How to Exit Safe Mode in Windows 11/10 (and Fix Being Stuck)

Safe Mode is an essential diagnostic tool for Windows. It starts the operating system with a minimal set of drivers and services, helping you troubleshoot problems that might prevent Windows from starting or running correctly in its normal state. However, once you’ve finished your diagnosis or repairs, you’ll need to exit Safe Mode and return to your standard Windows environment.

Usually, exiting Safe Mode is simple, but sometimes Windows can get stuck booting into it repeatedly. This guide covers both the standard exit procedure and how to fix situations where Windows keeps booting into Safe Mode.

Method 1: The Standard Restart (How to Turn Off Safe Mode Normally)

In most cases, exiting Safe Mode is as easy as restarting your computer. If you entered Safe Mode for a one-time troubleshooting session (e.g., by holding Shift while clicking Restart or using the Advanced Startup options), Windows should automatically boot back into normal mode upon the next restart.

1. Click the Start button.
2. Click the Power icon.
3. Select Restart.

Your computer should now reboot into the normal Windows 10 or Windows 11 environment. If it boots back into Safe Mode, proceed to the next method.

Method 2: Using System Configuration (msconfig) to Disable Safe Boot

If Windows continuously boots into Safe Mode, it’s likely that the “Safe boot” option was permanently enabled in the System Configuration utility (msconfig). You need to manually disable this setting.

1. While in Safe Mode, press the Windows key + R simultaneously to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type msconfig and press Enter or click OK.
3. The System Configuration window will open. Go to the Boot tab.
4. Under the “Boot options” section, look for the checkbox labeled Safe boot.
5. If the Safe boot option is checked, uncheck it.
6. Click Apply, then click OK.
7. You will be prompted to restart your computer. Click Restart.

Your PC should now exit Safe Mode and boot normally. This is the most common fix when you’re “stuck in safe mode” or when “windows keeps booting safe mode.”

Troubleshooting: Still Stuck in Safe Mode?

If you’ve tried restarting and have confirmed that “Safe boot” is unchecked in msconfig, but Windows still insists on booting into Safe Mode, try these troubleshooting steps:

• Double-Check msconfig: It sounds simple, but carefully repeat Method 2 to ensure the “Safe boot” option is definitely unchecked and the change was applied.
• Use Advanced Startup Options / Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE):
  • You might be automatically taken to WinRE if Windows fails to start normally multiple times.
  • Alternatively, from the Safe Mode login screen or desktop, click the Power icon, hold down the Shift key, and click Restart. This should force boot into the blue WinRE screen.
  • Once in WinRE, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
  • Startup Repair: Try running this first. It can automatically fix certain issues preventing Windows from starting normally.
  • System Restore: If the problem started recently, you could try restoring your system to a point before the issue began. This won’t usually affect your personal files but will remove apps, drivers, and updates installed after the restore point was made.
  • Command Prompt: This is a more advanced option.
    • Select Command Prompt from the Advanced options menu.
    • Type the following command and press Enter:
      bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot This command attempts to directly remove the Safe Boot setting from the Boot Configuration Data (BCD) for the currently running operating system entry.

bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot

• If that command gives an error or doesn’t work, you might try identifying the specific boot entry identifier first with bcdedit and then using that identifier instead of {current}, but {current} usually works.
• After running the command, type exit and press Enter, then choose Continue to exit WinRE and restart your PC.
• Check for Stuck Keys: Although less common with modern keyboards, ensure no keys like Shift or F8 (which historically could trigger Safe Mode) are physically stuck.
• Consider Recent Changes: Did this issue start after installing a specific driver, software, or Windows Update? If you can identify a problematic change, you might be able to uninstall it from Safe Mode (using Control Panel > Programs and Features or Settings > Apps) or use System Restore (as mentioned above).
• Last Resort: Reset or Reinstall Windows: If none of the above works, you may need to consider resetting your PC (keeping or removing files) or performing a clean installation of Windows, both accessible via the Windows Recovery Environment (Troubleshoot > Reset this PC). Always back up important data before taking this step if possible.

Exiting Safe Mode is usually straightforward, but getting stuck can be frustrating. By following the steps above, particularly using msconfig to “disable safe boot msconfig” and leveraging the tools in the Windows Recovery Environment, you should be able to get your system booting normally again.