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It starts the computer with only the bare minimum system files required to boot, disabling all third-party drivers and utilities. It can help a computer boot up when it otherwise wouldn't in order to troubleshoot and resolve problems.","contributor":{"@type":"Person","name":"Brian Pickle","url":"https://techterms.com/authors/brian_pickle"},"image":"https://techterms.com/img/md/safe_mode_276.png","url":"https://techterms.com/definition/safemode"} </script> </head> <body> <div id="full"> <header id="siteheader"> <div class="content"> <a href="#main" class="visuallyhidden">Skip to main content</a> <a href="/" class="logo"><img src="/svg/logo.svg" width="212" height="24" alt="TechTerms.com"></a> <div class="siteheader-middle"> <div class="searchwrapper collapsed"> <form id="search" class="search" action="/search" method="post"> <div class='autocomplete' role='combobox' aria-expanded='false' aria-owns='autocomplete-results'> <input type="text" id="term" name="term" placeholder="Search (e.g. safe mode, router, dongle)" aria-label="Search (e.g. psd, docx, exe, jpg, zip)" autocomplete="off" class='autocomplete-input term' aria-autocomplete='both' aria-controls='autocomplete-results'> <button id="searchsubmit" class="searchsubmit"></button> </div> <ul id='autocomplete-results' class='autocomplete-results hidden' aria-label='Search'> </ul> </form> </div> <a href="/random" class="headerbutton random" id="random"><img src="/svg/random.svg" alt="random" width="16" height="16"></a> <button id="searchtoggle"><img src="/svg/search-white.svg" alt="search" width="18" height="18"></button> </div> <div class="siteheader-right"> <button id="menuopen"><img src="/svg/menu.svg" alt="open menu" width="18" height="16"></button> <nav id="sitemenu" class="collapsed"> <button id="menuclose"><img src="/svg/close.svg" alt="close menu" width="14" height="14"></button> <ul> <li><a href="/browse/">Terms</a></li> <li><a href="/quiz/">Quizzes</a></li> <li><a href="/help/">Help Center</a></li> <li class="mobile"><a href="/random">Random Term</a></li> <li class="settings"><button id="settings"><img src="/svg/settings.svg" alt="settings" width="22" height="22"></button> <div class="settingsmenu"> <fieldset> <legend>Theme</legend> <input id="theme-default" value="default" type="radio" name="theme" checked> <label for="theme-default">Light</label> <input id="theme-dark" value="dark" type="radio" name="theme" > <label for="theme-dark">Dark</label> <input id="theme-hc" value="hc" type="radio" name="theme" > <label for="theme-hc">High Contrast</label> </fieldset> <div class="fontsizewrapper"><label for="fontsize">Font Size<input type="range" id="fontsize" name="fontsize" min="14" max="26" step="2" value="20"></label><span class="currentsize">20</span></div> <button id="resetsettings">Reset</button> </div> </li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </header> <main> <div class="adTopLB"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589388248615-0'> </div> </div> <div id="main" class="def"> <div id="left"> <div class="card hasheader"> <div class="cardheader"> <div class="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Home</a><svg viewBox="0 0 9 14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m0 14 9-7-9-7z"/></svg><a href="/category/technical">Technical Terms</a><svg viewBox="0 0 9 14" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path d="m0 14 9-7-9-7z"/></svg>Safe Mode Definition</div> </div> <article> <h1>Safe Mode</h1> <div class="adDefRect"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589302365809-0'> </div> </div> <p>Safe Mode is a special diagnostic mode for <a href="/definition/boot">booting</a> into an <a href="/definition/operating_system">operating system</a>. It starts the computer with only the bare minimum system files required to boot, disabling all third-party <a href="/definition/driver">drivers</a> and utilities. It can help a computer boot up when it otherwise wouldn't in order to <a href="/definition/troubleshooting">troubleshoot</a> and resolve problems.</p> <p>Safe Mode can help you narrow down the cause of problems and take steps to fix them. For example, if <a href="/definition/windows">Windows</a> fails to boot normally but successfully loads in Safe Mode, you know that the problem stems from <a href="/definition/software">software</a> rather than <a href="/definition/hardware">hardware</a>; you can uninstall drivers and <a href="/definition/application">applications</a> that may be causing the issue and then attempt to boot normally. You can also run diagnostic software to repair corrupted <a href="/definition/file">files</a> or <a href="/definition/directory">directories</a> that could cause the operating system to crash or fail to boot.</p> <p>Safe Mode is most often associated with Windows, but other operating systems have safe modes. You can start older versions of Windows in Safe Mode by holding the F8 key as it boots, but Windows 8.1 and later instead automatically display options to start in Safe Mode after several failed boot attempts. You can access the <a href="/definition/macos">macOS</a> version of Safe Mode, called Safe Boot, by holding the Shift key as the computer restarts.</p> <div class="adBotLB"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589236206757-0'> </div> </div> <div class="cardfooter"> <div class="upDate"><div class="author">Updated <span class="pdate">February 20, 2023</span> by <a href="/authors/brian_pickle">Brian P.</a></div></div><div id="citations"> <div class="tabs"> <div role="tablist" aria-label="citations"> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="apa" tabindex="-1">APA</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="mla" tabindex="-1">MLA</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="chicago" tabindex="-1">Chicago</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="html" tabindex="-1">HTML</button> <button role="tab" aria-selected="false" aria-controls="link" tabindex="-1">Link</button> </div> <div class="citationwrap"> <div id="apa" 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11.6-11.6 11.6-7.5 0-13.5 6-13.5 13.5s6 13.5 13.5 13.5c21.3 0 38.6-17.3 38.6-38.6v-325.7c0-21.3-17.3-38.6-38.6-38.6z" stroke-width="15"/></svg></button> </div> </div> </div> </div> </article> </div> <div id="defquiz" class="card"> <h2 class="heading logoheading"><img src="/img/main/quiz.png" alt="quiz" style="width:45px">Test Your Knowledge</h2> <div class="quizBox"> <div class="quizBody"> <p class="quizQuestion">Which year did the Unix epoch begin?</p> <div class="quizTable"> <div id="ansButtonA" class="answerButton activeButton" data-answer="Anum" data-date="2023-04-17"><span class="ansLetter">A</span> <div class="answerCell"><span id="answerA" class="quizAnswer">1965</span> <div class="answerBar"> <div id="quizBarA" class="quizBar"></div><span id="quizPercA" class="quizperc">0%</span> </div> </div> </div> <div id="ansButtonB" class="answerButton activeButton" data-answer="Bnum" data-date="2023-04-17"><span class="ansLetter">B</span> <div class="answerCell"><span id="answerB" 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href="/definition/application">Application</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/file_system">File System</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/directory">Directory</a></li> <li><a href="/definition/troubleshooting">Troubleshooting</a></li> </ol> </div> </div> <div class="card"> <h2 class="heading">Safe Mode Images</h2> <div class="baguetteBox gallery"> <figure> <a href="https://techterms.com/img/xl/safe_mode_276.png"><img src="https://techterms.com/img/sm/safe_mode_276.png" alt="Safe Mode in Windows 10" width="225" height="169" srcset="https://techterms.com/img/md/safe_mode_276.png 450w, https://techterms.com/img/sm/safe_mode_276.png 225w" sizes="(max-width: 748px) 225px, (max-width: 970px) 162px, 225px"></a> <figcaption class="caption">Safe Mode in Windows 10</figcaption> </figure> </div> </div> <div class="adRightSky"> <div id='div-gpt-ad-1589233879778-0'> </div> </div> </div> <div class="techterms card"> <h2 class="heading">The Tech Terms Computer Dictionary</h2> <p>The definition of Safe Mode on this page is an original definition written by the <a href="/authors/">TechTerms.com team</a>. If you would like to reference this page or cite this definition, please use the green citation links above.</p> <p>The goal of TechTerms.com is to explain computer terminology in a way that is easy to understand. We strive for simplicity and accuracy with every definition we publish. 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