- To boot Windows 11 in Safe Mode, open Start’s Power menu, hold the Shift key and click the Restart button.
- Click on Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.
- Select the “Safe Mode” option.
- You can also start Windows 11 in Safe Mode from Settings, Command Prompt, and MSConfig.
On Windows 11, “Safe Mode” is a feature that only loads a basic set of features and genetic drivers to troubleshoot and fix software and hardware-related problems. You can start a computer in Safe Mode using Settings, Command Prompt, System Configuration (MSConfig), and the power options menu.
While in Safe Mode, you can troubleshoot the startup process when Windows 11 is not booting correctly, network connection problems, Windows Update is stuck downloading updates, applications, and more. In addition, you can use Safe Mode to resolve video driver issues and perform a virus scan to detect and remove malware that wouldn’t be possible to remove while the OS was running in normal mode.
This guide will teach you the steps to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode using Command Prompt, Settings, Power options menu, and System Configuration.
- Safe Mode from Start menu on Windows 11
- Safe Mode from Settings on Windows 11
- Safe Mode from Command Prompt on Windows 11
- Safe Mode from MSConfig on Windows 11
Safe Mode from Start menu on Windows 11
To start in Safe Mode on Windows 11 from the Start menu, use these steps:
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Open Start on Windows 11.
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Click the Power menu.
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Press and hold the Shift key and then click the Restart button.
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Click the Troubleshoot option.
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Click on Advanced options.
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Click the Startup Settings option.
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Click the Restart button.
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Choose one of the Safe Mode environments you want to start Windows 11, including:
- Enable Safe Mode.
- Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
- Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
Once you complete the steps, the device will start in the specified mode, allowing you to troubleshoot and fix virtually any Windows 11.
Safe Mode from Settings on Windows 11
To access Safe Mode from the Settings app on Windows 11, use these steps:
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Open Settings.
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Click on System.
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Click on Recovery.
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Under the “Advanced startup” section, click the Restart now button.
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Click the Restart now button again on Windows 11.
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Click the Troubleshoot option.
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Click the Advanced options button.
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Click the Startup Settings option.
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Click the Restart button.
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Choose one of the Safe Mode environments to start Windows 11, including:
- Enable Safe Mode.
- Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
- Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
After you complete the steps, the device will enter into the Safe Mode environment, where you can troubleshoot and resolve system problems more efficiently.
Safe Mode from Command Prompt on Windows 11
To boot Windows 11 into Safe Mode from Command Prompt, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for Command Prompt, right-click the top result, and select the Run as administrator option.
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Type the following command and press Enter:
Bcdedit /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu yes
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Restart the computer.
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In the “Windows Boot Manager” menu, press the F8 key to access the Startup Settings menu options.
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Choose one of the Safe Mode types to start Windows 11, including:
- Enable Safe Mode.
- Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
- Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
Once you complete the steps, Windows 11 will start in Safe Mode with the specified option.
You can always exit the basic boot level using the same instructions, but on step No. 3, make sure to use the Bcdedit /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu no
command.
Safe Mode from MSConfig on Windows 11
To start Windows 11 in Safe Mode from MSConfig, use these steps:
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Open Start.
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Search for msconfig and click on System Configuration to open the app.
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Click the Boot tab.
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Under the “Boot options” section, check the Safe boot option.
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Choose the Minimal option to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode. Or you can select the Network option to boot Windows 11 with networking support.
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Click the Apply button.
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Click the OK button.
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Restart the computer.
The only caveat with this option is that Windows 11 will boot into Safe Mode until you revert the changes.
After resolving the problem with the device, you can revert the changes using the same instructions, but on step No. 4, make sure to clear the Safe boot option. Also, there are many techniques to access the “Advanced Startup Options” recovery environment. You can refer to this guide to learn the different methods.