How To Exit Safe Mode in Windows 11: A Step-by-Step Guide

How to Get Windows 11 Out of Safe Mode

Getting out of Safe Mode in Windows 11 can feel like navigating a maze, especially when your computer seems to really want to stay in it. Safe Mode is supposed to help troubleshoot issues, but sometimes it just doesn’t want to let go, which can be a bit frustrating. Luckily, it’s not as complicated as it seems. Just follow a few steps, and hopefully, that safe mode banner will be a thing of the past.

Restart Your Computer

First things first, just try giving your computer a regular restart. Sounds like a “duh” move, right? But sometimes that’s all it takes to shake off whatever funk got it stuck in Safe Mode. Think of it like getting a breath of fresh air. A simple restart can clear out temporary system glitches and is often the first thing to try before diving deeper.

Access System Configuration

Now, if a restart didn’t do the trick, you’ve got to dive into the System Configuration tool, aka msconfig. Here’s how to open it:

Hit Windows key + R to pop open the Run dialog.
Type msconfig and smash that Enter key.

This tool is kind of like your backstage pass for managing how Windows starts up. If you’re having trouble finding it, some of the more skilled users might know to check under “Tools” or in “Advanced Startup Options,” but a quick search usually works for most folks.

Navigate to the Boot Tab

Once you’re in System Configuration:

Click on the Boot tab—usually the last tab on the right.

This section shows all the startup options, and guess what? The culprit keeping you in Safe Mode is the “Safe Boot” option you’ll see there. This is the setting you need to change to escape that diagnostic limbo.

Disable Safe Boot

Now, here’s the crucial part—simply uncheck the box that says “Safe Boot.” That’s it. It’s mind-blowing how such a small click can save hours of headache. If you had Safe Mode with Networking or Command Prompt, make sure those options are unchecked too. After that, you’ll need to click OK to save the changes.

If for some weird reason the checkbox is greyed out, you might need to run msconfig as an Administrator:

Find msconfig in the Start menu.
Right-click and select Run as administrator.

This can be a lifesaver, giving you the permissions needed to make those changes.

Restart Your Computer Again

Now, it’s time to restart your computer again. Hit that Restart button in the System Configuration window or go through the Start menu. If all goes well, your PC should boot up normally. If it doesn’t, you can also manually shut it down and turn it back on:

Press Windows key + X, then choose Shut down or sign out > Shut down.
Power it up again.

Alternative Method via Advanced Startup

If you’re still stuck, there’s also the option to get out of Safe Mode through Windows 11’s Advanced Startup, which might come in handy:

Open Settings using Windows key + I.
Go to System > Recovery.
Under Advanced startup, click Restart now.
After the restart, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings.
Click Restart.
Once you’re at the Startup Settings screen, press 4 or F4 to enable Safe Mode (if you need to go back) or follow the steps to turn it off—just make sure to uncheck anything related to booting into Safe Mode in that environment.

Important Note:

Keep an eye out for any settings in BIOS/UEFI that might be forcing a Safe Mode start. Sometimes those settings can be a real pain and make Windows always boot into Safe Mode, which can drive anyone a little nuts.

Exiting Safe Mode shouldn’t be a mystery—mostly, it’s about waking your system up from its troubleshooting slumber. If it still won’t budge, it might be pointing to some underlying hardware or software issues that need further investigation. Regular updates via Windows Update or a system restore could be a good next step. More often than not, though, just toggling a few settings gets it back on track.

Safe Mode is a tool, not a cell. Getting out of it should be easy; just remember to keep digging if it starts becoming a regular issue—nobody wants to get wrapped up in those kinds of problems.

Try restarting your PC first.
Access System Configuration via Run with Windows key + R and type msconfig.
Go to the Boot tab.
Uncheck Safe Boot.
Click OK and restart.

Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone dealing with this issue.