To start Windows 10 in Safe Mode, hold Shift while you select Power > Restart. On the blue screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. When the PC restarts, press 4 for Safe Mode or 5 for Safe Mode with Networking.
To get out of Safe Mode, just restart your PC.
Applies to: Windows 10. Checked against Microsoft Support on September 24, 2026.
What Safe Mode does
Safe Mode starts Windows with only the basic drivers and services. If a problem goes away in Safe Mode, a driver or app you added is the likely cause, not Windows itself.
Use it to remove a bad driver or app, scan for malware, or undo a change that stops Windows from starting normally.
If your PC is encrypted with BitLocker, have your BitLocker recovery key ready.
Start Safe Mode from Settings
- Go to Settings > Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- On the Startup Settings screen, press a number key:
- 4 or F4: Safe Mode.
- 5 or F5: Safe Mode with Networking, if you need the internet, for example to download a driver.
- 6 or F6: Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
Start Safe Mode from the sign-in screen
If you can’t sign in, select the Power icon at the bottom right of the sign-in screen, hold Shift, and select Restart. Then follow steps 3 and 4 above.
Start Safe Mode when Windows won’t start
If Windows fails to start twice in a row, it opens Automatic Repair on the third try.
- Turn the PC on. As soon as the Windows logo appears, hold the power button until it turns off.
- Do this two more times. On the third start, Windows shows Preparing Automatic Repair.
- Select Advanced options > Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, then press 4 or 5.
You can also boot from a Windows 10 USB drive, select Next > Repair your computer, and go to Troubleshoot from there. See how to create a bootable Windows 10 USB drive.
Pressing F8 while the PC starts doesn’t open Safe Mode on most Windows 10 PCs. Use one of the methods above instead.
Make the PC always start in Safe Mode (msconfig)
- Press Windows + R, type
msconfig, and press Enter. - Open the Boot tab and check Safe boot. Choose Minimal for normal Safe Mode or Network for Safe Mode with Networking.
- Select OK, then Restart.
The PC keeps starting in Safe Mode until you turn this off. Use it when you need to restart several times while fixing a problem.
Get out of Safe Mode
Restart the PC normally. It should start in normal mode.
If it keeps going back to Safe Mode:
- Press Windows + R, type
msconfig, and press Enter. - On the Boot tab, uncheck Safe boot.
- Select OK, then Restart.
If Safe Mode won’t accept your PIN
Windows Hello sign-in, such as a PIN, fingerprint, or face, may not work in Safe Mode. Select Sign-in options under the password box and choose the key icon to type your account password instead. For a Microsoft account, that’s your Microsoft account password. If you’ve forgotten it, reset it at account.live.com/password/reset from another device, then restart and try again.
Start Safe Mode from a USB drive
If the PC won’t reach the recovery screen on its own, start it from a Windows 10 installation or recovery USB drive. On an installation drive, choose your language, then Repair your computer > Troubleshoot > Command Prompt, and run:
bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal
Close Command Prompt and select Continue. Windows starts in Safe Mode. When you’re done, turn it off again with the command below.
If the PC keeps starting in Safe Mode
Usually Safe boot is still checked in System Configuration (msconfig). If clearing it doesn’t help, open Command Prompt as an administrator in Safe Mode and run:
bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot
Restart, and Windows starts normally.
What to do in Safe Mode
- Remove a driver you just installed: right-click Start > Device Manager, right-click the device, and select Uninstall device. See how to update all drivers on Windows 10.
- Uninstall a new app in Settings > Apps.
- Scan for malware with Windows Security.
- Undo recent changes with System Restore. See how to restore Windows 10 to a previous date.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my screen low resolution and black in Safe Mode?
That’s normal. Safe Mode uses a basic display driver. Everything goes back to normal when you restart.
Can I use Wi-Fi in Safe Mode?
Only in Safe Mode with Networking (option 5).
Does Safe Mode delete any files?
No. Safe Mode only starts Windows with fewer drivers and apps. Your files, apps, and settings are untouched, and everything comes back when you restart normally.
Why does my PC ask for a BitLocker key?
Changing startup settings can trigger BitLocker recovery. Find the key in your Microsoft account or ask your IT team on a work PC.
Safe Mode can also help remove a program that won’t uninstall normally. See how to uninstall programs on Windows 10.
If Windows won’t start at all, see how to run Startup Repair in Windows 10.
To check your drive for errors, see how to run CHKDSK in Windows 10.
To turn off only other apps and services instead of Windows drivers, see how to perform a clean boot in Windows 10.
On Windows 11, see how to boot in Safe Mode in Windows 11. Microsoft’s guide is Windows startup settings. More help is on our Windows Help & Guides page.
If you can’t reach Safe Mode from Windows, see how to enter recovery mode in Windows 10.
Related: boot into Safe Mode without signing in.
Related: fix a black screen in Windows 10.
Related: How to Boot Windows 10.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.