Using Safe Mode in Windows 11 is essential for diagnostics, as this mode operates the operating system using only the essential drivers for its basic functionality.
There are different methods to access Safe Mode. One of them involves going to device settings, navigating to system adjustments, and selecting the 'Advanced Startup' option, which leads to the Windows recovery environment. Alternatively, it is possible to enter this mode by pressing the 'Shift' key along with the 'Restart' button directly on the computer's login screen.
To begin, open Windows 11 settings through the Start menu or use the shortcut 'Windows + I' to access the operating system interface. Then, locate and select the 'System' section on the left side of the screen and click the 'Recovery' option.
The next step is to find the 'Advanced Startup' option and click 'Restart now' to be directed to the Windows 11 Recovery Environment (WinRE). After restarting, on the blue screen, the user must choose 'Troubleshoot' and subsequently 'Advanced options.'
From there, select 'Startup Settings' and click 'Restart'. If disk encryption is active on the equipment, you will need to provide the BitLocker key as indicated on the screen. Finally, the type of startup in Windows 11 Safe Mode must be selected using the keyboard.
Additionally, the Windows 11 Recovery Environment (WinRE) can be accessed from the operating system login screen, especially if the user does not know the password or access code. To do this, simply hold down the 'Shift' key while clicking the 'Restart' menu to activate the recovery environment and then start Windows 11 Safe Mode.
When entering Safe Mode, certain resources, services, or drivers available on the PC are disabled, and the variation of these components depends on the options chosen by the user.
It is mentioned that pressing the 'F8' key during Windows 11 startup can lead to WinRE on some devices, although this may not happen on newer devices. In these scenarios, an attempt can be made to force the system shutdown by repeatedly pressing the 'power/off' button for a few seconds. On certain occasions, this abrupt shutdown of Windows 11 manages to open the recovery environment to allow the system to start in Safe Mode.
Finally, to exit the operating system's Safe Mode, you need to restart Windows 11 normally. If the problem persists, the user can use the command 'Windows + R' to open the 'run' utility, type 'msconfig', and press Enter. After that, the 'Safe boot' option must be disabled or 'normal startup' must be chosen to take Windows 11 out of Safe Mode.