What is Safe Mode

Safe Mode is a way to access your Windows based computer when normal start up doesn’t occur because of faults in the system, due to bad updates, viruses or bad configuration etc.

Starting your computer in Safe Mode will hopefully give you limited access to your operating system to run diagnosis and make changes and repairs in order to gain access to your system again.

Safe Mode is a good way to diagnose a lot of problems in Windows but it is not a silver bullet. You will still need your Administrator password and have to be careful of everything you do within Safe Mode.

Ways to Access Safe Mode in Windows 10

If you already have access to your system

By using the system configuration tool built into Windows 10 you can instruct your computer on next boot up (restart) to boot straight into safe mode.

Type “msconfig” in your command prompt and a box will pop up.

At the top of the box will be a boot tab for you to click on and half way to a box for you to check named “Safe Mode”. Make sure “Minimal” is also checked.

Restart your computer and when it turns on you will be in safe mode.

If you have access to your login screen

If you can’t login to your computer, but can see the login screen a easy way to get into safe mode will be to click on the restart button while holding the shift button.

When the computer restarts let go of the “shift” button immediately and you will be prompted for some start up safe mode options.

No access to system

If you are unable to login to Windows 10 of not even get any type of Windows screen at all, you might be able to access safe mode from boot.

Use F8 or Shift F8 when booting your computer from scratch and you might be able to access Windows 10 Safe Mode.

This is an old way of doing this and there are more efficient ways now as Windows has matured. However when all else fails this still might work on your system and get you into Safe Mode.

Be Careful in Safe Mode

Just because the name implies safety, doesn’t mean you are safe to do whatever in safe mode.

You can still do a lot of damage in Safe Mode and should be careful of everything you do, you can always make things worse.

If you are not sure what you are doing please don’t hesitate to call Townsville Nerds on 0402 807 809 today.