{ "id": "d6076fc8-8142-42ff-96f8-025018247a3e", "created_at": "2026-04-06T03:35:47.552274Z", "updated_at": "2026-04-10T03:24:30.211066Z", "deleted_at": null, "sha1_hash": "f4c1af084ddeabefc747f6bb74581f70fd3f8f25", "title": "Windows Startup Settings - Microsoft Support", "llm_title": "", "authors": "", "file_creation_date": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "file_modification_date": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z", "file_size": 432415, "plain_text": "Windows Startup Settings - Microsoft Support\r\nArchived: 2026-04-06 03:31:01 UTC\r\nApplies To\r\nSupport for Windows 10 has ended on October 14, 2025\r\nAfter October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide free software updates from Windows Update, technical\r\nassistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. Your PC will still work, but we recommend moving to Windows 11.\r\nLearn more\r\nYou might need to change Windows startup settings to troubleshoot issues, optimize startup processes, or alter the\r\nsystem’s boot behavior for specific tasks.\r\nFor example, a common troubleshooting option is to enable Safe Mode, which starts Windows in a limited state,\r\nwhere only the bare essentials services and drivers are started. If a problem doesn't reappear when you start in safe\r\nmode, you can eliminate the default settings, basic device drivers, and services as possible causes.\r\nOther startup settings include advanced features intended for use by system administrators and IT professionals.\r\nThis article describes how to modify the Windows startup behavior, and the available options.\r\nChange startup settings\r\nNote: If you’ve encrypted your device, you’ll need your BitLocker key to complete this task. If you don’t know\r\nyour BitLocker key, see Find your BitLocker recovery key.\r\n1. Access the Windows Recovery Environment\r\n2. Once in Windows RE, select Troubleshoot \u003e Advanced options \u003e Startup Settings \u003e Restart\r\nhttps://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-your-pc-in-safe-mode-in-windows-10-92c27cff-db89-8644-1ce4-b3e5e56fe234\r\nPage 1 of 5\n\nhttps://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-your-pc-in-safe-mode-in-windows-10-92c27cff-db89-8644-1ce4-b3e5e56fe234\r\nPage 2 of 5\n\n3.  Select Restart\r\n4. Once the device reboots, in the Startup Settings screen pick one of the available options, or press Enter to\r\nboot Windows normally\r\nhttps://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-your-pc-in-safe-mode-in-windows-10-92c27cff-db89-8644-1ce4-b3e5e56fe234\r\nPage 3 of 5\n\nStartup settings list\r\nHere's a list of startup settings that you can choose from. To select one, use the number keys or function keys F1-\r\nF9:\r\n1. Enable debugging. Starts Windows in an advanced troubleshooting mode intended for IT professionals\r\nand system administrators\r\n2. Enable boot logging. Creates a file, ntbtlog.txt, that lists all the drivers that are installed during startup and\r\nthat might be useful for advanced troubleshooting\r\n3. Enable low-resolution video. Starts Windows using your current video driver and using low resolution\r\nand refresh rate settings. You can use this mode to reset your display settings\r\nhttps://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-your-pc-in-safe-mode-in-windows-10-92c27cff-db89-8644-1ce4-b3e5e56fe234\r\nPage 4 of 5\n\n4. Enable Safe Mode. Safe mode starts Windows in a basic state, using a limited set of files and drivers. If a\r\nproblem doesn't happen in safe mode, this means that default settings and basic device drivers aren't\r\ncausing the issue. Observing Windows in safe mode enables you to narrow down the source of a problem\r\nand can help you troubleshoot problems on your device\r\n5. Safe Mode with Networking. Safe Mode with Networking adds the network drivers and services you'll\r\nneed to access the internet and other computers on your network\r\n6. Safe Mode with Command Prompt. Starts Windows in safe mode with a command prompt window\r\ninstead of the usual Windows interface\r\n7. Disable Driver Signature Enforcement. Allows drivers containing improper signatures to be installed\r\n8. Disable early launch anti-malware protection .  Early launch anti-malware protection (ELAM) is a\r\nsecurity feature in Windows that allows anti-malware software to start before all other third-party\r\ncomponents during the boot process. ELAM ensures that the system does not initialize unknown boot\r\ndrivers that could be malicious. Select this option to temporarily disable ELAM\r\n9. Disable automatic restart on system failure. Prevents Windows from automatically restarting if an error\r\ncauses Windows to fail. Choose this option only if Windows is stuck in a loop where Windows fails,\r\nattempts to restart, and fails again repeatedly\r\nYou can press Enter to start Windows normally.\r\nWhat if Windows keeps booting in Safe Mode? \r\nRestarting your device should be sufficient to exit from Safe Mode back into normal mode. However, if for some\r\nreason your device is still booting into Safe Mode, try this:\r\n1. Press the Windows key + R\r\n2. In the Open box, type msconfig and then select OK\r\n3. Select the Boot tab\r\n4. Under Boot options, clear the Safe boot checkbox\r\nNeed more help?\r\nWant more options?\r\nExplore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.\r\nSource: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-your-pc-in-safe-mode-in-windows-10-92c27cff-db89-8644-1ce4-b3e5e56fe234\r\nhttps://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-your-pc-in-safe-mode-in-windows-10-92c27cff-db89-8644-1ce4-b3e5e56fe234\r\nPage 5 of 5", "extraction_quality": 1, "language": "EN", "sources": [ "MITRE" ], "references": [ "https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/start-your-pc-in-safe-mode-in-windows-10-92c27cff-db89-8644-1ce4-b3e5e56fe234" ], "report_names": [ "start-your-pc-in-safe-mode-in-windows-10-92c27cff-db89-8644-1ce4-b3e5e56fe234" ], "threat_actors": [ { "id": "aa73cd6a-868c-4ae4-a5b2-7cb2c5ad1e9d", "created_at": "2022-10-25T16:07:24.139848Z", "updated_at": "2026-04-10T02:00:04.878798Z", "deleted_at": null, "main_name": "Safe", "aliases": [], "source_name": "ETDA:Safe", "tools": [ "DebugView", "LZ77", "OpenDoc", "SafeDisk", "TypeConfig", "UPXShell", "UsbDoc", "UsbExe" ], "source_id": "ETDA", "reports": null } ], "ts_created_at": 1775446547, "ts_updated_at": 1775791470, "ts_creation_date": 0, "ts_modification_date": 0, "files": { "pdf": "https://archive.orkl.eu/f4c1af084ddeabefc747f6bb74581f70fd3f8f25.pdf", "text": "https://archive.orkl.eu/f4c1af084ddeabefc747f6bb74581f70fd3f8f25.txt", "img": "https://archive.orkl.eu/f4c1af084ddeabefc747f6bb74581f70fd3f8f25.jpg" } }