How to Access Safe Mode in Windows 10

Always look at the date when you read an article. Some of the content in this article is most likely out of date, as it was written on March 27, 2019. For newer information, see our more recent articles.

Table of Contents

Intro

Starting Windows 10 in Safe Mode is useful for diagnosing critical system issues but lacks the usability and function of a normal startup, so should only be used in an effort to troubleshoot problems that are not easily identified.

Windows 10 Safe Mode will start Windows in its most basic state, accessing a limited set of files and drivers. It is designed to help troubleshoot problems on your PC; if a problem is not reproducible in Safe Mode then you know the issue is very likely not hardware but instead is caused by a device driver, application, service, 3rd party software or potentially even Windows itself. While there are multiple variations of Safe Mode we recommend using “Safe Mode with Networking” but if you need standard Safe Mode for some reason the process of accessing it is almost the same.

This article will cover the different ways and reasons to access Safe Mode:

Using the Start menu (Shift+Restart method)
From the Settings application (Settings method)
From the Sign-in screen (Sign-in method)
From a blank or black screen (Boot interrupt method) – Use this if you are completely unable to access Windows desktop or sign-in screen

Note: If you currently use a PIN to access Windows 10 then during diagnostic mode you will only be able to login using the password you used to set up the account. The PIN will not grant access to Windows 10 in diagnostic mode.

The Shift+Restart method

Let’s utilize the Start Menu for this one. Use your mouse to click on the “Start” button or “Windows Icon” in the bottom left corner of your screen, then click the power icon. While holding “Shift” on your keyboard please click the “Restart” button.

Step 1:

Start the computer normally and wait for everything to load

Step 2:

Locate the ‘Start’ button in the bottom left and click it

Step 3:

In the bottom left please select the power icon (circle with vertical line at the top) then while holding the “SHIFT” key on your keyboard click “Restart”

Step 4:

Success! Windows will restart; you should now see a screen offering three options: Continue, Troubleshoot and Turn off your PC. Select “Troubleshoot”

Step 5:

The next screen will provide two options, please select the second one labeled “Advanced options”

Step 6:

Numerous options appear on this screen, please select “Startup Settings”

Step 7:

Now you only have one option “Restart” and we will select it but first, familiarize yourself with the different options

Step 8:

After you click “Restart” the system will reboot to a similar looking screen where you’ll see a list of options. Please select “Safe Mode with Networking” by pressing “5” or “F5” on your keyboard. You will not have mouse control at this point in the process

The Settings method

Let’s utilize the Start Menu for this one. Use your mouse to click on the “Start” button or “Windows Icon” in the bottom left corner of your screen then click the power icon. While holding “Shift” on your keyboard please click the “Restart” button.