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How to Exit Safe Mode: Step-by-Step Guide

Learn how to Exit Safe Mode with clear steps, useful examples, and practical tips. Complete the task correctly and avoid common mistakes.

Table of Contents

This updated guide explains how to Exit Safe Mode through clear steps, practical examples, and important checks that help prevent common errors.

Method 1 of 4:

On Windows

  1. Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 1
    Restart your computer. Open Start
    Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 2
    , click Power
    Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 3
    , and click Restart . Most of the time, this will be enough to exit your computer's Safe Mode.
    • If your computer restarts into Safe Mode, proceed to the next step.
  2. Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 4
    Open Start
    Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 5
    . Click the Windows logo in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
  3. Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 6
    Type system configuration into Start. Doing so will search your computer for the System Configuration app.
  4. Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 7
    Click System Configuration. It's a computer monitor-shaped icon at the top of the Start window. System Configuration will open.
  5. Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 8
    Click the General tab. This tab is in the top-left corner of the window.
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    Check the "Normal startup" bubble. It's near the top of the General section of the window.
  7. Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 10
    Click the Boot tab. You'll find this at the top of the window.
  8. Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 11
    Uncheck the "Safe boot" box. It's in the middle of the left side of the window. If this box is unchecked, Safe Boot is already disabled.
  9. Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 12
    Click Apply, then click OK. Both options are at the bottom of the window. This will ensure that your computer isn't set to start in Safe Mode by default.
  10. Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 13
    Shut down your computer. Click Start
    Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 14
    , click Power
    Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 15
    , and click Shut down . This will turn off your computer.
  11. Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 16
    Leave your computer turned off for a few minutes. Doing so should give it time to shut down completely and refresh its internal data cache.
  12. Exit Safe Mode — On Windows screenshot 17
    Turn back on your computer. Press your computer's "Power" button to do so. Once your computer finishes booting back up, it should be out of Safe Mode.
    • If your computer is still stuck in Safe Mode, you may need to take it into a tech support shop to have it diagnosed.
Method 2 of 4:

On Mac

  1. Exit Safe Mode — On Mac screenshot 18
    Restart your Mac. Open the Apple menu
    Exit Safe Mode — On Mac screenshot 19
    , click Restart... , and click Restart when prompted. Most of the time, this will be enough to get your computer out of Safe Mode.
    • If your computer restarts into Safe Mode, proceed to the next step.
  2. Exit Safe Mode — On Mac screenshot 20
    Make sure that your Mac's ? Shift key isn't stuck. Holding the ? Shift key while restarting your Mac will cause the Mac to start in Safe Mode. If this key is stuck, you won't be able to restart your Mac without it opening to Safe Mode.
    • If the ? Shift key is stuck, remove it and then restart your Mac. If it still opens to Safe Mode, continue to the next step.
  3. Exit Safe Mode — On Mac screenshot 21
    Shut down your Mac. Open the Apple menu
    Exit Safe Mode — On Mac screenshot 22
    , click Shut Down... , and click Shut Down when prompted.
  4. Exit Safe Mode — On Mac screenshot 23
    Turn back on the Mac. Press your Mac's "Power" button. It should be somewhere on the keyboard (laptop) or on the monitor (iMac).
  5. Exit Safe Mode — On Mac screenshot 24
    Press and hold ? Option+? Command+P+R immediately. Do this directly after pressing your Mac's "Power" button.
  6. Exit Safe Mode — On Mac screenshot 25
    Hold the keys until your Mac makes a second startup sound. This will take around 20 seconds. Your Mac will appear to start during this time.[1]
    • If your Mac doesn't make startup sounds, just wait for the Apple logo to appear for the second time.
  7. Exit Safe Mode — On Mac screenshot 26
    Wait for your Mac to finish restarting. This whole process resets the Mac's temporary system settings. Once your Mac is fully turned on, it should be back in normal mode.
    • If your Mac still isn't rebooting into normal mode, you may have to take it into a tech department to have it checked out.
Method 3 of 4:

On iPhone

  1. Exit Safe Mode — On iPhone screenshot 27
    Determine whether or not your iPhone has been jailbroken. Non-jailbroken iPhones don't have a built-in Safe Mode option, which means that you may be experiencing something unrelated if you're running into problems.
  2. Exit Safe Mode — On iPhone screenshot 28
    Press and hold your iPhone's "Volume Down" and "Power" buttons. Doing so will force your iPhone to restart into normal mode. You'll need to hold these buttons down for several seconds.
  3. Exit Safe Mode — On iPhone screenshot 29
    Release the buttons when your phone shuts down. You'll do this when the screen goes black.
  4. Exit Safe Mode — On iPhone screenshot 30
    Wait for your phone to restart. You will see the Apple logo pop up and display for several seconds to several minutes. Once your iPhone restarts, it should be back to normal.
  5. Exit Safe Mode — On iPhone screenshot 31
    Try deleting any problematic apps or mods. If your iPhone still won't reboot normally and it is jailbroken, you may have installed something recently that is causing problems on your phone. Delete recently installed apps, packages, or modifications to try to get your phone back to its normal operation.
    • This goes for non-jailbroken iPhones as well.
  6. Exit Safe Mode — On iPhone screenshot 32
    Restore your iPhone. Your best chance of getting your iPhone back to normal is through restoring a backup. If your iPhone is currently jailbroken, doing so will erase the jailbreak.
    • If your phone isn't jailbroken, restoring your iPhone to a backup from a previous version of the operating system may fix your problem.
Method 4 of 4:

On Android

  1. Exit Safe Mode — On Android screenshot 33
    Use the notifications panel. Swipe down from the top of your Android's screen to bring down the notifications panel, then tap SAFE MODE or a similarly titled option. This will typically cause your Android to exit Safe Mode, though it may restart in the process.
    • Not all Androids have this option. If you don't see a SAFE MODE option in the panel, just go to the next step.
  2. Exit Safe Mode — On Android screenshot 34
    Restart your Android. Press and hold the "Power" button, then tap Restart or Reboot in the pop-up window. This will almost always cause your Android to exit Safe Mode.
    • If your Android restarts still in Safe Mode, proceed to the next step.
  3. Exit Safe Mode — On Android screenshot 35
    Perform a cold shut-down. To do this, you'll turn your phone off and wait for a few minutes before turning it back on:
    • Press and hold the "Power" button.
    • Tap Shut down
    • Leave your phone off for a few minutes.
  4. Exit Safe Mode — On Android screenshot 36
    Turn back on your phone while holding the "Volume Down" button. Press and hold the "Power" and "Volume Down" buttons at the same time to restart your phone from the cold shut-down.
  5. Exit Safe Mode — On Android screenshot 37
    Clear your Android's cache . This will remove all of the temporary files associated with your Android's startup, as well as any apps on your phone or tablet.
  6. Exit Safe Mode — On Android screenshot 38
    Try deleting recent apps. If you recently installed an app, it may be the reason that your Android is stuck in Safe Mode. Delete any apps that you recently installed, then try to restart your Android.
  7. Exit Safe Mode — On Android screenshot 39
    Reset your Android. If nothing else will work, you may need to reset your Android to factory settings. This will wipe your current data from your Android, so make sure you've backed up your Android before resetting your Android.
    • If this doesn't solve your Safe Mode woes, you'll need to take your Android into a tech department for diagnosis.

FAQ

What is the easiest way to Exit Safe Mode?

Start with the requirements in this guide, then follow each step in order. Check the result after every major change so problems are easier to identify.

Can beginners follow these instructions?

Yes. The process is organized into practical steps, and you can repeat any step before moving forward.

What should I check if the method does not work?

Confirm your software or device version, permissions, settings, file format, and internet connection when the task depends on online services.

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