How to Boot into Safe Mode in Windows 11

If your Windows 11 PC is constantly crashing to a Blue Screen of Death, or if a vicious piece of malware is preventing your antivirus software from opening, you must boot the computer into Safe Mode. Safe Mode is a diagnostic state that loads Windows using only the absolute bare minimum, essential drivers required to draw an image on the screen.

Because it prevents third-party software, advanced graphics drivers, and startup programs from launching, Safe Mode isolates the core operating system from whatever is causing the crash, allowing you to uninstall the broken driver or delete the virus.

Method 1: From the Windows 11 Settings Menu (If You Can Boot Normally)

If your computer is acting strangely but you are still able to reach your desktop and click on the Start Menu, this is the safest and most reliable way to trigger a Safe Mode restart.

1. Click the Start Button (the Windows logo) and click the gear icon to open Settings.
2. Ensure you are on the System tab on the left-hand menu.
3. Scroll down the right-hand panel and click on Recovery.
4. Look for the section labeled “Advanced startup.” Click the Restart now button next to it.
5. Windows will warn you to save your work. Click Restart now again.

The computer will reboot, but instead of taking you to the lock screen, it will drop you into a blue “Choose an option” menu. This is the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

6. Click on Troubleshoot.
7. Click on Advanced options.
8. Click on Startup Settings.
9. Click the Restart button.

The computer will reboot a second time. When it turns back on, you will see a black screen with a numbered list of startup options.

10. Press the Number 4 key (or F4) on your keyboard to Enable Safe Mode. (If you need to use the internet to download an antivirus tool, press the Number 5 key or F5 to Enable Safe Mode with Networking).

Windows will now boot into Safe Mode. You will know it worked because your desktop wallpaper will be replaced with a solid black background, and the words “Safe Mode” will be printed in all four corners of the screen.

Method 2: The Shift + Restart Shortcut (From the Lock Screen)

If your computer turns on but immediately freezes at the lock screen (preventing you from logging in and accessing the Settings menu), you can trigger the Recovery Environment directly from the login page.

1. Turn on the computer and wait for the lock screen to appear.
2. Look at the bottom right corner of the screen. You will see a Power icon.
3. Click the Power icon once. A menu will pop up with options to Sleep, Shut down, or Restart.
4. Press and HOLD the Shift key on your keyboard.
5. While holding the Shift key, click Restart with your mouse.
6. Keep holding the Shift key until the screen turns blue and displays the “Choose an option” menu.

From here, follow the exact same path as Method 1: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > Press 4 (Safe Mode).

Method 3: The Hard Crash Method (The Black Screen Fix)

If your computer is completely bricked—if it blue screens immediately upon turning on, or gets stuck in a permanent black loading loop—you cannot use the keyboard shortcuts or the Settings menu. You must physically trick Windows into launching the automatic repair sequence.

1. Hold the physical Power button on your computer case for 10 seconds to completely turn off the machine.
2. Press the Power button once to turn the PC on.
3. The exact second the Windows logo appears on the screen (or the spinning loading dots appear), press and hold the Power button again for 10 seconds to forcefully kill the power.
4. Turn the PC on again.
5. When the Windows logo appears, forcefully kill the power again.
6. Turn the PC on a third time.

Because Windows failed to boot twice in a row, the operating system will assume the hard drive is catastrophically corrupted. On the third boot, it will bypass the normal startup sequence entirely and launch “Automatic Repair.”

Let the Automatic Repair load. It will eventually bring you to a blue screen that says “Automatic Repair couldn’t repair your PC.” This is fine.

7. Click the Advanced options button on that screen.

You are now in the WinRE menu. Follow the path: Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > Press 4 (Safe Mode).