[4 Ways] Boot into Lenovo Safe Mode in Windows 11

What does safe mode mean?

Safe Mode is a special startup mode in Windows used when a serious issue prevents the computer from functioning properly. It allows you to boot the system with minimal settings and drivers, so you can troubleshoot and fix the problem that's causing Windows to malfunction. Once the issue is resolved, you can restart your computer and it should boot normally.

When in Safe Mode, the operating system runs with only the essential programs, which may cause some apps to not function correctly, and your computer might run slower than usual. This is normal since not all drivers are active during Safe Mode.

Why need to boot the Lenovo computer into safe mode?

When you work or study with your computer, you find that your operating system just won’t start, or it keeps crashing on you. Many reasons can cause this to happen, including viruses, malware, corrupted files, system upgrades, or something else entirely. This is when you need to boot into safe mode to troubleshoot the underlying problem.

In this irritating situation, you may be very eager to know how to enter the computer safe mode. Don't worry, the following parts will show how to get to safe mode on a Lenovo laptop.

How to start Windows in safe mode Lenovo

Here are four different methods you can use to boot your Lenovo PC into Safe Mode on Windows 11. If your Lenovo computer is starting up without any issues, you can follow the first three methods. However, if your system is having trouble booting, you'll need to use the fourth method. Let’s go through each option step by step to find the best way for you to enter Safe Mode on your Lenovo PC.

#1. Boot into safe mode from Settings

1. Press Windows + I to open Settings, then select System＞Recovery option.

2. Click on the Restart Now button to the right of Advanced Startup.

3. Click on the Restart Now button again followed by Troubleshoot then Advanced options.

4. Click on Startup Settings then the Restart button to open the Startup Settings window.

5. Windows will show you multiple options on this page, you can press 4/5/6 or F4/F5/F6 depending on your needs. Then Windows will restart and boot into safe mode.

#2. Using Command Prompt

1. Press Windows + R to open Run dialog box, type cmd to open Command Prompt.

2. In the Command Prompt window, type shutdown.exe /r /o command and tap Enter to perform.

3. A message will appear letting you know that you’ll be signed out in less than a minute. Wait for your PC to restart.

4. In WinRE, go to Troubleshoot > Startup Setting > Restart > Choose safe mode type to boot into.

#3. Using System Configuration

1. Input System Configuration in the Windows Search bar and select it from the search results.

2. Under the System Configuration window, switch to the Boot tab, check Safe boot option, and then click OK.

3. Click Restart to confirm you want to restart your PC when a pop-up dialog appears. You’ll then be in safe mode once your PC reboots.

#4. Start Windows 11 in safe mode while booting

If your PC can’t start normally, you can get into Lenovo safe mode from boot by following the steps below.

1. Start with the computer completely shutting down, press the Power button to boot your PC. When it starts loading, press and hold the Power button to force the shutdown of the computer again. (Repeat 2 to 3 times).

2. After the third interrupted reboot, you’ll boot into WinRE. Choose Advanced options in the Automatic Repair screen.

3. Under Choose an option window, go to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup settings > Restart > Choose your desired safe mode type to boot into.

How to exit Lenovo safe mode in Windows 11

To exit Safe Mode, restart your computer without doing anything and wait for it to restart normally. However, if your computer continues to boot into Safe Mode, follow these steps to exit Safe Mode manually.

1. Just follow the third method’s instruction to open System Configuration.

2. In the Boot tab, uncheck the Safe boot option, click Apply and OK to save the changes to make your PC restart normally.

Backup your Lenovo computer for OS protection

Entering Safe Mode is a helpful step for troubleshooting computer problems, but dealing with system issues can be frustrating and might lead to unintentional damage to your system settings. To prevent data loss or serious system failures, it’s a good idea to regularly back up your Lenovo computer. This ensures your operating system and important files are always protected.

One of the best free backup software is the AOMEI Backupper Standard. This software allows you to create a full system image backup, so if you encounter a critical error, like the Inaccessible Boot Device on Windows 11, you can easily restore your Lenovo computer to a working state. Using AOMEI Backupper, you can benefit from features like:

✍ Backup your system to various locations, such as backup Windows 11 to Synology NAS, USB drives, external hard drives, etc.
✍ Select four types of backup according to your needs: System/Disk/Partition/File Backup.
✍ Set the fixed backup frequencies such as Daily/Weekly/Monthly.

All Windows PC operating systems like Windows 11/10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP are supported. So just download and install this freeware to your Lenovo PC or laptop to have a try.

Step 1. Click Backup＞System Backup.

Step 2. The program automatically chooses the system-related partition(s) as the source data. You just need to select a destination path.

Step 3. Click Start Backup to backup your operating system.

You can use the created system image backup to rollback your Lenovo PC to a previous state.

🌟 It is suggested to use the Create Bootable Media feature to restore the system backup if your Windows system cannot boot up correctly or it keeps crashing on you.

🔥Bonus: How to fix the blue screen caused by the CrowdStrike issue

Microsoft has discovered a problem affecting Windows devices that have the CrowdStrike Falcon agent installed. These systems may experience Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) errors with codes 0x50 or 0x7E, causing them to repeatedly restart. If you're seeing these error messages on your Lenovo computer, don't worry. Here's how you can resolve the issue:

1. Hold the power button for 10 seconds to turn off your device and then press the power button again to turn on your device.

2. On the Windows sign-in screen, press and hold the Shift key while you select Power  > Restart.

3. After your device restarts to the Choose an option screen, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Startup Settings > Restart.

Note: You may be asked to enter your BitLocker recovery key.

4. When the device restarts, continue pressing F4 and then it will log you in to safe mode.

Note: For some devices, you need to press F11 to log in through safe mode.

5. Once in safe mode, right-click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then click OK.

6. If your system drive is different than C:\, type C: and then press Enter. This will switch you to the C:\ drive.

7. Type in the following commands and then press Enter after each to locate the file matching “C-00000291*.sys” and permanently delete the file(s) found:

• CD C:\Windows\System32\drivers\CrowdStrike
• dir C-00000291*.sys
• del C-00000291*.sys

8. Manually search for any files that match “C-00000291*.sys” and delete them.

9. Restart your device. 

FAQs Related to Lenovo Safe Mode in Windows 11

Q 1: Why can’t I boot into Safe Mode on my Lenovo device?

A 1: If you're unable to enter Safe Mode, it could be due to corrupted system files, incorrect BIOS settings, or issues with your boot configuration. Try using the Command Prompt to execute Safe Mode commands, or reset your BIOS settings.

Q 2: What’s the difference between Safe Mode and Safe Mode with Networking on Lenovo devices?

A 2: Safe Mode with Networking loads essential system drivers along with networking capabilities, allowing you to access the internet. This is useful when you need to troubleshoot online, update drivers, or download recovery tools.

Q 3: Can I perform a system restore in Lenovo Safe Mode?

A 3: Yes, Safe Mode allows you to perform a system restore, which can help resolve issues by reverting your system to a previous state before the problem occurred. Access System Restore by typing "rstrui.exe" into the Run dialog box while in Safe Mode.

Expert Tips for Troubleshooting Lenovo Devices

1. Always Back Up First: Before diving into Safe Mode troubleshooting, ensure that all your critical files and settings are backed up using tools like AOMEI Backupper to prevent data loss.

2. Disable Unnecessary Startup Programs: If your Lenovo device is slow to boot, consider disabling non-essential startup programs using Task Manager.

3. Keep Your Drivers Updated: Outdated drivers can cause conflicts, leading to boot issues. Make sure you regularly update all drivers, especially after entering and exiting Safe Mode.

Final words

When you need to boot into Lenovo safe mode in Windows 11, you can refer to the detailed methods provided in this article. If you want to stop being plagued by system problems all the time, then it is recommended that you use AOMEI Backupper to regularly create a system image backup and enable your computer to restore to a suitable date when needed.

AOMEI Backupper is more than just a backup tool, it has many powerful features like sync and clone to protect your data. With it, you can clone SSD to SSD on Windows 11, or sync folders. Don’t hesitate to give it a try!