Getting out of Safe Mode in Windows 11 isn’t too tricky, but it can be a pain if you don’t know the right steps. Safe Mode is handy for fixing crap — like driver dramas or malware — but once you’re sorted, you wanna get back to normal, yeah? Usually, a proper restart does the trick, but sometimes Windows gets stuck in Safe Mode if a setting played up. So, here’s the rundown to get your PC booting normally again. Spoiler: it’s not magic, but you do need to follow a few steps.
How to Exit Safe Mode in Windows 11
Once you’ve sorted out what put you into Safe Mode, you need to tell Windows to get out of it. Often, a quick restart does the job, but if not, you’ll have to dive into Advanced Startup options. The goal is to get Windows back to its full, proper boot, with all the features and drivers working like they should. Expect your desktop to look normal again and everything to run smoothly. Not sure why it sometimes refuses to exit normally — Windows can be a bit stubborn — but this method works most times.
Restart Your PC Normally
- Click on the Start menu, then hit the Power button, and choose Restart.
- This should kick things off and hopefully boot Windows into normal mode. If it keeps coming back in Safe Mode after a restart, move along to the next method.
This first step helps because sometimes a simple reboot clears the Safe Mode flag. If you’re lucky, Windows will resume a regular boot now. If not, here’s what else to try.
Accessing Advanced Startup Options
- While your PC is rebooting, do this: hold down Shift and click on Restart from the Power menu. (If you’re stuck in Safe Mode, press Win + R, type
shutdown /r /o /f /t 00in Command Prompt, and hit Enter. That forces a reboot into the Advanced Startup menu.) - You’ll land in a menu where you can pick different start-up options, so you can tell Windows to start normally this time.
Why do this? Because Windows sometimes just gets pig-headed and keeps booting into Safe Mode, especially if a start-up setting is flagged. Holding Shift during restart forces Windows into recovery mode, where you can manually reset those settings.
Navigate to Startup Settings
- On the Choose an option screen, click Troubleshoot.
- Next, go to Advanced options — yep, the menu where all the magic happens.
- Then select Startup Settings.
This is where Windows lets you pick how it starts up, including turning Safe Mode off.
Restart to Change Boot Settings
- Click Restart in the Startup Settings menu.
- After a sec, you’ll see a list of options, like enabling Safe Mode, Disable Driver Signature Enforcement, and so on.
This is the tricky bit. Don’t worry too much about the options — just find the one that starts Windows normally.
Select Normal Boot
- Press the number that corresponds to Start Windows Normally (usually it’s key 4, but it can vary depending on your Windows version).
- Once you do that, the system will reboot and hopefully load Windows back to normal, just the way you like it.
Once it’s done, your desktop should look normal again, and all your apps will load without that Safe Mode badge. Sometimes it takes a couple of tries or reboots, but usually, it sorts itself out.
Tips for exiting Safe Mode in Windows 11
- Make sure any driver updates or software you needed Safe Mode for are sorted before rebooting out.
- Check for pending Windows updates — they sometimes upset the apple cart and keep you stuck in Safe Mode.
- If Windows keeps booting into Safe Mode, look into the System Configuration tool. Hit Win + R, type
msconfig, go to the Boot tab, and make sure Safe Boot isn’t ticked. - Keep backups handy, just in case something goes sideways while you’re fiddling.
- Don’t forget: a full reboot after turning Safe Mode off helps finalise the changes. Even if it looks good, restart again just to be sure.
Questions Aussies Ask About Safe Mode
What is Safe Mode?
It’s Windows running on minimal drivers and system files — pretty much stripped-back. Good for troubleshooting stuff like dodgy drivers, malware, or software clashes.
Why is my PC stuck in Safe Mode?
Usually because a setting in System Configuration or a driver isn’t playing ball. Sometimes Windows automatically boots in Safe Mode if it spots issues.
Can I use the internet in Safe Mode?
Only if you boot into Safe Mode with Networking. Regular Safe Mode doesn’t include network drivers, so no internet or email. Keep that in mind if you need online while fixing things.
How can I tell if I’m in Safe Mode?
Look for the words “Safe Mode” in the corners of your screen — usually top or bottom — plus lower graphics quality and limited features.
Is Safe Mode meant for everyday use?
Nah. It’s only for troubleshooting. Using it day-to-day is like wearing a raincoat inside — not very comfy or practical.
Quick summary of the steps
- Restart your PC normally and see if it boots out of Safe Mode.
- Use Shift + click Restart to get into the Advanced Startup options.
- Go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
- Click Restart and pick the “Start Windows Normally” option.
- If it still plays up, check the System Configuration (
msconfig) to make sure Safe Boot isn’t ticked.
All done and dusted
Getting out of Safe Mode in Windows 11 can be simple or a bit tricky — sometimes a quick restart fixes it, other times you need to give it a nudge through the advanced menu. Now that you’ve got the steps, just give them a go — no magic needed. Hopefully, this helps get your system back to normal without any drama.