Unfortunately, there isn’t a simple shortcut on your desktop to open Safe Mode because it’s an alternative way to boot into Windows. Getting there requires you to walk through a handful of steps, but the directions below make it straightforward.

Part 1 of 2: Get to the Advanced Startup Options (ASO) Menu

There are a few ways to boot in Safe Mode in Windows 10. Some methods are easier than others, and most of them require you to access the ASO menu first. We’ll go over everything you need to do to get there.

If Windows Starts Normally

Follow one of these first sets of directions if you can get into Windows. Otherwise, skip down a bit to see your options if Windows 10 won’t boot up all the way.

Access Safe Mode With a Keyboard Shortcut

The quickest way to open Windows 10 in Safe Mode is from the sign-in screen or the desktop by holding Shift while selecting Restart. If you’re on the sign-in screen (not yet logged in), press the power button on the bottom right to find the restart option: If you’re already logged in, open the Start menu and then press the power button: Either way, after choosing to restart with the Shift key held down, skip down to the “Part 2 of 2: Choose a Safe Mode Option” section further on down this page for help on what to do next.

Access Safe Mode Via Settings

Another way to get to the ASO menu is through Settings, but it takes a tad longer:

Access Safe Mode With System Configuration

Yet another way you can restart Windows 10 in Safe Mode is with System Configuration. This route will bypass Advanced Startup Options entirely, saving you a few steps later on (but you’ll have to undo these steps, too, when you’re done):

Access Safe Mode With Shutdown Command

The final method we’ll mention uses the shutdown command to restart Windows 10 in Safe Mode. Just enter this into Command Prompt to boot into the ASO menu and then choose which Safe Mode type you want by following the steps in the “Part 2 of 2: Choose a Safe Mode Option” section below:

Minimal starts the normal Safe Mode.Alternate shell is for Safe Mode with Command Prompt.Network boots into Safe Mode with Networking.

shutdown /r /o

If Windows Won’t Start

The methods above boot into Safe Mode when Windows 10 is already working, but if Windows won’t start to begin with (probably why you need Safe Mode in the first place), there is another option.

Use an Installation Disc or Flash Drive

If you can’t get Windows to start, use your installation disc or flash drive (or borrow one from someone else).

Part 2 of 2: Choose a Safe Mode Option

Now that you’ve landed on the right screen, here’s where to find the Safe Mode options: bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal

How to Exit Windows 10 Safe Mode

When you’re all done using Safe Mode, you need to restart to return to Normal mode. In fact, you might be rebooting several times to test whether the changes you’re making are having positive effects on whatever has plagued your computer.

4 enables regular Safe Mode.5 enables Safe Mode with Networking.6 enables Safe Mode with Command Prompt.

There are a few ways to undo Safe Mode depending on how you got there:

If you see the desktop and booted to Safe Mode from within Windows, restarting works the same way as when you’re using Windows typically: Open the Start menu to select the power button and then the Restart option. If you’re using Safe Mode temporarily with Command Prompt (i.e., you chose the Command Prompt option from the ASO menu), use Ctrl+Alt+Del to see the familiar shutdown button or enter shutdown /r into Command Prompt. If you see the desktop, but you used your Windows setup media or the System Configuration tool to get in, run the msconfig command, go into the Boot menu of that tool, uncheck Safe boot, choose OK, and then restart. If you ran the bcdedit command earlier and editing System Configuration didn’t exit Safe Mode, enter this in a Command Prompt: bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot

If you ran the bcdedit command earlier and editing System Configuration didn’t exit Safe Mode, enter this in a Command Prompt: bcdedit /deletevalue {default} safeboot