Windows 10 Safe Mode

What is Safe Mode?

Safe Mode is a particular way to boot up Windows 10 that limits what apps or processes get to run, and what those things that do run have access to. Safe mode lets the computer function enough so that programs can be removed, settings can be changed, and diagnostic tools can be run. But enough operations are restricted so that potentially harmful or malicious programs cannot do damage to the system, steal personal information, or copy themselves to infect another system or device.

A computer running in Safe Mode will look immediately different from one in normal mode. The desktop background will be replaced with solid black, the four corners of the desktop will display the words “Safe Mode,” and the top of the screen will display the current Windows build and service pack number.

Consider Safe Mode to be a quarantine chamber. When things go wrong, but you still need to access your system to figure out what exactly is happening, use Safe Mode. Here are some examples of why people typically boot into Safe Mode.

Why Would You Want to Boot Into Safe Mode?

There are a few main reasons to start up Windows 10 in Safe Mode. You might have a system error that is serious enough that your operating system isn't able to run in normal mode. Or at least not without crashing. In cases like this, you need a mode that you can use to find out what the problem is and fix it. By limiting what gets to run and what resources those apps have access to, Safe Mode can sometimes run the parts of the system you need in order to find and fix the problem.

You might need to roll back a program, that is, replace a more recent version with a previous one. You might want to do this if you suspect a recent update to a specific app or driver is causing problems, either because it conflicts with other programs or because it has a bug. You can also roll back your entire operating system, with a method called System Restore. This restores your software, registry, and driver configuration, essentially the entirety of your operating system, to a previous state called the “Restore Point.” You can do this if you suspect a recent update to the operating system itself is the source of the problem, or if you suspect that the problem stems from a recent update to an app or driver -- but don't know which one.

You might want to enter Safe Mode in order to scan for malware or viruses without giving possible malicious software a chance to execute any functions or spread to another system. In this case, you could think of Safe Mode as a sort of precautionary quarantine for your system.

You may want to use Safe Mode to uninstall apps from Windows, especially if those apps are untrustworthy, unstable, ones that you don't know the true source of or ones that you simply don't trust. Starting your system in Safe Mode before you uninstall these kinds of software will limit the damage they can do to your privacy or to your system if something goes wrong during the uninstallation. This mode also helps to limit the damage if trying to uninstall some malware triggers something destructive in the app. This is the function we'll be taking a closer look at in the next few sections.

How to Start Windows 10 In Safe Mode

There are three main ways to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode. Which one you use will probably depend on what problem or problems you're trying to fix. Have a look at all three before picking a course of action.

From the Settings Menu

If your operating system is still running as normal, then go to the Settings menu. You can access this either by pressing the Windows Key and the “I” key at the same time or by opening the Start menu and selecting Settings from the Gear icon on the left side. In Settings, scroll down to “Update & Security,” which will have an icon of two arrows forming a clockwise circle, and select that. You should see a list of options on the left of the Settings window. Select “Recovery” next to the icon of a circular arrow above a rectangle. The third option this gives you will be “Advanced startup,” with a button underneath that says “Restart now.”

After you select this, your computer will restart. It will then show a screen that says “Choose an Option,” described in the “Choose an Option” section below.

If for any reason this technique isn't working, you can attempt the same procedure from Windows Config. Press the Windows Key and “R” at the same time. In the prompt that pops up, type “msconfig” and press Enter. Under the Boot tab, click the Safe Boot checkbox, then click “OK”. Remember to do this procedure again and untick this box when you're done with Safe Mode, so that the system boots back into normal mode next time.

From the Sign-In Screen

If the operating system isn't stable enough that you can get to the Settings Menu, you can get to Safe Mode from the Windows sign-in.

While on the Sign-in screen, hold down the Shift key and select “Power” and then “Restart.” You can release the Shift key once it begins restarting. Once the system restarts, it will bring up the “Choose an Option” screen, as described below.

From Windows Recovery Mode

If you cannot get the operating system to start at all, or it is stuck in a state from which you cannot reach either the Settings Menu or the Windows Sign-in, you can boot into Safe Mode from the Windows Recovery Environment, also known as “winRE.” This is a failsafe system, built into Windows 10, meant to take over if your PC fails to boot properly three times in a row.

You can attempt to enter this mode directly by tapping the F8 key on your keyboard several times as the system boots up. But if this doesn't work, you'll need to use the triple power-up trick.

To get to winRE mode, you will need to power your PC off and on repeatedly, enough times that the Windows recovery system takes over. First, power off your PC. In most computers, you do this by holding down the power button for five to ten seconds. Once it is off, press the power button again to turn it back on, but be ready to once again hold the power button. When Windows 10 begins booting, power your PC off again. On many computers, this will be when the manufacturer's logo shows on the screen. Power down the PC again when it tries to boot: hold down the power button for five to ten seconds or until it powers off. Then power it up again, and when it tries to boot, power it down.

The third time you power your PC on, let it fully restart. This should take it into winRE, Windows Recovery Mode. Once it gets there, the first thing you see should be the “Choose an Option” screen, as detailed below.

The Choose an Option Screen

Whatever method you use, you should at this point reach a blue screen that says “Choose an Option.” Select the one that says “Troubleshoot” next to an icon of a screwdriver and a wrench, which should be in the middle, then select “Advanced Options” next to the icon of a checklist. Then select “Startup Settings,” confirm you want to restart, and when it restarts again you will see another list of options.

Select option 4, or press “F4” on your keyboard, to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode. Select option 5, or press “F5,” to start Windows 10 in Safe Mode with Networking

Different Options for Safe Mode

There are two options for Safe Mode. If what you need to do does not need access to the Internet, then you will want Safe Mode, the one selected with Option 4 or by pressing “F4.” In this version of safe mode, only those drivers and services necessary for the operating system to work will be allowed to load. The downside is that this means no apps will be able to connect to the Internet. This can be a problem if what you're trying to fix requires you to access an online diagnostic database or to download a fixed version of an app. But it also means that malware can't download malicious code, give remote access to anyone unauthorized, transmit stolen information anywhere, or copy itself to infect another machine.

If you need an Internet connection in order to complete the steps you need to do to resolve the problem, then what you will want is Safe Mode with Networking. This is option 5, also accessed with the “F5” key. Due to the risks of dealing with unreliable or suspicious programs, however, it is often best that whatever troubleshooting you intend to do should be attempted first in Safe Mode, without networking.

How to Uninstall Apps On Windows 10

Once you are in Safe Mode, uninstalling apps on Windows 10 isn't a complicated task, and there is more than one way to do it.

Start by selecting the Windows logo in the bottom left corner, or by pressing the Windows key, to open the Start menu. From here, you can scroll through an alphabetical list of apps and programs that are installed on your system. Right-click any of them, then select “Uninstall” from the menu that pops up.

For easy problem programs, that's all there is to it. However not all the apps installed on your computer are going to appear in the Start menu. And if an app is malicious, or causing enough problems that it's necessary to go into Safe Mode to deal with it, then it is likely it falls into this latter category.

Again from the Start menu, select “Settings” next to the dear icon on the left side of the Start menu. Scroll down until you see “Apps” next to an icon of a checklist, and above a short description that includes “Uninstall, defaults, optional features.” Selecting “Apps” will take you to a window with another sidebar on the left. The top option on this sidebar, “Apps & Features,” should already be selected, but if it isn't, select it now.

When it is selected, the right half of the window will display a list of all apps and programs currently installed on your system, in alphabetical order. You should also see a search bar. Either scroll down the list to find the app you need to remove or find it using the Search bar. Then select it, and select the “Uninstall” option that appears.

Depending on the program, a short dialog box may appear, asking you to confirm whether you want to remove it. Also, be aware that sometimes the Apps & Features list is slow to update after a program has been removed, and it may still be visible in the list after it's been uninstalled until you open the Apps & Features list again and it refreshes. Don't worry if you accidentally try to Uninstall something that's already been uninstalled: this will only pop up an error message that says Windows can't find the program to Uninstall it.

That's how to uninstall apps on Windows 10.

Why Safe Mode Helps Uninstall Dangerous Apps

The benefit to Safe Mode, when dealing with dangerous apps, is that some of them are intentionally dangerous. Unwanted, untrustworthy, or unauthorized apps may be designed to try to steal personal information, copy themselves, or damage your system in retaliation if they detect that you are trying to remove them. Safe Mode, by shutting down access to the Internet and all but the barest essentials, prevents anything they may try to do from executing.

In previous versions of Windows, Windows Installer, the utility used to install and uninstall programs, didn't function in Safe Mode. Much of the information available online is written about how to circumvent this obsolete issue, which can cause confusion for those looking for answers and finding conflicting information about what Safe Mode can do, and about methods to address that.

But be assured: the method described above was tested, live and in-person, as part of the writing of this piece. You can uninstall apps in Windows 10 Safe Mode. It does in fact work. You do not need to use the command prompt, run anything as an administrator, or download any tooltips.

How to Protect Yourself from Phishing and Privacy Attacks

Of course, the best way to avoid dangerous apps is to avoid being a target. Oftentimes, phishing attacks with links to suspect websites and software arrive in E-mail. If you're using software that provides a fake E-mail, masks your true identity online, and ensures full privacy, this is far less likely to happen.

Hoody is a privacy app that works with your web browser. It can automatically generate a new fake E-mail address to create accounts online. This is particularly helpful if you don't know or trust the software company you might be trying out for the first time. For each site, Hoody can also generate a full fake profile, random password, and a fake browser fingerprint that will keep malicious entities from getting your personal information or tracking your online activities.

Some phishing attacks are regionally targeted. Hoody can also mask your true location. This not only adds to the privacy aspects but it can be used to get around things like Internet censorship and regional blocks. It's a nice piece of software to have if you care about your online safety and privacy, and a vital piece of software if you live in an area where Internet censorship takes place on a regular basis.

How to Exit Safe Mode

Once you are finished uninstalling any problematic apps, and you think the needed repairs and restorations are complete, you can return to the Normal Mode of Windows simply by restarting your computer as normal. If you used the “msconfig” method, make sure you go back into Windows Config and untick the Safe Boot checkbox.