What Safe Mode Does and When to Use It

Safe Mode is a diagnostic startup option that loads only the essential drivers and programs your operating system needs to run. It disables most third-party software, graphics acceleration, and network features. You use Safe Mode when your computer won't start normally, when you need to remove malware, when a driver is causing crashes, or when you're troubleshooting a software conflict that doesn't happen in Safe Mode.

Safe Mode runs slower than normal startup because it skips non-essential features. Your screen resolution will be lower, some devices won't work, and you won't have internet access in basic Safe Mode (though Safe Mode with Networking is available on Windows). The trade-off is worth it: if your computer works fine in Safe Mode but crashes during normal startup, you know the problem is a driver, a startup program, or malware — not a core Windows or macOS file.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows 10 and 11, hold Shift while clicking Restart from the power menu to reach the boot options screen, then select Troubleshoot and Safe Mode.
  • On Windows 7 and earlier, restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly as it boots to open the Advanced Boot Options menu.
  • On Mac, restart and hold Command+S to enter Safe Mode, or restart and hold Shift to load Safe Mode on newer Macs with Apple Silicon.
  • Safe Mode disables most programs and drivers, so it runs slowly and some devices won't work — this is normal and temporary.
  • Once you've fixed the problem, restart normally to exit Safe Mode; your computer will not stay in Safe Mode on its own.

Windows 10 and Windows 11: Safe Mode Through Settings

The fastest route on Windows 10 and 11 is through the power menu. Click the Start button, then click the power icon in the lower left corner. Hold Shift on your keyboard and click Restart. Your computer will restart into a blue screen with three options: Continue, Troubleshoot, and Turn Off Your PC.

Click Troubleshoot. On the next screen, click Advanced Options. Then click Startup Settings. You'll see a list of nine startup modes. Click Restart at the bottom right. Your computer will restart again, and this time you'll see a numbered menu. Press 4 for Safe Mode, 5 for Safe Mode with Networking (if you need internet), or 6 for Safe Mode with Command Prompt (if you're comfortable using text commands). Your computer will load Safe Mode.

If you can't reach the Settings screen because your computer won't boot at all, use the Windows installation media method instead: insert a Windows USB drive or DVD, restart your computer, and boot from that media. When the Windows Setup screen appears, press Shift+F10 to open Command Prompt, then type bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal and press Enter. Restart your computer normally, and it will boot into Safe Mode.

Windows 7 and Earlier: Safe Mode Through the Boot Menu

On Windows 7, Vista, and XP, restart your computer and press F8 repeatedly as soon as it starts booting — before the Windows logo appears. If you wait too long, you'll miss the window and have to restart again. The Advanced Boot Options menu will appear with a list of startup modes.

Use the arrow keys to highlight Safe Mode, Safe Mode with Networking, or Safe Mode with Command Prompt, then press Enter. Your computer will load Safe Mode. The process is the same on all three versions, though the exact menu layout varies slightly.

If F8 doesn't work, your computer may have Fast Startup enabled, which skips the boot menu. Restart and try holding Shift while clicking Restart, the same way you would on Windows 10 or 11. If that doesn't work either, restart and try pressing Delete, F2, or F12 to enter the BIOS setup screen, then look for a boot options or startup menu setting.

Mac: Safe Mode on Intel and Apple Silicon

On Intel-based Macs, restart your computer and hold Command+S as soon as you hear the startup sound. Keep holding until you see text scrolling on a black screen. This is Single-User Mode, which is Mac's equivalent of Safe Mode. Your Mac will finish loading and show a command prompt. Type fsck -fy and press Enter to check your hard drive for errors, then type reboot and press Enter to restart normally.

On newer Macs with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, and later), restart your computer and hold the power button until you see "Loading startup options." Click the gear icon labeled Options, then click Continue. Your Mac will restart in Safe Mode. The screen will say "Safe Mode" in the upper right corner. To exit, restart normally.

If you're not sure whether your Mac has Intel or Apple Silicon, click the Apple menu, select About This Mac, and look at the Processor line. If it says "Apple M" followed by a number, you have Apple Silicon. If it says "Intel Core," you have an Intel Mac.

What to Do Once You're in Safe Mode

Once Safe Mode loads, your desktop will look mostly normal, but you'll notice the screen resolution is lower and some icons are missing from the system tray. This is expected. Open File Explorer or Finder and look for the problem: run your antivirus software to scan for malware, uninstall a recently installed program that might be causing crashes, or update a driver that's known to cause issues.

If your computer works fine in Safe Mode but crashes during normal startup, the problem is almost certainly a third-party driver or a startup program, not Windows or macOS itself. Make a note of any programs you installed in the days before the crashes started, and uninstall them when you're back in normal mode.

To exit Safe Mode, straightforward restart your computer and let it boot normally. Safe Mode is temporary — your computer will not stay in Safe Mode unless you restart into it again. On Windows, if you used the bcdedit command to force Safe Mode, you'll need to undo it by opening Command Prompt as Administrator and typing bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot, then restarting.

Troubleshooting: Safe Mode Won't Load

If Safe Mode won't load and your computer is stuck in a restart loop, you may need to use your operating system's recovery tools. On Windows, insert installation media and boot from it, then select Repair Your Computer. On Mac, restart and hold Command+R to enter Recovery Mode, then use Disk Utility to repair your hard drive.

If you can't reach Safe Mode because your computer won't boot at all, the problem may be a hardware failure rather than a software issue. Try removing any recently installed hardware (a new graphics card, RAM, or external drive), then restart. If that doesn't help, your hard drive or motherboard may be failing, and you'll need to take the computer to a repair shop.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will Safe Mode delete my files or programs?

No. Safe Mode only changes which programs load at startup. Your files and installed programs remain on your hard drive. When you restart normally, everything returns to the way it was before.

Can I use the internet in Safe Mode?

In basic Safe Mode, no — networking is disabled. On Windows, you can choose Safe Mode with Networking when you select your startup option, and you'll have internet access. On Mac, Safe Mode includes networking by default.

Why is Safe Mode so slow?

Safe Mode disables graphics acceleration and loads fewer drivers, so your computer has to work harder for basic tasks. This is temporary and normal. Once you restart normally, your computer will return to full speed.

How do I know if I'm actually in Safe Mode?

On Windows, the words "Safe Mode" appear in the corners of your screen and in the System Information window. On Mac, "Safe Mode" appears in the upper right corner of the menu bar. If you don't see these labels, you're in normal mode.

What if the problem still happens in Safe Mode?

If your computer crashes or freezes in Safe Mode, the problem is likely a hardware issue (bad RAM, failing hard drive, overheating) rather than a software problem. Try running your computer's built-in hardware diagnostics: on Windows, search for "Memory Diagnostic" or "Windows Memory Diagnostic"; on Mac, restart and hold D to open Apple Diagnostics.