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Sometimes, It's best to play it safe.
Last Updated on
Sometimes, people need to know how to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode with Networking drivers enabled. Windows OS isn’t exactly world renowned for its stability, certainly with the growing popularity of Windows 11 beta builds. Whilst it’s a versatile and easy-to-use system, crashes, bugs or a bad install may prompt troubleshooting and repairs at software level. The easiest way to find any faults with Windows is knowing how to start Windows 11 in safe mode with networking.
Safe mode allows users to run a ‘No Frills’ version of Windows 11 with just the necessary drivers, this is so users can try and pin-point what is causing specific problems by running programs one at a time. It’s a feature that is incredibly useful for developers, so much so that safe mode is the only version of the OS they boot into. More on that later.
As the name suggests, learning how to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode with Networking is safe enough to boot into, with Windows 11 reverting to it’s full-fat experience once the user’s PC is restarted. It’s part of Windows 11s troubleshooting suite which you’ll see shortly.
In this how-to, we’re going to show you how to start Windows 11 in Safe Mode with Networking so that users still have their internet connections. Of course, standard Safe Mode can be accessed in the same way if the issue is network-based or if you’d prefer this option, just select Safe Mode instead of Safe Mode with Networking.
The three types of Safe Modes are:
Here we go, it’s always wise to make sure you make a note of any changes to settings so you can revert them if needed. Also, make sure personal files such as documents and pictures are backed up via a USB device or your preferred cloud storage service (Such as Google Drive, OneDrive etc)
Search for and click settings in the start menu search field
In the recovery menu, click ‘Restart Now’ in the ‘Advanced Start-up’ field.
Click ‘Restart Now’, this will reboot your device and enter the ‘Windows Recovery Environment’. See ‘Accessing Windows Recovery Environment’ for next steps.
F4-F6 are the Safe Mode options. This will then boot Windows 11 into the corresponding Safe Mode.
This will reboot your system into Windows Recovery Environment, scroll back to Window Recovery Environment for next steps.
‘shutdown.exe /r /o’
This should only be done for users depending on Safe Mode for consistent troubleshooting tasks such as app/software developers and IT Technicians. Do not use this option for one-off issues, otherwise Windows 11 will not boot as normal until this process is reverted.
To reverse this, just uncheck the Safe Mode check box on the Boot tab on the System Config window.
For this, you will need to create a back-up disc from another PC or your current one if you still have access. By Using a USB pen drive with at least 8GB free, Windows formats said USB drive and converts it into a bootable drive which can reinstall Windows and troubleshoot when all else fails. It’s always wise to create one just to be on the safe side, see our guide for doing just that.
You will first need to enter your BIOS boot device options menu, this varies from motherboard to motherboard. The general use is to repeatedly hit the correct key as soon as your PC starts up. So for example. ASUS machines/motherboards require users to hit ‘Escape’. The initial boot screen should tell you as detailed on the examples above.
Whilst we wouldn’t recommend this, there may be no option if Windows 11 doesn’t boot to the login screen. Windows 11 Automatic Repair mode triggers when Windows 11 doesn’t boot three times in a row. As soon as windows starts loading on start-up, hold down your power button to shut down. After repeating this three times, Windows 11 will now boot into Automatic Repair Mode, once Windows has done it’s automatic checks, click on ‘Advanced Options’ to get into the Windows Recovery Environment.
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