How to Start Windows 11 in Safe Mode (and Get out of it)
Safe Mode is one of the best tools to troubleshoot common Windows problems. But with the versions of Windows, the method to get into Safe Mode has also changed. It’s different for Windows XP, 7 and 8 or 10. Similarly, with GUI changes the method to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode has also changed a bit.
Microsoft has re-arranged the settings a bit in Windows 11 so, the options have changed. In Windows 10, the Advanced Startup setting was under Recovery but now has been moved to System settings in Windows 11.
SEE ALSO: How to Bypass Recycle Bin Permanently in Windows 11 or 10?
Get into Safe Mode on Windows 11
So, if your Windows 11 PC is not running well, and you want to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode, you can do so by following these steps.
Step 1: Go to Advanced Startup Settings
First of all, open Settings in Windows 11. You can search for “settings” on Start or press the “Windows + I” keyboard shortcut to launch it.
After that, select System from the left pane, scroll down, and click on Recovery on the right side. It will take you to the Recovery settings in Windows 11.
Now, in Recovery settings, click on Restart Now in Advanced Startup. It will restart your Windows 11 and take you to Advanced Startup options.
ALTERNATIVE:
As an alternative, you can also press and hold the Shift key on your keyboard and restart your Windows 11 PC. It will also take you to advanced startup options. From there you can start Windows 11 in Safe Mode. This method will also work on the login screen.
NOTE: If you can’t get to Settings or your PC has become unresponsive, power off your PC and turn it on again. Now, power it off again when you see the Windows logo. Repeat this process 3 times and Windows 11 will automatically take you to advanced start options on the next boot.
SEE ALSO: Recovery Partition Blocking C Drive Extension? Here is the Fix.
Step 2: Go to Advanced Startup Options
Now, your Windows 11 PC will show you advanced startup options. So, choose the Troubleshoot option and press Enter.
In Troubleshoot menu click on Advanced options. It will show you some advanced troubleshooting options. You can also use them to uninstall recent updates, repair startup, or restore your PC using a restore point.
SEE ALSO: How to Disable Taskbar Preview Thumbnails in Windows 11?
Step 3: Change Startup Behavior
In the “Advanced options” select “Startup Settings” to change startup options and get into Safe Mode on Windows 11.
Now, you will be presented with the options you can select to change the startup behavior on your Windows 11 PC. So, click on the Restart button to continue.
Step 4: Start Windows 11 in Safe Mode
After you click Restart, your PC will restart and you will see options to start your Windows 11 in Safe Mode. Specifically, options 4, 5, and 6 are for Safe Mode as described below.
- 4) Enable Safe Mode
- 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking
- 6) Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt
So, for normal Safe Mode, press the number key 4 or function key F4 on your keyboard.
Now, your Windows 11 PC will start in Safe Mode. Your desktop will also have a black desktop background and safe mode written on all 4 corners.
SEE ALSO: How to Set up Windows Terminal to Open Command Prompt by Default?
Step 5: Get out of Safe Mode in Windows 11
After you are done with the troubleshooting, you can easily start Windows 11 in normal mode. To do that, restart your Windows 11 PC to get back to normal mode.
NOTE: If you get stuck in Safe Mode, you can get out using the MSCONFIG utility. You can also check this tutorial for more details.
SEE ALSO: How to Customize Taskbar and Start Menu in Windows 11?
Troubleshoot Windows 11 in Safe Mode
So, that was our guide on how to get into Safe Mode in Windows 11. You can easily uninstall stubborn programs or perform other troubleshooting steps in Safe Mode. You can also check here for other tips and tricks for your Windows PC.
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