How to Boot Into Safe Mode or Experimental Mode Using Command Prompt in Windows

When facing system troubles or needing to troubleshoot an issue, booting into Safe Mode or Experimental Mode is a handy method. Both modes can be initiated using the Command Prompt in Windows. This article provides a detailed guide on how to achieve Safe Mode or Experimental Mode through the Command Prompt.

Boot Into Safe Mode Using the Command Prompt

The Command Prompt is a powerful tool for system management and troubleshooting in Windows. Here, you will learn how to boot into Safe Mode using the bcdeit command and the shutdown command.

Method 1: Using the bcdeit Command

Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Open the Command Prompt by pressing Windows X to bring up the Start menu. Select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin) to open it as an administrator. Enter the Command: Type the following command and press Enter: bcdedit /set {default} safeboot minimal Restart Your Computer: After running the above command, restart your computer. It will boot into Safe Mode. To Exit Safe Mode: After you are done in Safe Mode, open Command Prompt as Administrator again and type the following command: bcdeit /deletevalue {default} safeboot Restart Your Computer: Restart your computer to return to normal mode.

Method 2: Using the shutdown Command

Restart Directly to Safe Mode: If you want to restart directly to the Safe Mode menu from the Command Prompt, use the following command: shutdown /r /o Choose Safe Mode: The computer will restart, and you will be presented with the Advanced Startup Options menu. From here, you can choose to boot into Safe Mode.

Best Practices and Notes

Follow these guidelines to ensure successful booting into Safe Mode or Experimental Mode:

Administrator Privileges: You must have administrative privileges to use these commands. Without them, you will not be able to make these changes. Correct Boot Loader Entry: The {default} in the bcdeit command refers to the current boot entry. If you have multiple entries, you may need to specify the correct identifier.

Boot Into Experimental Mode Using the Command Prompt

For advanced users who need access to experimental features or are exploring new software deployments, booting into Experimental Mode can be a useful strategy. This section explains how to initiate this mode.

Steps to Boot into Experimental Mode:

Open Command Prompt as Administrator: Open the Command Prompt using the same method as described earlier. Enter the Command: In the Command Prompt window, type the following command and press Enter: bcdedit /set {current} safeboot negligible Restart Your Laptop: After running the command, restart your computer. It will boot into Experimental Mode automatically. To Leave Experimental Mode: Once you are done, open Command Prompt as Administrator again and run the following command to remove the boot setup change: bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot Restart Your PC: Restart your computer to return to normal mode.

By following these steps, you will be able to access Safe Mode or Experimental Mode on your Windows PC using the Command Prompt. Both methods provide a way to troubleshoot issues and install new software without risking your system.