How to Activate and Turn Off Safe Mode on Windows 10 and 11

If your laptop crawls or lags when you start it, there is a special booting option called “Safe Mode” which lets you track and fix the problem slowing down your PC. Safe Mode gives you the tools to fix them yourself. It’s like having a repair kit built right into your computer.

What to Know About Safe Mode

Safe Mode is akin to fixing your PC on life support while troubleshooting it. It loads only the essential files and drivers needed to run, leaving out graphics and unnecessary startup programs. It activates only the core system. This makes it super helpful for:

Safe Mode helps you strip down your PC to the basics to figure out the underlying issue.

1. Detecting malware (since many viruses won’t activate in Safe Mode)
2. Fixing driver conflicts (like when an update messes things up)
3. Diagnosing crashes or blue screens (so you can find the culprit)

If your computer runs fine in Safe Mode but not in normal mode, that’s a big clue. It indicates that the problem isn’t with Windows itself but with something else.

The Different Types of Safe Mode

Not all Safe Modes are the same. You’ve got a few options depending on what you need.

1. Standard Safe_Mode

The Standard safe_mode loads the absolute basics—no internet, no extra software.

It is best for general troubleshooting, virus removal, or fixing driver issues.

2. Safe_Mode with Networking

This is the same as above, but with internet access.

It’s best to download drivers, update, or look up fixes online.

Important: If you use a Microsoft account, you’ll need this mode to log in (since it requires the internet to verify your account).

3. Safe_Mode with Command Prompt

What it does is dump the usual desktop for the Command Prompt (a text-based interface).

This is suitable for IT professionals who need to run advanced commands.

Differences Between Normal Mode and Safe_Mode:

1. Normal mode loads everything while safe mode loads only the essentials.
2. Normal mode loads full resolution graphics & colours while safe mode loads only basic Video Graphics Array or VGA (low-res, 16 colours).
3. Standard mode uses regular files while safe_mode uses a toned-down version of PC files.
4. Appearance looks modern in standard mode, while safe mode has the words “Safe Mode” displayed in the corners.

How to Activate Safe_Mode in Windows 10 & 11

Getting into safe mode seamlessly depends on how well your PC cooperates. There are three main primary modes to boot into safe mode:

Method 1: From Settings (If Windows Boots Normally)

1. Open Settings (Press `Win + I`).
2. Go to System > Recovery (or Update & Security > Recovery in Win 10).

3. Under Advanced startup, click Restart now.

4. Once reboot is complete, click Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.

5. Select F4 or option 4 for Safe_Mode.

• Select F5 or option 5 for Safe_Mode with Networking.
• Click F6 or option 6 to activate safe mode with command prompt.

Method 2: How to Activate Safe_Mode from the Sign-In Screen

1. On the login screen, hold Shift and click Power > Restart.
2. Follow the steps above after reboot (Troubleshoot > Advanced Options, etc.).

Method 3: If Your PC isn’t Responding or is Showing a Black Screen (If Windows Won’t Start at all)

Sometimes your PC may not be responding or may be displaying a blank screen. If such case, you’ll need to force it into safe mode:

1. Click the power button and hold it for 10 seconds to shut down.
2. Turn it back on, then force shut down again as soon as Windows starts loading.
3. Turn the PC on and off three 3 times, and on the fourth boot, you’ll enter Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).
4. Once there go to Troubleshoot > Advanced Options > Startup Settings > Restart.

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How to Exit Safe Mode

You’ll want to return to normal mode once you’ve fixed your PC’s issue. Here’s how:

 The Easy Way:

1. Just click Start > Power > Restart.

 If that method doesn’t work:

1. Click Ctrl + Shift + Esc. This will open the task manager.
2. Select File> Run new task, type `msconfig`, and click Enter.
3. Go to the boot tab and click to unselect “Safe boot.”
4. Click Apply > OK, then restart.

Safe_mode is a potent yet rarely used Windows troubleshooting tool. It is incredibly effective for detecting malware, fixing driver problems, and diagnosing other PC issues.