu or by pressing F8 during system startup (may need to be enabled in Settings).
Diagnostics	Helps identify and fix problems with drivers, programs, or viruses that prevent normal booting.
Exiting Safe Mode	Rebooting the system returns it to the normal Windows mode.
Additional Features	Command Prompt support for running additional diagnostic and repair commands.

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However, it doesn’t mean that Windows 10 no longer has Safe Mode. It’s just the sequence of steps you have to take has changed. Let’s explore each one in detail.

When you enter Safe Mode in Windows 10, the operating system boots a minimalistic interface and only the most necessary services and drivers which are required for Windows to operate.

Method 1. With the System Configuration utility (msconfig.exe)

The easiest way to boot Safe Mode in Windows 10 is with the System Configuration utility. It is well-known by its actual name, msconfig.exe.

To start this utility, launch the Run window with the key combination Windows + R and type in the command msconfig.

In the System Configuration window that opens jump to the tab Boot, and in the section Boot options select Safe boot.

After that, the operating system will suggest restarting the computer for the changes to take effect. You can continue working with the computer without restarting, or restart it, and it will boot in Safe Mode automatically.

Method 2. Restart the computer with pressing the Shift key (Shift + Restart)

One more way to enter Safe Mode in Windows 10 is to restart the computer while holding down the Shift key.

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To do it, open the Start menu, click the Power button while holding down the Shift key and select Restart.

You can also use this key combination from the lock screen.

After that, Windows 10 will restart and suggest you to choose one of the menu items. Select Troubleshoot / Advanced options.

Windows 10 Restore Mode Advanced options

In the Advanced options window, select Startup settings

Windows 10 Restore Mode Startup settings

Windows 10 will notify the user that the operating system can be restarted to enable advanced options, one of which being Safe Mode. Then click on Restart.

Windows 10 Restore Mode Enable Safe Mode

After the computer restarts, choose what settings you need to boot the operating system. To boot the system in Safe Mode there are three options (F4 – F6).

Method 3. Booting with a recovery disk

Windows 10 features a specialized tool to create recovery disks.

Boot Windows 10 with such a recovery disk. After that, the operating system will suggest you to select the keyboard layout, and then choose Troubleshoot / Advanced options. Further actions are similar to those described in the previous part of the article.

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Method 4. Advanced Boot options

Although there are a few ways to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode, this one would be the most correct – provided that the operating system which you need to boot in Safe Mode is fully operational.

Doing it is quite easy:

Open Settings
Go to Update and Security / Recovery
In the Advanced startup section click on Restart now.
After that, Windows 10 will restart and suggest you to choose one of the menu items. Select Troubleshoot / Advanced options.
After that, follow the sequence of actions described in Method 2.

The ways of booting the operating system in Safe Mode as described here can be applied both for Windows 10 and Windows 8.1.

In these versions of Windows, Safe Mode is no longer the feature that only IT professionals use in their work. On the contrary, now it is only one of the OS features available to every user, which can be applied to restore the computer’s operability and regain access to personal data.