How to Boot into Safe Mode in Windows 11? What Can it Do? (All-around Guidance)

When you start/boot into Safe Mode, it runs with the basics—essential files and drivers needed for the essentials. Nonessential stuff is turned off, keeping things simple and focused on the core parts.

This simplified configuration is vital for identifying and resolving issues arising from software or problematic drivers. Now, let's learn how to boot into Safe Mode in Windows 11 and explore its specific capabilities.

Boot into Safe Mode on Windows 11 in 3 ways

How to boot into Safe Mode on Windows 11? Here we prepare 3 ways. You can choose the one according to your situation.

Way 1. Windows 11 boot into Safe Mode via Start Menu

Step 1. Hold down the Shift key as you click on the Restart option in the Start menu (Power > Restart).

Step 2. Once your computer restarts, a menu displaying various options will appear. Select the Troubleshoot option.

Step 3. You will now be on the Advanced Options screen. Click on Startup Settings.

Step 4. Click Restart located in the bottom-right corner of the following screen.

Step 5. Choose the specific type of Safe Mode you wish to boot into. Then Windows 11 boot into Safe Mode successfully.

Way 2. Start Windows 11 in Safe Mode by pressing specific keys

To start Windows 11 in Safe Mode is possible even when the system is powered off. However, it's important to confirm that you have previously activated this fast boot key for the process to take effect.

Step 1. Open your computer and quickly press the F8 key or the Ctrl key to access the Startup Settings screen. Subsequently, use the F4/F5/F6 keys to select the desired safe mode for booting.

Step 2. After a few minutes, your computer will enter Safe Mode.

Way 3. Run Settings to boot into Safe Mode in Windows 11

To boot into Safe Mode in Windows 11, using Settings is a good idea as well. Follow the steps to learn how to boot into Safe Mode on Windows 11 quickly.

Step 1. Open Settings and, in the default System tab, find and click on the Recovery option.

Step 2. In the subsequent screen, click on Restart now next to Advanced startup.

Step 3. A pop-up dialog will appear. Click Restart now. Your PC will restart.

Step 4. Upon restart, follow the steps outlined in the initial section of this article: Go to Troubleshoot -> Click on Startup Settings -> Click Restart -> Choose the type of Safe Mode you want to boot into.

What can Safe Mode do?

Windows 11 Safe Mode can be useful in some cases. We are going to share the details with you in this part.

Case 1. Boot into Safe Mode in Windows 11 to fix Windows errors

Encountering Windows errors, such as boot issues, error code 0xc0000001, or your Windows 11 welcome screen being stuck, is not an uncommon occurrence. To boot into Safe Mode Windows 11 allows you identify and troubleshoot the root cause of the error. This is particularly beneficial when startup issues arise, as Safe Mode bypasses unnecessary startup programs for smoother access to your desktop.

It also aids in identifying and resolving problems related to problematic drivers or incompatible software, allowing efficient uninstallation or updating of conflicting elements. As an example, you can uninstall malware in Safe Mode.

Step 1. Initiate the computer boot process using installation media. Select "Repair your computer" and proceed through the wizard.

Step 2. Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup settings. Click "Restart" to proceed.

Step 3. Upon restart, press F4 to activate "Safe Mode".

Step 4. Simultaneously press the "Windows" key and the "I" key to open Settings, and select Apps from the menu.

Step 5. Locate the desired apps for removal and click "Uninstall" to proceed.

After that, you can reboot your computer to check whether the Windows errors are solved.

Case 2. Start Windows 11 in Safe Mode to reset the password

Another common case for booting into Safe Mode in Windows 11 is when you need to reset your password due to forgetting your login credentials, and as a result, you're unable to access your device.

Step 1. Enable Windows 11 Safe Mode with the aforementioned steps.

Step 2. Then, in the Search box, type "Command Prompt", and then click on "Run as administrator" in the right panel.

Step 3. In the Command Prompt window, type "net username password" and then press Enter.

If you see the message stating "The command completed successfully". it indicates that your password has been reset successfully.

What to do if Safe Mode doesn't solve your problems?

Case 1. Fix Windows errors or troubleshoot boot issues

While Windows 11 Safe Mode is effective in fixing some problems, it doesn't always work out. For example, in cases like the ones we mentioned before, such as Windows errors or boot issues, the root cause can be a corrupted Master Boot Record (MBR). At this time, it is advisable to employ a professional problem-solving tool to safely and easily troubleshoot complex issues, such as AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional.

This is a multifunctional tool that excels beyond Windows 11 Safe Mode, effectively solving various computer problems. It enables you to quickly and accurately troubleshoot issues at home.

If you encounter Windows errors, you can try its Rebuild MBR functions to deal with the situation.

Step 1. Insert the USB drive into the operational Windows 11 computer. Launch AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional, and in the main window's top panel, select "Tools > Make Bootable Media". Click Next.

Step 2. Check the option for USB Boot Device and click "Proceed" to create a Windows 11 bootable media.

Step 3. Boot your malfunctioning Windows 11 PC using this created bootable media, and the AOMEI Partition Assistant interface will appear.

Step 4. Identify the system hard disk and opt for "Rebuild MBR" from the dropdown menu.

Step 5. Choose the MBR type that corresponds to your Windows system.

Case 2. Easily reset forgotten password

If you fail to reset your password or are seeking an easier way, AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional also provides a Reset Windows Password function.

Step 1. Connect an empty USB to a functional Windows 11 computer. Install and open AOMEI Partition Assistant Professional. Go to the main interface and click "Tools" > "Reset Windows Password".

Step 2. In the prompted window, click "Next" to initiate the creation of a WinPE bootable media.

Step 3. Check "USB Boot Device", select the connected USB, and click "Proceed" to proceed.

Step 4. Be aware that the USB will be formatted during the process. If important data is present, back up and retry; if not, click "OK" to continue.

Step 5. Once the bootable USB is created, disconnect it and attach it to your Windows 11 computer. Boot the PC from this USB to access the AOMEI Partition Assistant interface. Click "Reset Windows Password", choose the Windows system, and click "Next".

Step 6. Select the user account and choose the desired action: "Remove Account Password" or "Reset Account Password". For example, opt for "Reset Account Password" and click "Next".

Step 7. Type the new password and confirm it, then click "Yes". Then, you can log into your Windows 11 system with the new password.

Conclusion

With the 3 ways to boot into Safe Mode in Windows 11 and the specific capabilities introduction, you can better get close to this utility. However, as a precautionary measure, you can still download a free demo of AOMEI Partition Assistant.

Apart from Rebuild MBR and Reset Windows Password, it supports moving installed apps to another drive, converting system disk between MBR/GPT, creating a Windows To Go to bypass OS upgrading requirements, and so on. For Windows Server users, AOMEI Partition Assistant also offers the Server edition.