Safe Mode Archives - Rick's Daily Tips

How (and when) to boot Windows 10 and Windows 11 into Safe Mode

Posted on February 7, 2026

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If you’ve been a Windows user for any length of time you probably know that there are times when it helps to boot Windows into Safe Mode.

In a nutshell, booting into Safe Mode forces Windows to load just the most basic Windows files and hardware drivers.

This helps a great deal when trying to remove stubborn viruses, track down faulty hardware drivers and resolve a wide range of software issues.

[Read more…]

Q&A: How do I stop Windows from repeatedly booting into Safe Mode?

Posted on June 6, 2024

Question from Jenna: I need your help, Rick.

I turned my computer on this morning and it booted up into Safe Mode instead of the normal mode.

I tried restarting the computer several times and it always boots into Safe Mode.

It’s an HP laptop with Windows 10. How can I make it boot up normally like it should? [Read more…]

How (and when) to boot your Android device into Safe Mode

Posted on February 15, 2024

If you’re a Windows or Mac user you probably know that restarting your computer in Safe Mode is a great way to troubleshoot software problems that are difficult to track down when everything but the kitchen sink is running on the machine.

In a nutshell, booting a device into Safe Mode ensures that only the most essential parts of the operating system and the most basic hardware drivers are loaded into memory to make it easier to track down those most stubborn issues.

Luckily, Android devices can be booted into Safe Mode as well. [Read more…]

How (and when) to boot your Mac into Safe Mode

Posted on January 22, 2024

Safe Mode is a powerful tool that can help resolve software and hardware issues that are often difficult to identify while a full-blown Windows installation is running.

In a nutshell, booting a machine into Safe Mode typically loads only the operating system kernel plus just a few basic hardware device drivers.

This is basically a stripped down version of the operating system that isn’t affected by any auto-loading programs or advanced device drivers. [Read more…]

How (and when) to boot Windows into ‘Safe Mode’

Posted on September 21, 2023

Rick’s Tech Tips Newsletter

If you use a Windows PC there will likely come a time when you need to start up Windows in Safe Mode for trouble-shooting purposes.

Which brings up a question you might be asking…

What is Safe Mode?

When you boot up Windows into Safe Mode only the bare essentials of the operating system are loaded.

Only the system’s basic hardware drivers are loaded, and no programs listed in the Startup folder are allowed to load and run.

In a nutshell, Safe Mode makes it much easier to troubleshoot and fix software problems such as bad drivers, corrupted Windows files, really viruses and a lot more.

How to boot Windows into Safe Mode [Read more…]