Force the next boots into Safe Mode (and back) — via Microsoft Learn
When a bad driver or app makes Windows unusable, Safe Mode starts with only basic drivers. You can make Windows keep booting into Safe Mode until you switch it back — the same thing msconfig's Safe boot box does.
Restart the computer
The easy way
- The easy way: press Win+R, run
msconfig→ Boot tab → tick Safe boot (Minimal, or Network for internet) → OK → Restart. Untick it later to go back. - One-off alternative: Advanced startup → Troubleshoot → Advanced options → Startup Settings → Restart → press 4 or 5.
Command
Run in an administrator Command Prompt / Terminal window.
bcdedit /set {current} safeboot minimalUndo
bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safebootUsesafeboot networkinstead ofminimalif you need networking. Write the undo command down first: the PC keeps starting in Safe Mode until you run it (if Windows won't start at all, run it from Advanced startup → Command Prompt, where{default}may be needed instead of{current}). Microsoft notes BitLocker may need suspending before changing boot settings.
Sources
- Changing the ATA Drive setting causes reboot loop — bcdedit safeboot steps — by Microsoft Learn
- Unable to boot into normal mode, machine keeps booting into safe mode — by Microsoft Learn
- BCDEdit /deletevalue — by Microsoft Learn
- Source reviewed
- 2026-11-02
- Link checked
- 2026-11-02
- Tested hands-on
- Not by Oddbyte.Me
Oddbyte.Me hasn't tried this on every Windows build, so keep the undo handy.