How to Boot Safe Mode Windows 10, 8, 7 (7 ways)

What is Safe Mode and how to boot Safe mode Windows.

? For Windows 10, 8, 7; for laptop and computer.

Contents

  1. Safe Mode and Options
  2. Safe Mode after reboot (Windows 10, 8)
  3. Using msconfig (Windows 10, 8, 7)
  4. Enable Advanced Boot Options (Windows 10, 8)
  5. Safe Mode from System Restore (Windows 10, 8)
  6. Safe mode from the command prompt (bcdedit)
  7. Safe mode using shutdown utility

Article in other languages:
?? – Cómo iniciar Windows en Modo Seguro
?? – Как зайти в безопасный режим Windows
?? – Comment entrer en Mode sans échec Windows
?? – So starten Sie Windows 10 im abgesicherten Modus
?? – Hoe start je Windows in de veilige modus

Safe Mode and Options

Safe Mode is a diagnostic mode of a computer operating system. Safe mode is intended to help fix most, if not all problems within an operating system.

Wikipedia

Booting in Safe Mode Windows is often used to remove viruses and programs that cannot be removed during normal mode of the Operating System (OS).

How to boot Safe Mode Windows 10
Safe Mode Windows 10

In this mode, the minimum set of system programs and services necessary to start the system is loaded.

Starting non-system services from startup and not system programs is ignored.

? The ability to work in this mode is limited.

There are three modes for starting Windows Safe Mode:

Safe ModeThe minimum set of system services is loaded, the launch of not system programs and services is disabled.
Safe mode with NetworkingThe minimum set of system services and network services is loaded, the launch of not system programs and services is disabled.
Safe mode with Command PromtThe minimum set of system services + network services is loaded, the launch of not system programs and services is disabled. The command line starts, before starting Windows Explorer.
Safe Mode Windows 10: Advanced Boot Options
Three modes of Safe Mode Windows 10

The mode is designed to diagnose startup, fix problems and errors OS.

Safe mode after reboot (Windows 10, 8)

An easy way to reboot Windows in safe mode.

? Suitable for Windows 10, 8.

  1. Press the START button;
  2. Click the Power button;
  3. Press and hold the SHIFT button and then click Restart. The advanced Windows boot menu is loading;
  4. Select the Troubleshoot;
Choose an options - Troubleshoot
Choose an options

5. In the Troubleshoot window, select the Advanced options;

Troubleshoot -  Advanced options Windows
Troubleshoot

6. In the Advanced options window, select the Startup Settings;

 Advanced options - Startup settings boot Windows 10
Advanced options

7. In the Startup Setting window, click the Restart button;

Restart to change Windows options such as:
Startup Settings

8. After restarting your computer, In the Boot Options window (Advanced Boot Options), select the required Windows boot mode.

Safe Mode Windows 10: Advanced Boot Options
Advanced Boot Options for Windows 10

Windows will boot in Safe mode.

To exit Safe Mode, restart your computer.

Using msconfig (Windows 10, 8, 7)

We use the msconfig utility to boot Windows in safe mode.

? Suitable for Windows 10, 8, 7.

  1. Right-click on the START button and select Run or press the key combination Windows+R;
  2. Enter the name of the msconfig utility and click OK;
  3. Switch to the Boot tab, check the Safe Mode checkbox, select Minimal and press ОК;
  4. Click Restart to start Windows Safe Mode.
Msconfig: select computer restart options
Select computer restart options

To exit Safe mode, restart your computer.

? The msconfig utility provides additional options for starting the computer (disabling the launch of services and applications).

Enable Advanced boot options (Windows 10, 8)

? Suitable for Windows 10, 8.

In Windows 7, XP, when loading the OS, pressing the F8 button opened the Advanced boot options menu.

In Windows 10, 8, the call to this menu with the F8 button must be turned on manually.

  1. Run the command prompt as administrator;
  2. Enter the command:
bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy
Advanced Boot Options: run bcdedit command
bcdedit command

Close the command prompt window, restart the computer.

Before loading the operating system, press the F8 button, the Advanced boot options menu opens, where we can choose several options for starting Safe Mode or other Windows boot options.

? If you have a laptop, you may have to press the Fn + F8 key combination.

Advanced boot options Windows (10, 8, 7)
Advanced Boot Options for Windows 10

Safe Mode from System Restore (Windows 10, 8)

? Suitable for Windows 10, 8.

You can boot Safe Mode Windows 10, 8 from Recovery mode, after an incorrect OS boot.

After three consecutive power outages when loading Windows 10, 8, the system will start to boot Recovery mode.

Recovery mode to boot windows 10
Recovery mode Windows 10, 8

Select See advanced repair options recovery options.

Further, the launch of Safe Mode will occur as in paragraph – Safe Mode after reboot (Windows 10, 8).

? We dont recommend using this method of loading Windows Safe Mode, as this can cause permanent damage to the system!

Safe mode from the command prompt (bcdedit)

The bcdedit command changes persistent Windows boot options. After enabling Safe Mode, enter the command to change the configuration and disable booting into Safe Mode.

You can also use the bcdedit command in the command prompt in Windows Recovery mode.

You can boot Windows in Safe Mode by running the bcdedit command in the Command Prompt running with administrator rights.

Enable Safe Mode:

bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal

Enable Safe Mode with Networking:

bcdedit /set {default} safeboot network

Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt (enter two commands):

bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal
bcdedit /set {default} safebootalternateshell yes

Restart your computer to apply the new configuration settings.

Boot options for Windows Safe Mode using Command Prompt (bcdedit)

To disable booting Safe Mode, in Windows configuration, run:

bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot

Safe mode using shutdown utility

The shutdown utility is a built-in Windows program that allows you to restart, shutdown, hibernate, or end a user session.

Run in Command Prompt or PowerShell:

shutdown.exe /r /o
Launching Windows Restore with the shutdown command

After rebooting, in the System Restore window, select the required option.

Learn more about the startup parameters of the shutdown utility – here.

I hope you were able to boot Windows in Safe Mode in a convenient way.


How to boot Windows Safe Mode:

  • SHIFT button and Reboot

    Hold the SHIFT button and press Reset button. More…

  • Msconfig utility

    Run the msconfig utility, select the Safe Mode – Minimal option. More…

  • Enabling the Advanced Boot Menu

    Use the bcdedit command to enable the Advanced boot menu and the press F8 button (as on Windows 7, XP) to call up the menu, when the Windows boot. More…

  • System shutdown

    Three times, power off the system to enable the Recovery mode and boot Windows Safe Mode. More…


These were the available options for boot Safe Mode Windows 10, 8, 7.

? How to boot Safe Mode in Windows 10, 8, 7 was discussed in this article. I hope you can now configure Windows to start in Safe Mode. However, if you run into any problems, do not hesitate to write in the comments. I will try to help.

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