Microsoft is the world’s leading desktop operating system developer with a market share more significant than all other desktop operating systems globally. The latest version of Microsoft’s Windows operating system is Windows 10, and it has entered a competitive market with differentiation. Windows 10 is the next Windows version, like Windows 8, and includes some significant GUI changes.

Entering Safe Mode in previous versions of Windows except Windows 8 is straightforward compared to later versions, for example, Windows 8 and Windows 10. By pressing the F8 button when booting the Previous versions of Windows, users can enter Safe Mode without any problems. With the fast boot feature in Windows 8 and Windows 10, it is practically impossible to interrupt the boot process, and F8 does not find it more helpful.

So this guide will help you through getting into Safe Mode within Windows 10.

Method 1: Use Combination “(button) Shift + (Option) Restart”

This method is much easier than others. Use combination can allow you to enter Safe Mode. Follow the steps below to enter Safe Mode using the combination.

1. Go to the Start Menu and click the Power button located in the bottom left pane.

2. While pressing the Shift key on the keyboard, click the Restart option using the left mouse button. It will interrupt the normal start of the computer by displaying a list of options to choose from. Choose Troubleshoot from the options, and it will take you to the next screen.

3. On the next screen, click Advanced Options are highlighted in the image below.

4. Inside the Advanced Options screen, select Startup Settings and restart the computer using the button below.

5. After the computer is restarted, you will find several options to choose from a list using the F1 – F9 function keys. If you want to boot your computer into Safe Mode, press the F4, F5 or F6 function keys depending on your requirements. Your computer should now boot into Safe Mode.

Method 2: Use the System Configuration Tool

This is the simplest method. The System configuration tool is provided inside Windows 10 to help users change the Windows configuration according to their requirements. To start your Windows in Safe Mode using SCT, follow the steps below.

1. Open the Run window by pressing Win + R on your keyboard and type msconfig inside the text field. Press the Enter key to execute the program. You can also open it by searching for the System Configuration Tool inside Cortana.

2. Navigate to the Boot tab and check the box labeled Safe boot under Boot options. Click the Apply and OK button after that. Click the Restart button if you want to restart the computer at the same time. You can also restart your PC manually by clicking Exit without restart

Method 3: Use Recovery Drive to start Windows

Recovery Drive is a resource that helps users boot their computers if something bad happens to Windows. Windows 10 introduced a unique application called Recovery Drive to create a recovery inside the USB. This recovery USB is then used to boot Windows into Safe Mode. To create USB Recovery Drive, follow the instructions below.

1. Find Recovery Drive using Cortana and run it as administrator. Connect the USB dongle and click the Next button to create a Recovery Drive.

2. Start your computer with this Recovery Drive and follow method 1 to boot the system in Safe Mode.

Method 4: starting Safe Mode at startup using Command Prompt

If you cannot start in safe mode using the methods above because your computer doesn’t allow you to start Windows, you may need to start it in safe mode using Command Prompt. Follow the steps below to enter safe mode at startup using the command prompt.

1. Open an elevated command prompt window using Windows 10 Installation Media. Start your computer using Windows 10 bootable USB, and under Setup, select Repair your computer.

2. On the next screen, follow the instructions in Method 1 to open Advanced Options. Click on Command Prompt and enter your password credentials to start the computer using the command prompt.

3. Once inside the command prompt, type bcdedit, and the Enter key

4. After pressing the Enter key, it displays a minimal list of options organized into sections. At the top, you’ll see the Windows Boot Manager Check for the Default option and note its identifier number will be on the right. In my case, it is set to {current}.

5. To boot Windows 10 in safe mode, type the command line below the command prompt and press Enter

bcdedit / set {current} safe boot minimal

Note: In the above command, {current} is an identifier that you noted earlier.

If you want to boot Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking, replace the safe boot minimal with a secure boot network in the above command.