Safe mode under Windows 11 starts with full administrative rights and can help with problems such as driver or software uninstallation. But safe mode can also help if there are problems with the user account.
The advantage of safe mode is that not all services and drivers are loaded here. Here we will show you how you can boot into safe mode from the running system or from a boot medium
Start Safe Mode from Windows 11
There are different ways to start safe mode directly under Windows 11.
- Start menu or Windows key + X – Click on Restart while holding down the Shift key.
- Via the login screen (Ctrl + Alt + Del): Here, too, at the bottom right of the power menu, click Restart while holding down the Shift key.
- Run: Windows key + R and shutdown.exe /r /o /f /t 00 copy in
- msconfig: Windows key + R enter msconfig and start
- Start tab -> Check “Safe Mode” and Minimum (will be set automatically). Apply and OK and then simply restart in the start menu.
- Using the command prompt, these changes are made like this: Enter the command prompt in the taskbar search and start as administrator. Or start the Windows Terminal as administrator and enter one of these commands:
- bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimal Safe mode
- bcdedit /set {current} safebootalternateshell yes Alternative shell
- bcdedit /set {current} safeboot network Safe Mode with Networking (Internet)
- Using the command prompt, these changes are made like this: Enter the command prompt in the taskbar search and start as administrator. Or start the Windows Terminal as administrator and enter one of these commands:
Very important: Did you make the setting via msconfig (or via the command prompt) you have to before If you leave safe mode, open msconfig again and uncheck “Safe mode” under Start. remove.
Start Safe Mode from Settings
You can also start “Advanced Startup” and thus the safe mode from the settings.
- Open Settings (or Windows key + i) -> Windows Update -> Recovery -> Advanced Startup -> click “Restart now”.
- The computer restarts
- Now click on the troubleshooter, or select it using the arrow key and press Enter -> Advanced options -> Startup settings -> Click on “Restart” here
- In the next window, you can choose how to start safe mode
- 4 or F4 press for safe mode without internet (recommended in case of problems or uninstallations)
- 5 or F5 Press for Safe Mode with Networking (Internet)
- 6 or F6 for Safe Mode with Command Prompt
- Now Windows 11 starts in safe mode.
Here again is the note: If you have not changed anything in the msconfig, you can simply restart, and you will be back in normal Windows 11. If you have set the check mark under msconfig, it must first be removed so that you can get out of the secure mode again. Otherwise, the computer will always reboot into safe mode.
How do I get into safe mode if the computer only gets as far as logging in?
Windows 11 should no longer load the user profile, and Ctrl + Alt + Del doesn’t help, so the tried and tested “wooden hammer method” can help here.
- If the computer only starts up until you log in, press the power button on the PC until the computer shuts down, restart, stall again… The whole thing 3-4 times. Then the computer starts in the advanced start options, and you can proceed as described above.
- As a hint: On a laptop, this only works if you can remove the battery. The network cable must be connected and removed after startup. That, too, about 3-4 times.
