Safe Mode is a way of opening up a limited version of Windows. Doing so allows you to get around bugs or avoid viruses while troubleshooting problems with your system, making it safer for you to work on issues affecting the core of your computer.

On older systems, you may boot into Safe Mode by starting up your computer and pressing F8 when Windows first loads. However, Microsoft‘s latest iteration of Windows doesn’t follow this rule. So how do you turn on safe mode in Windows 10? This guide explains everything you need to know.

Which safe mode do you want?

On Windows 10, there are a few different types of Safe Mode you can choose from, so it’s important to know what they do and which you need.

Method 1: From the login screen or when frozen

If you are still on the login screen, this is an effective way to quickly boot into Safe Mode — and it may also work ifWindows has suddenly frozenor programs like Outlookhave become unresponsive.

Step 1:From the login screen, hold downShift, and then click the power button on the screen (not your physical power button on the PC or laptop). A small box should pop up with a few different shut down options. Choose theRestartoption.

Step 2:Windows should revert to a window that saysChoose an option(it may take a little time so don’t try anything until you see this). From here you will need to go through a few different menus to find the right restart option. First chooseTroubleshoot, thenAdvanced options, thenStartup Settings, and thenRestart.

Step 3:Windows should now open up to a new window that saysStartup Settingsand includes a list of different options. The firstSafe Modeoptions should be4, with the other Safe Mode options following after. Press the number key for the Safe Mode that you want.

Method 2: When you’re already in Windows 10

There’s a slightly more roundabout way of booting into Safe Mode from Windows 10. You’ll find this method helpful if you want to shut down safely and restart Windows while preserving as much data as possible — without needing complex command lines.

Step 1:Head to yourStartmenu, and then choose or search forSettings.

Step 2:In Settings, look forUpdate & Securityand select it. This will open a new window with a sidebar on the left side. In this sidebar, look forRecovery, and select that.

Step 3:Under theAdvanced startup option, you should see aRestart nowbutton. Select it and this will take you to the same selection screen as the first method of enteringSafe Mode.

Step 4:Move through these menus by selectingTroubleshoot, thenAdvanced options, thenStartup Settings, and thenRestart.

Step 5:Give Windows time to load your selection of Startup settings. TheSafe Modeoptions start at number 4. Press the number key for the Safe Mode you want.

Starting from a blank screen

Sometimes your PC will shut down before you can even reach a login screen, or it will refuse to show anything but a blank screen. If you can only get a blank or black screen, your steps to enter Safe Mode are a bit different. Here’s what you should try:

Step 1: Press the power button once to turn on your computer. Now, as soon as your computer gives any sign that it’s on — preferably a manufacturer logo on the screen, but if not, go with spinning fans — hold the power button down again for 10 seconds. You’re giving Windows 10 an SOS signal with these steps.

Step 2: RepeatStep 1.

Step 3: For the third time, press the power button once to turn the PC on, and at the first sign Windows has started, hold the power button down once more for 10 seconds until your device has turned off.

Step 4: Now press the power button a final time. Windows should have received the signal, and will boot up in recovery mode. From here, as before, selectTroubleshoot>Advanced Options >Startup Settings >Restart. Then press the4key or a similar option for your desired Safe Mode.

Exiting Safe Mode

Once youfix your Windows problem, restoring the device’s original settings will require a few more steps. Follow the ones below to get back to your standard Windows 10 experience.

Note:You can also boot into Safe Mode from Windows by reversing the second part of Step 2.

Step 1: Start by clicking on theStartbutton. In the search box on your screen, enterMSConfigand clickEnter. The computer will then go to the System Configuration feature automatically.

Step 2: Go to theBootoption. UnderBoot optionsand on the lower left of the screen, you should see several options forSafe boot. Select one of those. Ensure thatSafe bootis not checked.

Step 3: Now thatSafe bootis unselected, chooseOK, and opt to restart Windows 10. You can restart the computer as you normally would. From there, it should reopen with its full Windows capabilities.