Safe Mode is one of the important features of Windows operating system. The feature, which is present in all recent versions of Windows operating system, is often used to troubleshoot booting issues.
In Windows 7 and prior versions of Windows, accessing Safe Mode option was very straight-forward. We just had to press the F8 key after powering the computer. However, the procedure to boot Windows into Safe Mode is bit too complicated in Windows 8 and Windows 10.
Although there are a couple of ways to boot into the Safe Mode in Windows 8 and Windows 10, none of them are straight-forward and require you use additional third-party utilities.
For all those users who often need to access the Safe Mode in Windows 8 and Windows 10, here is a better way to boot Windows into Safe Mode.
The idea is to add Safe Mode option to the boot menu, which means you will see the boot menu with Safe Mode option for a couple of seconds. In fact, once configured correctly, the boot menu will appear every time you restart or perform cold boot.
You can configure Windows to display the boot menu with Safe Mode option for two or three seconds. When you need to boot into the Safe Mode, all you need to do is select the Safe Mode option in the boot selection menu and press Enter key.
If you love the idea of adding Safe Mode option to the boot selection menu of Windows 10 or 8.1, please go ahead and complete the below mentioned instructions.
Safe mode in Windows 10 or 8.1 boot menu
Step 1: Open Command Prompt as administrator. To do so, type CMD in Start menu search box and then simultaneously press Ctrl+Shift+Enter keys. Alternatively, on Windows 10, type CMD in Start menu search box, right-click on Command Prompt entry and then click Run as administrator option.
If you’re on Windows 8/8.1, type CMD when you’re in Start screen and then press Ctrl+Shift+Enter.
Step 2: Type or paste the following command in the Command Prompt window and then hit Enter key to execute the same.
bcdedit /copy {current} /d “Safe Mode”
Once the command is executed, close the Command Prompt either by typing Exit or clicking the Close button.
Step 3: Next, open Run command box by simultaneously pressing Windows logo and R keys (Windows+R). In the box, type Msconfig and then press Enter key to open System Configuration utility dialog.
Step 4: Click on the Boot tab. Select Safe Mode from the list, check the box labelled Safe boot (under Boot options), and set the Timeout to 3 seconds. Note that you can enter a value between 0 and 30 as Timeout value. Setting 3 seconds means that boot selection menu with Safe Mode option will appear for 3 seconds before automatically booting into Windows in normal Mode.
So, if you feel that you might not be able to select the Safe Mode option in 3 seconds, you can increase the value to 5 seconds.
Finally, click Apply button. That’s it!
Reboot your PC. Safe Mode option should now appear in the boot selection menu. The boot screen menu will automatically disappear after three seconds to boot into Windows. Note that, when you select Safe Mode option from the boot menu, your PC will reboot once to boot into the Safe Mode and you won’t see additional Safe mode options.
To remove the added Safe Mode from boot menu
Step 1: Open System Configuration utility by typing Msconfig in the Run command box and then pressing Enter key.
Step 2: Switch to the Boot tab, select Safe Mode from the list (be sure to select the Safe Mode option), and then click Delete button (make sure that you selected Safe Mode and not any other option) to remove it.
Note that it’s very important to select Safe Mode option in the list before clicking the Delete button as deleting Windows 8 or Windows 10 entry will make your PC unbootable. So be very sure to select Safe Mode option before clicking the Delete button.
Good luck!
Jake says
Ricky, Use Extreme caution. I had the same problem and when I tried to fix it my PC became un-bootable. Shame on me, there is a warning at the end. But, shame on the Author because warnings for something as critical as this should be the first thing you read not the last. After 3 days with Microsoft and HP Techs it was agreed that the only way out was a total re-format of the drive and even that did not resolve the issue. It only repaired itself because I had purchased the OEM Factory Recovery discs. It took the PC back to the original setting and Windows 7. It took 6 hours to work it’s magic and I am hoping all of my data in backup will help restore my PC.
ricky says
Would not boot in safe mode when clicked, when I checked safe boot in msconfig, it kept booting in safe mode without any options.
Columbus Jude says
Tried 14 times and it never worked with HP f024wm Notebook 8.1 32 bit…
waste of time and money…..
Karl says
Love the help page here. This has helped me so much. And now I have added a Macrium Reflect for a 5th option on that page. Just exactly what I need so I can begin to use my computer. Thank you.
grehgiuregbiure says
lol.. No need savemodes if have backups :)
ashish jeph says
I won t to try this
carter says
thanks for this great tip!
Michael McLeod says
I tried what you said to do (and checked it thrice) but I get an error message that says something like “explorer encountered an internal error” And explorer would not show the icons. I am using Win 10. What’s wrong?
Michael