Safe mode starts Windows in a basic state, using a limited set of files and drivers. If a problem doesn't happen in safe mode, this means that default settings and basic device drivers aren't causing the issue.

Start your PC in safe mode. If you're having trouble restarting, you can start your PC in safe mode. See start your PC in safe mode in Windows 10 for details. From safe mode, you can try the remaining troubleshooting steps. Check the Device Manager. Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.

Windows Recovery Environment (Windows RE) is a set of built‑in Windows tools designed to help troubleshoot and fix common system problems. If your PC has trouble starting, Windows RE can automatically launch and attempt to repair the issue. It also serves as a central starting point for advanced tools used in manual system recovery.

Learn how to change settings to enable Secure Boot if you are not able to upgrade to Windows 11 because your PC is not currently Secure Boot capable.

Find help and how-to articles for Windows operating systems. Get support for Windows and learn about installation, updates, privacy, security and more.

A clean boot starts Windows with only essential drivers and startup programs, making it easier to identify and troubleshoot background software conflicts affecting apps or games. Unlike starting Windows in Safe Mode, it provides greater control to isolate the source of a problem

Learn about the recovery options in Windows. Find out how to reset your PC, go back to a previous version of Windows, or use media to reinstall Windows.

Windows 10 in S mode is a version of Windows 10 that's streamlined for security and performance, while providing a familiar Windows experience. To increase security, it allows installing apps only from Microsoft Store and requires Microsoft Edge for safe browsing.

Learn how to switch out of S mode to install apps from outside of the Microsoft Store or to upgrade to Windows 11.

To restart in Safe Mode: Restart your device by selecting Power > Restart . When you see the sign-in screen, hold the Shift key while you select Power > Restart. After your PC restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart. After your PC restarts, you'll see a list of options.