The quickest way to start safe mode in Windows 11 is to hold Shift while selecting Restart, then choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart and press 4 or F4. If Windows will not start at all, interrupting the boot repeatedly brings up the same recovery menu. Below are five methods, from the easiest to the most technical.
| Method | Best when | Needs Windows to start? |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Shift + Restart or Settings | Windows works but misbehaves | Yes |
| 2. From the sign-in screen | You cannot get past sign-in | Partly (sign-in screen) |
| 3. System Configuration (msconfig) | You need several safe mode restarts in a row | Yes |
| 4. Interrupted boots to WinRE | Black screen, boot loop or crash on start | No |
| 5. bcdedit command | Scripting, or working from a recovery command prompt | No (from WinRE) |
What is safe mode in Windows 11 and when should you use it?
Safe mode starts Windows 11 with a minimal set of drivers and services, using a basic display driver and no third-party startup apps. Use it when Windows crashes, freezes or shows a black screen after a driver, update or software change, so you can remove the cause in a stable environment.
There are three variants, chosen from the Startup Settings screen:
- 4 or F4 – Enable Safe Mode: minimal drivers, no networking. The best default for removing drivers or apps.
- 5 or F5 – Safe Mode with Networking: adds network drivers so you can download a driver or run an online scan.
- 6 or F6 – Safe Mode with Command Prompt: opens a command window instead of the desktop, for repairs such as SFC and DISM scans.
If the issue started with new software rather than a driver, a clean boot is often the gentler test, because it keeps all Microsoft services running.
Will you need your BitLocker recovery key for safe mode?
You may. On encrypted PCs, Windows can ask for the 48-digit BitLocker recovery key when you enter Startup Settings or change boot options. Many Windows 11 laptops turn on device encryption automatically, so find your key before you start, rather than discovering the prompt with no way past it.
If your PC is linked to a Microsoft account, the key is usually saved at aka.ms/myrecoverykey. Microsoft's guide to finding your BitLocker recovery key lists the other places it may be stored, such as a printout, a USB drive or a work account.
What we commonly see: the recovery key prompt is the single most common reason a safe mode attempt stalls. People rarely remember turning on encryption, because device encryption can switch on during setup when you sign in with a Microsoft account.
On Windows 11 Pro, the full BitLocker management console lets you back up the key, suspend protection before boot changes and manage encryption per drive. If you need those controls, a Windows 11 Pro licence adds them.
How do you boot into safe mode from Settings or the Start menu?
Open Start, select the power button, hold Shift and click Restart. Alternatively go to Settings > System > Recovery and select Restart now next to Advanced startup. Both routes restart into the blue Windows Recovery Environment menu, where you choose Startup Settings.
- Save your work and close open apps.
- Select Start > Power, hold Shift and click Restart. Or open Settings > System > Recovery and select Restart now beside Advanced startup.
- On the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot.
- Select Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- After the restart, press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode, 5 or F5 for networking, or 6 or F6 for Command Prompt.
- Enter your BitLocker recovery key if prompted, then sign in.
You will know it worked because the words Safe Mode appear in each corner of the screen and the display uses a lower resolution.
How do you start safe mode from the Windows 11 sign-in screen?
On the sign-in screen, select the power icon in the bottom-right corner, hold Shift and choose Restart. Keep holding Shift until the recovery menu appears, then follow Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart and press 4, 5 or 6.
This method is ideal when Windows starts but something breaks once you sign in, such as a desktop that crashes or a profile that never finishes loading.
Advanced nuance: safe mode still needs a valid password to sign in. If you use a Microsoft account and normally sign in with a PIN, have your account password ready in case Windows Hello is unavailable in safe mode. Safe Mode with Networking also helps here, since it lets Windows verify a recently changed online password.
How do you use msconfig to boot into safe mode?
Press Windows key + R, type msconfig and press Enter. On the Boot tab, tick Safe boot, choose Minimal (or Network), click OK and restart. Windows then starts in safe mode every time until you untick the box, which is useful for repairs that need several restarts.
- Press Windows key + R, type
msconfigand select OK. - Open the Boot tab.
- Under Boot options, tick Safe boot.
- Choose Minimal for standard safe mode, Network for networking, or Alternate shell for a command prompt.
- Select OK, then Restart.
Cause and effect: because the msconfig setting is permanent, forgetting to clear it is why some PCs seem "stuck in safe mode" after every restart. The fix is in the final section below.
How do you get into safe mode if Windows 11 will not start?
If Windows cannot reach the desktop, it opens the Windows Recovery Environment automatically after repeated failed starts. Power the PC on, and as soon as the manufacturer logo or spinning dots appear, hold the power button until it switches off. Repeat until you see Preparing Automatic Repair, then choose Advanced options.
- Press the power button to start the PC.
- When the logo or loading dots appear, hold the power button for about ten seconds to force it off.
- Repeat this two or three times. Windows should then show Preparing Automatic Repair or Please wait.
- On the Automatic Repair screen, select Advanced options.
- Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, then press 4, 5 or 6.
Microsoft's Windows RE technical reference confirms that two consecutive failed attempts to start Windows trigger recovery automatically. If you see "Could not find the recovery environment" instead, follow our guide to restoring WinRE, or boot from Windows 11 installation media and choose Repair your computer.
For a PC that powers on but shows nothing, see our Windows 11 black screen fixes before forcing repeated shutdowns.
How do you boot into safe mode with bcdedit?
From an administrator terminal, run bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal and restart; Windows will boot into safe mode until you remove the setting with bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot. Use network instead of minimal for Safe Mode with Networking. This is the scriptable equivalent of the msconfig method.
- Right-click Start and select Terminal (Admin).
- Run
bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal(orsafeboot network). - Restart the PC. It starts in safe mode.
- When finished, open an admin terminal in safe mode and run
bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot, then restart.
Advanced nuance: if you run the command from the Command Prompt inside the recovery environment, use {default} instead of {current}. In WinRE, {current} refers to the recovery environment itself, not your installed copy of Windows.
What should you do once you are in safe mode?
Use safe mode to undo whatever changed just before the problem began. That usually means rolling back or uninstalling a driver in Device Manager, uninstalling a recent app or update, or running a malware scan. Then restart normally to test whether the fault has gone.
- Driver problems: open Device Manager, right-click the device and choose Roll back driver or Uninstall device. Our driver guide explains how to reinstall the correct version afterwards.
- Bad update: go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates. If Settings will not open, the recovery menu has an Uninstall Updates option too.
-
Corrupted system files: choose Safe Mode with Command Prompt and run
sfc /scannow. - Suspected malware: run a Microsoft Defender full scan, or use Microsoft Defender Offline scan from Windows Security.
How do you exit safe mode in Windows 11?
Normally you simply restart: select Start > Power > Restart and Windows boots normally. If it keeps returning to safe mode, open msconfig, untick Safe boot on the Boot tab and restart, or run bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot if you used the command method.
- Press Windows key + R, type
msconfigand press Enter. - Select the Boot tab.
- Under Boot options, clear the Safe boot check box.
- Select OK and restart.
Microsoft's safe mode support article documents the same Startup Settings keys and exit steps.
Frequently asked questions
Does F8 still work for safe mode in Windows 11?
Not by default. Windows 11 starts too quickly for an F8 key press to be detected on most PCs, so the old F8 menu is effectively gone. Use Shift + Restart, Settings > System > Recovery, or interrupted boots instead. On the Startup Settings screen itself, F4, F5 and F6 still select the safe mode options.
Is safe mode with networking safe to use?
Yes, for most tasks. Safe Mode with Networking loads network drivers so you can download a driver or update malware definitions. If you suspect malware that spreads over the network or steals data, start with plain Safe Mode first and only switch to networking once you need an internet connection.
Why is my screen low resolution in safe mode?
Safe mode replaces your graphics driver with Microsoft's basic display driver, which supports limited resolutions and no hardware acceleration. That is deliberate, because a faulty graphics driver is a common cause of black screens and crashes. The normal resolution returns as soon as you restart into regular Windows.
Can I uninstall Windows updates in safe mode?
Usually, yes. In safe mode open Settings > Windows Update > Update history > Uninstall updates and remove the recent update. If Settings does not open, use the recovery environment instead: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Uninstall Updates removes the latest quality or feature update.
Does safe mode delete my files?
No. Safe mode only changes which drivers and services load at startup. Your documents, photos, apps and settings stay exactly where they are. Files are only at risk if you choose a reset or clean install from the recovery menu, so read each option carefully before selecting it.
Related guides
- How to run SFC and DISM scans to repair Windows 11
- Windows 11 black screen: how to fix it
- How to perform a clean boot in Windows 11
- Fix "Could not find the recovery environment"
- Windows 11 update stuck or failed? How to fix it
Links in this guide
| Link | Type | Why it helps |
|---|---|---|
| SFC and DISM scans | Internal | Repairs to run from Safe Mode with Command Prompt |
| Clean boot guide | Internal | Gentler test for software conflicts |
| Restore the recovery environment | Internal | Fix for when WinRE does not appear |
| Black screen fixes | Internal | Steps for a PC that starts with no display |
| Drivers guide | Internal | Reinstalling the right driver after a rollback |
| Windows 11 Pro licence | Internal | Adds full BitLocker management |
| Microsoft Support: Start your PC in safe mode | External | Official Startup Settings keys and exit steps |
| Microsoft Support: Find your BitLocker recovery key | External | Where your recovery key may be stored |
| Microsoft Learn: Windows RE technical reference | External | When Windows opens recovery automatically |