Safe Mode is a diagnostic startup state—your computer loads only essential drivers and services, which is useful when troubleshooting crashes or malware, but it limits what you can do
To exit Safe Mode, restart your computer normally. On most systems, Safe Mode is temporary—it only lasts until you shut down or restart. The method depends on your operating system and how you entered Safe Mode in the first place.
If your computer is stuck in Safe Mode and won't restart into normal mode, or if you entered it intentionally and now need to leave it, the steps below will get you back to your regular desktop.
Key Takeaways
- The simplest way to exit Safe Mode is to restart your computer—Safe Mode is a temporary startup state that ends when you power down and back up.
- On Windows, if restart alone doesn't work, use the System Configuration utility (msconfig) to disable Safe Mode before restarting.
- On Mac, restart your computer and hold down the power button or use Shift+Control+Command+Power to exit Safe Mode.
- If your computer keeps booting into Safe Mode after restart, a startup program or driver may be causing the problem, and you may need to uninstall or disable it.
Exiting Safe Mode on Windows 10 and 11
The fastest way out is to restart. Click the Start button, select Power, then Restart. Your computer should boot normally into Windows. If it does, you are done.
If your computer restarts back into Safe Mode, you need to disable Safe Mode in the System Configuration utility. Press the Windows key and R together to open the Run dialog, type msconfig, and press Enter. In the window that opens, click the Boot tab at the top.
Under Boot options, you will see a checkbox next to Safe boot. Make sure it is unchecked. If it is checked, click it to uncheck it, then click explore and OK. Restart your computer—it should now boot normally. If Safe boot is already unchecked, the problem is something else, and you may need to check for a startup program or driver causing the loop.
Exiting Safe Mode on Mac
Restart your Mac. During startup, you do not need to hold any keys—Safe Mode is temporary and will not persist after a restart. If your Mac boots back into Safe Mode, hold Shift when ready after you hear the startup sound or see the Apple logo, and keep holding it until you see the login window. Release Shift and log in normally.
If your Mac keeps entering Safe Mode on its own, a startup item or login item may be causing the problem. Go to System Settings, click General, then Login Items. Look for any unfamiliar programs and remove them by clicking the minus button. Restart and see if the problem stops.
Why Your Computer Keeps Booting Into Safe Mode
If restarting does not work and Safe Mode keeps coming back, something on your system is triggering it. Common causes include a startup program that crashes during normal boot, a driver that is incompatible or corrupted, or malware that forces Safe Mode as a way to avoid detection.
On Windows, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), click the Startup tab, and look for programs you do not recognize. Right-click any suspicious entry and select Disable. Restart and see if the problem stops. If you are not sure what a program does, search its name online before disabling it.
On Mac, the same login items list mentioned above is your first stop. If disabling startup items does not help, restart in Safe Mode intentionally, then use Disk Utility to run First Aid on your startup drive. Open Finder, go to Applications > Utilities, double-click Disk Utility, select your drive, and click First Aid.
When to Check for Malware
If you entered Safe Mode because your computer was crashing or running slowly, malware could be the cause. Safe Mode is actually a good environment to scan for it, because malware often cannot run in Safe Mode.
On Windows, use Windows Defender (built in) or a free scanner like Malwarebytes. On Mac, use Malwarebytes or the built-in XProtect by running a full system scan in Safe Mode. Once you have scanned and removed any threats, restart normally and the problem should be resolved.
Safe Mode Variants and What They Mean
Windows offers three Safe Mode options in msconfig: Safe Mode (minimal drivers), Safe Mode with Networking (adds network drivers), and Safe Mode with Command Prompt (opens a command line instead of the desktop). If you see one of these selected instead of the plain Safe Mode checkbox, uncheck whichever one is selected and restart.
On Mac, Safe Mode is simpler—there is only one version. Your Mac will load only essential system software and disable third-party startup items. Once you restart normally, everything returns to its usual state.
What to Do If You Cannot Restart Normally
If your computer will not restart no matter what you do, try a hard shutdown. On Windows, hold the power button for 10 seconds until the computer turns off completely. Wait 30 seconds, then turn it back on. On Mac, hold the power button for 10 seconds, wait, and power on again.
If the computer still boots into Safe Mode after a hard restart, the problem is likely a corrupted driver or a startup program that is broken. At this point, you may need to boot from a Windows recovery drive or Mac recovery partition to run repair tools, or contact a technician. A recovery drive lets you access repair options without loading your normal startup files.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to use my computer in Safe Mode?
Yes, Safe Mode is safe to use. It is designed for troubleshooting and runs only essential software. You can use it to browse, check email, or run antivirus scans. The only limitation is that some programs and features will not work because their drivers are not loaded.
Will my files be deleted if I exit Safe Mode?
No. Exiting Safe Mode does not touch your files or settings. It straightforward changes how your computer starts up. All your documents, photos, and programs remain exactly as they were.
Why does my computer keep entering Safe Mode after I restart?
A startup program, driver, or malware is likely causing your computer to crash during normal boot, which triggers Safe Mode as a fallback. Check your startup programs in Task Manager (Windows) or Login Items (Mac) and disable anything unfamiliar. Run a malware scan if the problem persists.
Can I uninstall a program while in Safe Mode?
Yes. Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac) and uninstall as usual. This is actually a good time to remove a program if you suspect it is causing the Safe Mode loop.
What if Safe Mode is grayed out in msconfig?
This usually means you do not have administrator rights. Right-click msconfig and select Run as administrator, then try again. If the option is still grayed out, a system policy may be preventing changes—contact your IT department if this is a work computer.