How to Enter Safe Mode in Windows 11

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Ankit Kumar
Windows 11TroubleshootingTips

What Is Safe Mode?

Safe Mode boots Windows with a minimal driver set: basic display, no third-party services, no startup programs. If a crash, freeze, or malware infection stops happening in Safe Mode, the cause is something Windows chose not to load—a third-party driver, a startup item, or a background service. That single fact is why Safe Mode is the first move for a technician before pulling hardware out or reinstalling Windows.

Windows 11 offers three variants at the boot menu:

  • Safe Mode (option 4) — the minimal set, no networking. Use this for driver removal.
  • Safe Mode with Networking (option 5) — adds network drivers so you can download a tool or a driver. Note that malware can also reach the internet here.
  • Safe Mode with Command Prompt (option 6) — no desktop shell, just a command window. Useful when Explorer itself is the thing that crashes.

Method 1: From the Sign-In Screen (Easiest)

Use this when the PC reaches the login screen but crashes or freezes after you sign in.

  1. At the sign-in screen, click the Power icon in the bottom-right corner.
  2. Hold Shift while clicking Restart.
  3. The PC reboots into the Advanced Startup (blue) menu.
  4. Choose Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart.
  5. After the reboot you get a numbered list. Press 4 (or F4) for Safe Mode, or 5 (F5) for Safe Mode with Networking.

Method 2: From Inside Windows

Use this when the PC is usable but misbehaving.

  1. Open Settings with Win + I.
  2. Go to System → Recovery.
  3. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now.
  4. Continue from step 4 of Method 1.

Method 3: When Windows Will Not Start at All

If the PC never reaches the sign-in screen, you can force Windows into the recovery environment.

  1. Press the power button to start the PC.
  2. As soon as you see the Windows logo or the manufacturer's logo, hold the power button for five seconds to force it off.
  3. Repeat this twice more. On the third boot, Windows starts Automatic Repair and takes you to the recovery menu.
  4. From there: Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press 4.

This deliberately interrupts boot three times, which Windows treats as a signal that startup is failing. It is safe, but do not use it repeatedly on a PC that is mid-update.

A cleaner alternative if you have one: boot from a Windows 11 USB installer, choose Repair your computer, then Troubleshoot → Advanced options. See how to do a clean install of Windows 11 for creating that USB.

Method 4: Msconfig (Boots to Safe Mode Every Time)

Use this when you need several Safe Mode sessions in a row—for example, running successive malware scans.

  1. Press Win + R, type msconfig, press Enter.
  2. Open the Boot tab.
  3. Tick Safe boot and leave it on Minimal (or pick Network if you need internet).
  4. Click Apply → OK → Restart.

Important: the PC will now boot to Safe Mode every time. To get back to normal, open msconfig again while in Safe Mode, untick Safe boot, and restart. If you forget and can no longer reach msconfig, use Method 3 to reach the recovery menu and run bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot from Command Prompt.

What to Actually Do in Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a diagnostic environment, not a destination. The useful jobs are:

  • Uninstall a bad driver — Device Manager → right-click → Uninstall device. Especially graphics drivers; for a thorough job see clean install GPU drivers with DDU.
  • Remove malware that blocks scanners when Windows is running normally—see remove a virus or malware.
  • Uninstall a program that crashes the desktop the moment it loads.
  • Run a system restore — search for rstrui and roll back to a point before the problem started.
  • Disable startup items — Task Manager → Startup apps. Details: disable startup programs.

Reading the Result

  • Problem gone in Safe Mode → a third-party driver, service, or startup app is responsible. Re-enable items in batches to find it, or use a clean boot: msconfig → Services → tick Hide all Microsoft services → Disable all.
  • Problem still happens in Safe Mode → the cause is hardware, Windows system files, or the disk itself. Run sfc /scannow and DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth (SFC and DISM guide), then test the drive and RAM.

What Not to Do

  • Don't leave Safe boot ticked in msconfig and then run Windows Update—updates can fail badly in Safe Mode.
  • Don't panic at the low resolution and large icons. That is the basic display driver, not damage.
  • Don't expect BitLocker-protected drives to unlock silently. Have your recovery key ready before you start—see fix the BitLocker recovery key loop.

Related: fix the Automatic Repair loop and fix a black screen on boot.

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