How to Boot into Safe Mode in Windows 11

If your Windows 11 computer is constantly crashing, failing to boot properly, or acting strangely after a recent software update, your first troubleshooting step should always be booting into Safe Mode. Safe Mode starts Windows in a basic, stripped-down state, using only a limited set of files and core drivers.

If the problem does not occur in Safe Mode, you immediately know that the core operating system and basic hardware are functioning correctly, and the issue is likely caused by a third-party application, a rogue startup program, or a corrupted graphics driver.

In older versions of Windows, you could enter Safe Mode by furiously mashing the F8 key during startup. Because modern computers boot so incredibly fast, this old method no longer works reliably. Instead, you must use one of the two modern methods below.

Method 1: Boot into Safe Mode from the Settings Menu

Use this method if your computer can successfully boot into Windows and you can access your desktop.

1. Press the Windows Key + I on your keyboard to open the Settings app.
2. Ensure System is selected in the left-hand sidebar.
3. Scroll down the main pane and click on Recovery.
4. Look for the section labelled Advanced startup.
5. Click the Restart now button next to it. (Windows will warn you to save your work before proceeding; click “Restart now” again to confirm).
6. Your computer will restart, but instead of booting to the desktop, it will boot into the blue “Windows Recovery Environment” (WinRE) screen.
7. On the “Choose an option” screen, click on Troubleshoot.
8. Click on Advanced options.
9. Click on Startup Settings.
10. Click the Restart button in the bottom right corner.
11. Your computer will reboot again and display a list of numbered Startup Settings.
12. Press the number 4 (or F4) on your keyboard to Enable Safe Mode. (If you need internet access to download a new driver while in Safe Mode, press 5 or F5 to select “Enable Safe Mode with Networking”).

Your computer will now boot into Safe Mode. You will know you are successful because the screen resolution will look distorted, your desktop wallpaper will be black, and the words “Safe Mode” will be printed in all four corners of the screen.

Method 2: Boot into Safe Mode Using the “Shift + Restart” Trick

This is a much faster shortcut to reach the blue Recovery Environment, and it is incredibly useful if your computer boots up but the Start menu or Settings app refuses to open.

1. Click the Start button on your taskbar (or press the Windows key).
2. Click the Power icon in the bottom right corner of the Start menu.
3. Crucial Step: Press and hold down the Shift key on your keyboard. While holding the Shift key down, click on Restart.
4. You can release the Shift key once the blue “Please wait” screen appears.

Your computer will instantly reboot into the blue “Choose an option” screen. From here, follow the exact same path as Method 1 (Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart > Press 4).

What to Do When You Can’t Boot at All (The “Black Screen” Method)

If your computer is completely broken and crashes before it even reaches the Windows login screen, you cannot use Settings or the Shift key. You must deliberately interrupt the boot process to trigger the automatic repair tools.

1. Press the physical power button on your computer case to turn it on.
2. The exact moment you see the Windows logo (or your manufacturer’s logo) appear on the screen, press and hold the physical power button down for 10 seconds to aggressively force the computer to turn off.
3. Press the power button again to turn the computer back on.
4. When it restarts, hold the power button down again for 10 seconds to force it off a second time.
5. Press the power button to turn it on a third time.

After the third consecutive failure, Windows will assume something is catastrophically wrong and automatically boot into the “Automatic Repair” blue screen. From here, you can click Advanced options to access the Troubleshoot menu and reach Safe Mode.