How to start Windows 11 in safe mode

Although it is true that the new version of Windows has introduced notable improvements in terms of security and other aspects (we recommend reading Windows 10 vs Windows 11: main differences), it is inevitable that failures will occasionally occur. As users, we must know how to deal with and solve them. That is why it is important to know how to start Windows 11 in safe mode.

So if you're having trouble starting your Windows 11 computer, it can be helpful to play the reboot card in safe mode. This temporarily disables the drivers and functions and makes our computer more stable.

Although most users of the Microsoft operating system already know the safe mode, it is worth remembering what it is:

What is Windows Safe Mode?

This mode is used to load the operating system when there is a problem that interferes with its normal operation.

The idea of ​​the secure system is that users can Access the system to find out the source of the problem and try to fix it. This way, after making the required corrections, the system can be rebooted and Windows will load normally.

They exist, yes, important differences between loading Windows normally and doing it safely.

• For security reasons, most device drivers do not load.
• The autoexec.bat or config.sys files do not run either.
• As for the desktop, it only loads in 16 colors with a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels. Its appearance is therefore quite rudimentary.
• As a reminder, the words "Safe Mode" are displayed all the time in the corner of the screen.

Access safe mode when you turn on your computer

In previous versions of Windows, it was possible to access safe mode during the computer startup process. The way to do this was to press a function key (for example F8) right after turning on the computer.

This option disappeared from Windows 8. Thanks to technological improvements, the boot time was reduced so much that it left no room for the possibility of pressing any key. The alternative solution offered by Microsoft was the "Automatic failover", which allows the PC to start automatically in advanced troubleshooting mode in case of problems.

There is a way to force the computer to access this mode: it consists of turning on the computer and, when the manufacturer's logo appears on the screen, press the physical power button. Repeating this action twice in a row will display an advanced home screen. Then you just have to follow the instructions to access the safe mode.

Start Windows 11 in safe mode

When we restart our computer in an «Advanced Start» mode in Windows 11, we will basically have two ways to access safe mode: a simple one and an advanced one. We explain both of them below:

Simple method

This is the easiest way to start Windows 11 in safe mode:

1. We open the menu "Start".
2. Then, we click on the power icon that appears in the lower right corner.
3. Next, we hold down the key "Shift" on our keyboard and click "Restart".

Advanced method

Another alternative way to open safe mode when working with Windows 11 is through the settings menu. It is a path a little less direct than the previous one, but just as effective. On the other hand, it has the advantage that guides us in how to identify and solve operating system malfunctions.

1. 1. 1. First, we access the menu "Settings" pressing the keys windows + i
      2. Then you have to click on "System" in the sidebar. After this you have to select "Recovery".
      3. In Recovery Options, we look for the option «Advanced start» and we click the button "Restart now" (Before continuing, a Windows dialog box appears on the screen that will alert us to the convenience of saving the changes first).
         

         Start Windows 11 in safe mode

      4. After the restart, Windows will show us a blue screen with the title of «Choose an option». Several options appear in it. The one to select is the "Solve problems".
      5. In the next menu, click on "Startup Settings" and then in "Restart".
      6. It is from this step that we enter the troubleshooting phase. After the restart we will access a new menu called "Startup Settings" consisting of nine numbered options. The possibilities we have are the following (*):
         • To start the normal safe mode, we press the «4» key.
         • To access the safe mode with network functions, press the «5» key.
         • And to go to safe mode with the command prompt, we press the «6» key.
      7. Finally, once we have made our choice, Windows will start in safe mode. Keep in mind that the screen will have a lower resolution.

(*) Which of these options to choose? As a general rule, options 4 and 5 are the most indicated, although option number 6 can be very useful for advanced troubleshooting if we know how to handle the Windows command line well.

Exit Safe Mode in Windows 11

If after accessing the mode in Windows 11 we have managed to diagnose and solve the problem, we can restart our computer normally, but first we must exit safe mode. How to do it? Nothing simpler: it is enough to restart and turn off our device in the same way as it is normally done, without any other action being necessary.