How To: Safe Mode and other Advanced Startup Options

Note: This article explains how to enter Safe Mode and other Advanced Startup Options in Windows 8. Please see our other articles for information on Windows 10 or Windows 7.

For information on how to use Safe Mode to troubleshoot issues, please see the following article:

Advanced Startup Options allow you to boot your computer in Safe Mode as well as other options listed below:

• Enable debugging
• Enable boot logging
• Enable low-resolution video
• Enable Safe Mode
• Enable Safe Mode with Networking
• Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt
• Disable driver signature enforcement
• Disable early launch anti-malware protection
• Disable automatic restart after failure

IMPORTANT: There are many possible ways to enter the Advanced Startup Options, for additional ways to enter, refer to ADDITIONAL ADVANCED STARTUP OPTIONS ACCESS follwing the article below.

To access the Advanced Startup Options, perform the following:

1. While on the Start screen type “Advanced Startup”.
   
   
2. Under “Settings” select “Advanced Startup Options”.
3. Under the “General” menu item, scroll to the bottom.
4. Under “Advanced Startup” click “Restart Now” button.
   
   
5. When the “Choose an Option” screen appears, select “Troubleshoot”.
   
   
6. In the Troubleshoot menu select “Advanced Options”.
   
   
7. In the Advanced Options menu select “Startup Settings”.
   
   
8. Click the “Restart” button to boot into the “Startup Settings” screen.
   
   
9. When the laptop restarts, select the desired startup by pressing the associated F key from the options below and the computer will boot into the selected mode.

• F1 – Enable debugging
• F2 – Enable boot logging
• F3 – Enable low-resolution video
• F4 – Enable Safe Mode
• F5 – Enable Safe Mode with Networking
• F6 – Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt
• F7 – Disable driver signature enforcement
• F8 – Disable early launch anti-malware protection
• F9 – Disable automatic restart after failure

ADDITIONAL ADVANCED STARTUP OPTIONS ACCESS

Option 1

1. On the Windows 8 Start Screen, press CNTL + ALT + DEL.
2. On the next screen select the Power icon located in the lower Right.
   
   
3. When the options appear, press the SHIFT key and select "Restart".
   
   
4. The "Choose an Option" screen will appear. Select "Troubleshoot" to continue as described in the procedure above.
   
   

Option 2

1. On the Windows 8 Start Screen open the Settings Charm on the Right side of the screen.
2. Select Power.
3. When the options appear, press the SHIFT key and select "Restart".
   
   
4. The "Choose an Option" screen will appear. Select "Troubleshoot" to continue as described in the procedure above.
   
   

   Option 3

   1. If not already, ensure the computer is completely shut down. How To: Shut Down a Laptop with Windows 8
   2. Now restart the computer by pressing the power button - IMMEDIATELY start tapping the F12 key on the keyboard until the "Boot Menu" screen appears.
   3. Using the arrow keys, select <HDD Recovery> and press "Enter".
   4. On the next screen you are asked to confirm if you want to contiue with recovery. Select "Yes".
   5. The computer will bring you to the Advanced startup screen.
   6. Select Troubleshoot.
   7. Select Advanced options.
   8. Select Startup settings.
   9. Press Restart.
   10. Select Safe Mode from the list.