How to Use Recovery, Safe Mode, or Reset in Windows 11 or 10

To boot into recovery mode in Windows 11, open Settings > System > Recovery, then select Restart now beside Advanced startup. Save your work before confirming. After the restart, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options to see the available repair tools. You can also hold Shift while choosing Power > Restart from Start or the sign-in screen.

This opens Windows Recovery Environment, often shortened to Windows RE or WinRE. Entering its menu is separate from starting a reset, restore or reinstall. The Settings path above is for Windows 11; Update & Security > Recovery belongs to Windows 10.

Prepare Before Restarting

Save open documents and connect a laptop to power. If Windows is still usable, back up important files before trying repairs. Merely opening recovery choices does not erase files, but the operation you select afterward may change or remove data.

Have the BitLocker recovery key available for an encrypted Windows drive. Certain recovery tools require it. Microsoft’s recovery-key guide explains how to match the displayed key ID to a saved 48-digit key in the relevant personal or work account, a printout or a USB backup. A sign-in PIN is not that key. On a managed PC, contact IT rather than changing recovery or firmware policies yourself.

Open Recovery Mode From Windows 11 Settings

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings, then select System.
2. Choose Recovery. Locate Advanced startup under Recovery options; it is separate from Reset this PC.
3. Select the Restart now button beside Advanced startup. Save outstanding work and confirm any restart prompt.
4. Wait for the Choose an option recovery screen. Select Troubleshoot, then Advanced options.
5. Read the available tools before selecting one. If you only wanted to inspect the menu, return to Choose an option and choose Continue to start Windows normally.

Microsoft’s Windows recovery documentation confirms this entry point. A recovery menu is not the same as the blue crash screen that reports a stop code. Its choices let you navigate to troubleshooting tools.

Use Shift + Restart From Start or the Sign-in Screen

This route helps when Settings will not open or you can reach the sign-in screen but cannot reach the desktop. It requires a working Power menu; it is not a solution for a completely unresponsive screen.

1. If you are signed in, save your work and open Start > Power. At the sign-in screen, use its Power button instead.
2. Press and hold Shift, select Restart, then let the PC restart into the recovery choices.
3. Choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options. Supply the recovery key or account credentials if the selected tool requests them.

Reaching the menu without signing in does not bypass encryption or administrator requirements. Do not select Reset this PC simply because you are trying to regain access to Settings.

When Windows Will Not Start

Windows can enter Automatic Repair after repeated startup failures. If you reach its repair screen, choose Advanced options to access recovery choices. If repair repeatedly returns to the same screen, record the message and the original symptom before choosing another tool.

If recovery does not load, use compatible recovery or installation media. For the startup-key and external-device procedure, see our Windows 11 boot-menu guide. A USB containing ordinary files is not automatically bootable.

1. If you already made a recovery USB for this PC, connect it and follow the manufacturer’s boot-device instructions to start from it. It opens Windows RE.
2. If you have no recovery drive, use a working PC and Microsoft’s official media-creation process to prepare compatible Windows installation media. Back up the USB first because preparation can erase it.
3. Boot the affected PC from that media. In Microsoft’s current Windows 11 setup, choose language and other preferences, select Next, then Repair my PC and Next to enter Windows RE. Older setup screens may say Repair your computer.
4. Stop at the recovery tools if your purpose is diagnosis. Choosing an installation or Recover from a drive process is a separate, potentially destructive action.

Microsoft also documents forcing Automatic Repair by interrupting normal startup twice and allowing the third startup to proceed. Forced shutdown can lose unsaved work or interrupt disk writes, so use normal restart or recovery media when possible. Do not interrupt an installation, update or firmware update to try this method. If you are unsure what the PC is doing, get device-specific support before forcing it off.

Start Windows 11 or 10 in Safe Mode

After saving work, use Settings > System > Recovery > Advanced startup > Restart now, or Shift + Restart from Start or the sign-in screen. In recovery, choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. After that second restart, press 4 or F4 for Safe Mode, or 5 or F5 for Safe Mode with Networking when that is needed. Enter the BitLocker recovery key if requested.

Have the account password available: PIN and biometric sign-in may be unavailable in Safe Mode. Safe Mode loads a limited set of components to help isolate a problem; it does not repair every fault automatically. When finished, save work and restart normally to leave this one-time Startup Settings selection. If Startup Settings is absent, use the recovery-media guidance above. See Microsoft’s Startup Settings instructions.

Open the Recovery Menu in Windows 10

For Windows 10, save work and open Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. Under Advanced startup, select Restart now, then choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options. To enter Safe Mode, continue to Startup Settings > Restart, then select 4/F4 for Safe Mode or 5/F5 when networking is needed. Use 6/F6 only if you specifically need Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Have the account password and encrypted-drive recovery key ready; a Windows Hello PIN can be unavailable in Safe Mode. Sign in, perform the intended troubleshooting and use the exit instructions below to return to normal startup. Shift + Restart provides another route into recovery. Entering this menu does not itself start Reset this PC.

Leave Safe Mode and Start Windows Normally

Save work and restart normally first. A one-time Startup Settings choice generally ends after that restart. If Windows keeps starting in Safe Mode, press Windows + R, enter msconfig, open the Boot tab, and clear Safe boot for the current Windows entry. Select Apply > OK, then restart and confirm normal startup.

Do not delete boot entries or alter unrelated options. Have your sign-in password and encrypted-drive recovery key available. On a managed PC, consult IT before changing a persistent boot configuration. Microsoft documents this exit procedure in its Startup Settings guide.

Remove a Persistent Safe Mode Setting With Command Prompt

Try the restart and System Configuration method above first. If you deliberately set Safe boot for the Windows installation you are currently signed into, an administrator can remove that persistent option with Command Prompt. Search Start for Command Prompt, choose Run as administrator and accept the authorization prompt. Opening cmd through Run alone does not guarantee elevation. In that elevated Command Prompt, enter bcdedit /enum {current} and inspect the current entry. If it contains the safeboot setting you intended to remove, enter bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot. Use Command Prompt for this syntax; PowerShell treats braces differently.

After a successful operation, save open work and choose Start > Power > Restart. Check that Windows starts normally. Microsoft documents removing a boot option and the administrator requirement and safer alternatives. If the element is absent or access is denied, stop and check the entry or permissions rather than deleting other options. These instructions are for the running Windows installation, not a guessed entry in the recovery environment or a multiboot setup. Have the BitLocker recovery key available; do not treat changing Secure Boot or encryption as a way around a missing key.

Understand the Tools Before Choosing One

Startup Repair targets problems that prevent Windows from starting. Uninstall Updates removes an applicable recent update. System Restore uses an existing restore point to roll back system changes; it is different from restoring personal documents from a backup.

Startup Settings leads to options such as Safe Mode. Microsoft documents Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart, then selecting the required number or function key. See its Startup Settings instructions for the choices. Safe Mode is a limited Windows startup; it is not another name for the recovery menu.

UEFI Firmware Settings opens firmware setup, and Use a device, when present, starts another bootable device. Neither automatically repairs Windows. Tools vary with the PC, Windows build and available backups; newer recovery features may add other choices.

Reset this PC reinstalls Windows. Its keep-files option still removes apps and resets settings, so it is not a substitute for a backup. Recovery-drive reinstallation can remove personal data. Do not choose these operations just to confirm that recovery mode works.

Fix Missing or Unexpected Recovery Choices

No Update & Security section: that is expected in Windows 11. Use System > Recovery, or Shift + Restart if Settings is unavailable. Check that you used the Advanced startup restart button rather than the neighboring reset button.

A recovery-key prompt appears: match its key ID with the saved key using Microsoft’s instructions above. Do not share the key in a public support post. If a work or school account holds it, contact the organization.

The PC returns to Windows immediately: try the other normal entry point. If neither works, follow the documented recovery-media route or seek support for missing or damaged recovery components. Repeated power interruptions are not the first troubleshooting step.

An expected tool is absent: available features depend on the recovery environment. A missing restore point cannot be created retrospectively. Describe the exact menu and error to your PC maker or IT team rather than choosing a more destructive option at random.

Reset Windows 10 and Remove Everything

Before resetting, make an independent backup of the files you need and locate the BitLocker recovery key if the PC is encrypted. In Windows 10, open Start > Settings > Update & Security > Recovery. Under Reset this PC, choose Get started, then Remove everything. This removes personal files, apps and settings while reinstalling Windows. The Windows 11 entry is Settings > System > Recovery > Reset PC. Choose Cloud download for a downloaded Windows copy or Local reinstall for the files already on the PC; availability varies with the installed version.

Review the final removal summary and any offered drive or cleaning settings before choosing Reset. Make sure the scope matches the intended Windows drive rather than erasing additional drives by accident. Optional Clean data takes longer and makes recovery harder, but Microsoft says it does not meet government or industry erasure standards. Let the process finish through its restarts; a black screen can last over 15 minutes, and forcing a restart can make the reset fail. Complete initial setup, check activation and available updates, reinstall needed apps, and restore your backup. Microsoft’s reset instructions distinguish these choices.

Reset Windows 10 With the Keyboard or Keep Personal Files

Before resetting, back up important files, verify the backup opens and have the BitLocker recovery key available if the device is encrypted. In Windows 10, press Windows + I, then use Tab, Shift + Tab, the arrow keys and Enter to move the visible focus through Update & Security > Recovery > Reset this PC > Get started. The number of key presses varies by layout, so follow the highlighted control instead of a fixed Tab count. Choose Keep my files to reinstall Windows while retaining personal files, or Remove everything only when you intend to remove them too. Keeping files still removes apps and settings; it is not a substitute for a backup.

Choose Cloud download or Local reinstall when offered, then review the summary and any manufacturer-app or drive-cleaning options before confirming Reset. Microsoft’s reset guide explains the choices. Keep power connected and let the restarts finish without interrupting them. Complete the displayed setup or sign-in, check your retained files if that option was selected, reinstall required apps, and restore verified backups as needed. The Remove Everything section above explains its extra drive-scope and disposal choices. Resetting reinstalls Windows; it does not always reproduce the exact factory image or original manufacturer software.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a recovery drive in advance?

Yes. Search Start for Recovery Drive on the working PC. Follow Microsoft’s Recovery Drive instructions, using an empty USB and backing up its contents first. Include system files when requested. This media is for that device and does not include your personal-file backup.

Does opening recovery mode fix the problem?

No. The menu provides access to tools. Choose one that matches the symptom, read its prompts and keep a backup before an operation that changes the system. You can leave without starting a repair.

How do I exit recovery mode?

Return to Choose an option and select Continue when available to start Windows 11. If you booted external media, leave its setup or recovery screen, remove the media when it is safe to do so and start the internal Windows drive. Confirm Windows loads normally before considering the recovery attempt finished.