How To Exit Safe Mode in Windows 11: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

Getting Out of Safe Mode in Windows 11

So you’ve ended up in Safe Mode on Windows 11, huh? It’s meant for fixing stuff, but eventually, it’s time to get back to the real world where everything actually works. Generally, the exit route isn’t too complicated, but it can be a real head-scratcher if things don’t go according to plan. If your machine’s acting like it wants to stay in Safe Mode forever, here are a couple of things to try.

Just Restart It

First off, the classic reboot. Seriously, if entering Safe Mode was just a temporary pit stop, your PC might hop back into normal mode with a quick restart. However, if it’s still stuck—like a bad song on repeat—you might want to dig a little deeper.

Using System Configuration (msconfig)

If the good old restart didn’t do the trick, let’s try diving into the System Configuration tool. This is where you can tell your PC to stop being so stubborn. Here’s the deal:

– Hit Windows + R to open the Run box.
– Type msconfig and press Enter.
– Find the Boot tab and look for that annoying Safe Boot checkbox.
– Uncheck that bad boy.
– Click OK, and you’ll probably get a prompt to restart. Click that Restart option.

After the restart, things should ideally be back to normal. If not… well, welcome to the next level of troubleshooting.

Command Line Magic

Still stuck? Try Command Prompt. Sounds fancy, right? Here’s how to shake things up:

– Right-click the Start menu and select Windows Terminal (Admin). You can also find Command Prompt (Admin) in there.
– Type in this line to kick Safe Mode to the curb:

bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot

– Hit Enter and then restart your machine with shutdown /r /t 0.

This should remove any Safe Boot settings and get your PC back to its usual self.

Registry Editing if You Dare

If you’re still having bad luck, check the registry. But, be careful here; this isn’t for the faint of heart:

– Open the Registry Editor by pressing Windows + R, typing in regedit, and hitting Enter.
– Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot

– Make sure nothing is telling Windows to stay in Safe Mode. Just a heads-up: messing with the registry can cause some serious headaches if done wrong.

What to Look For If It Keeps Happening

Before going nuts, check for these:

– Are Windows updates pending? Go to Settings > Windows Update to make sure everything’s current.
– Is there a driver issue? Take a peek in Device Manager and check your device properties.
– Did a recent change go awry? Any new software might have caused this mess.

Also, running System File Checker could do wonders. Just type this in an elevated Command Prompt:

sfc /scannow

Quick Commands for Troubleshooting

– To restart from Safe Mode:

shutdown /r /t 0

– And to disable Safe Mode using command line:

bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot (make sure you’re in admin mode).

Final Bits

Navigating out of Safe Mode should ideally be straightforward, but sometimes it’s just not that simple. Whether you’re rebooting or adjusting settings, the goal is to get back to business. If these tricks don’t work, it might be worth leaping into a more advanced troubleshooting session or contacting support.

And hey, if restarting once doesn’t do it, try again after a minute. It’s kind of weird, but sometimes it plays nice after a second attempt.