Safe Mode starts Windows 10 with a reduced set of drivers and services. It can help determine whether a startup problem is caused by optional drivers, software, or services, but it is intended for diagnosis rather than everyday use.
Steps
- If Windows still starts, hold Shift while choosing Restart.
- In Windows Recovery Environment, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
- Choose Restart.
- After the PC restarts, select Safe Mode or Safe Mode with Networking only when network access is needed for the diagnosis.
- Perform the specific troubleshooting task.
- Restart Windows normally when finished.
If Windows cannot reach the desktop
Windows Recovery Environment can appear after failed starts, or you can use legitimate Windows recovery media. Avoid repeated forced shutdowns when a safer recovery path is available.
Networking adds more components
Plain Safe Mode loads fewer networking services and drivers. Choose the networking version only when Internet or LAN access is necessary for the troubleshooting step.
Safe Mode is evidence, not the repair itself
If a problem disappears in Safe Mode, investigate startup software, drivers, services, or other components that are absent there rather than leaving the PC permanently in Safe Mode.
Windows 10 is unsupported
Windows 10 reached the end of standard support in October 2025. Use Safe Mode to recover a legacy installation, then move routine Internet-connected work to a supported operating system when possible.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.