How To Enter Safe Mode On Windows 10 | Where The Boot Option Lives Now

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You can enter Safe Mode in Windows 10 using the Windows Recovery Environment, System Configuration, or a bootable USB drive. The most reliable method is Shift + Restart from the sign-in screen or Start menu, followed by navigating through Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.

Safe Mode strips Windows 10 down to its core files and drivers, loading only what is needed to get the screen working. When that persistent blue screen or driver conflict disappears in Safe Mode, you know it is a software-level issue — and then you can start the real troubleshooting. The main entry methods for how to enter Safe Mode on Windows 10 share one common destination: the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

Method 1: Shift + Restart From The Login Screen

This is the fastest way into Safe Mode when Windows 10 still boots to the sign-in screen.

  • Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.
  • Click the Power icon at the bottom-right corner of the screen, then select Restart while still holding Shift.
  • When the blue recovery screen appears, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
  • After the PC restarts, press 4 for standard Safe Mode, 5 for Safe Mode with Networking, or 6 for Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

You will know it worked when the screen resolution drops and the words “Safe Mode” appear in each corner. The same route works from inside Windows itself by going to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now.

Method 2: System Configuration (msconfig) From Inside Windows

If you are already logged into Windows 10 and simply need to reboot into Safe Mode, this method saves several clicks.

  1. Press Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
  2. Type msconfig and press Enter.
  3. Open the Boot tab, check the box next to Safe boot, and select Minimal.
  4. Click OK, then Restart in the prompt that appears.
The PC will boot into Safe Mode automatically. To exit later, open msconfig again, uncheck Safe boot, and restart normally.

This is the method most often left active by accident. If Windows keeps booting into Safe Mode, clear that Safe boot checkbox immediately.

Method 3: Boot From Windows Installation Media (When The PC Will Not Start)

When Windows 10 fails to load entirely, you need external media to reach the recovery tools.

  1. Create a Windows 10 installation USB using a second PC with Microsoft’s Media Creation Tool.
  2. Insert the USB into the target PC and boot from it (set the USB drive as the first boot device in BIOS/UEFI).
  3. On the initial Windows Setup screen, click Repair your computer in the lower-left corner.
  4. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
  5. Type the following commands, pressing Enter after each line:
    bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal
    shutdown /r /t 0

The PC will restart into Safe Mode. After troubleshooting, open Command Prompt in Safe Mode and run bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot to restore normal booting.

Entry Method Best For Key Steps
Shift + Restart (Sign-in screen) Windows starts but sticks at login Hold Shift > Power > Restart > Troubleshoot > Startup Settings > 4/5/6
Settings > Recovery > Advanced startup Desktop is accessible Settings > Update & Security > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now > Startup Settings
msconfig (System Configuration) Quick reboot from inside Windows Win+R > msconfig > Boot > Safe boot > Minimal > Restart
Windows installation media PC will not boot at all Boot from USB > Repair > Troubleshoot > Command Prompt > bcdedit commands
Long-press power button recovery PC is completely unresponsive Hold power until shutdown > repeat 2–3 times > WinRE > Startup Settings

Microsoft’s official documentation on Windows Startup Settings confirms that Safe Mode loads only basic files and drivers — enough to identify and often remove problematic software or drivers.

Which Safe Mode Option Should You Pick?

The three choices on the Startup Settings screen each serve a different need. Picking the wrong one is not harmful, but picking the right one saves time.

Option When To Use Limitations
4 — Enable Safe Mode Standard troubleshooting for driver crashes, blue screens, malware No internet connection, no network-access features
5 — Safe Mode with Networking Downloading fixes, scanning with cloud-based antivirus, updating drivers Network drivers are loaded (lightly increases crash potential)
6 — Safe Mode with Command Prompt Running DISM, SFC, bcedit repair commands No graphical desktop or mouse navigation; keyboard only

Three Common Mistakes That Stall Safe Mode Entry

Most Safe Mode problems are avoidable. Watch for these three.

  • Pressing F8 repeatedly. This was the Windows 7 method. It works in some Windows 10 builds but is unreliable and not Microsoft’s documented path. Use Shift + Restart or the WinRE route instead.
  • Leaving Safe boot enabled in msconfig. Once the checkbox is checked, Windows 10 boots into Safe Mode every time. Always uncheck the box after your work is done.
  • Missing the BitLocker key. If your device is encrypted, changing startup settings may require the BitLocker recovery key. Find it in your Microsoft account or company IT portal before proceeding.

Checklist: Safe Mode Done Right

Use this sequence to make sure you enter Safe Mode cleanly and exit just as cleanly.

  1. Choose the entry method that matches whether Windows boots to desktop, login, or nowhere at all.
  2. Select the right Safe Mode version — plain, with networking, or command prompt.
  3. Do your troubleshooting: uninstall the bad driver, roll back the update, or run the antivirus scan.
  4. Restart the PC normally. If it boots back into Safe Mode, open msconfig, go to the Boot tab, and clear the Safe boot checkbox.
  5. If you used the bcdedit command, run bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot from an admin Command Prompt.

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