How to Fix Windows 10/11 Safe Mode Crashing? Here Are 8 Ways

Safe Mode is a special diagnostic mode in the Windows operating system, which can help you diagnose a computer’s software and hardware issues. It only starts Windows with the most basic components of the system. However, this utility sometimes runs into various problems, such as Safe Mode not working, Safe Mode password not working, and Windows crashes or freezes in Safe Mode.

Here’s a true example from the Reddit forum:

Windows crashes or freezes in Safe Mode. I am no computer technician so I have no idea what else could be wrong with my system. Someone please help.https://www.reddit.com/r/buildapc/comments/k88jlj/pc_crashes_even_during_safe_mode_i_am_no_computer/

Why Windows Crashes or Freezes in Safe Mode

What causes the computer crashing in Safe Mode? According to user reports, the problem can be triggered by different possible reasons. Corrupted Windows system files or configuration is the main cause behind the issue. Besides, other factors like hardware failure or incompatibility, outdated device drivers, and virus infection are also responsible for Safe Mode crashes on Windows 10/11.

How to Fix Windows 10 Safe Mode Crashing

How to fix it if Windows 10 crashes in Safe Mode? After analyzing extensive user reports and posts, we summarize 8 feasible ways to fix the problem. Let’s try them in order until the issue gets fixed.

Fix 1. Perform a System Restore

If the Windows 10 Safe Mode crashing issue just occurs after you install some unknown updates or software, try running a system restore. It can undo the changes you made recently and revert your system to an earlier state where the computer works properly in Safe Mode.

Step 1. Press the Win + R keys to open the Run dialog box, and then type rstrui in the box and press Enter. Then click on Next in the System Restore window.

Step 2. Tick the checkbox next to Show more restore points and select the system restore point before the Windows 10 Safe Mode crashing issue occurs. Then click on Next to continue.

Step 3. Click on Finish to confirm your restore point and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the restore process. Once done, restart your PC and check if Windows 10 Safe Mode crashes.

Fix 2. Install All Pending Windows Updates

Sometimes Windows 10 crashes in Safe Mode just because of a known bug or glitch. In this case, we recommend you install all pending Windows updates to get rid of the bug.

Step 1. Press the Win + I keys to open the Settings app and navigate to the Update & Security section.

Step 2. Click on Check for updates button to scan for the latest updates. Then it will automatically install all pending updates. Also, you should install all optional updates if available.

After the update is complete, reboot your system and see if Safe Mode crashes on Windows 10/11.

Fix 3. Repair Your System Files

As discussed above, the Windows 11 Safe Mode crashing issue is often related to corrupted Windows system files or configurations. To repair them, you can run the System File Checker or DISM tool. Here’s how:

Step 1. Type cmd in the search box, and then right-click the Command Prompt app and select Run as administrator. Click on Yes to confirm it.

Step 2. Type the sfc /scannow command and hit Enter. This process may take you much time to scan, so please wait patiently.

Step 3. When the SFC scan is complete, open the elevated Command Prompt window and run the following DISM commands to go on repairing system files.

• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
• DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth

Fix 4. Check the Hardware Failures

If your computer’s hardware components especially RAM and hard drive are faulty or not compatible with your system, it may lead to Windows 10 Safe Mode crashing. So, we highly recommend you check the hardware for issues.

Check Your Hard Drive:

When it comes to checking hard drive errors, most people may want to use the CHKDSK tool. But this utility often runs into various problems, such as CHKDSK write-protected, CHKDSK taking forever, CHKDSK not working, and more.

In these situations, a professional disk checker – MiniTool Partition Wizard is a good choice. It can not only check bad sectors but also repair file system corruption on hard drives. Moreover, this free partition software can extend/resize/move/copy/format partitions, change cluster size, convert FAT32 to NTFS without data loss, recover hard drive data, etc.

MiniTool Partition Wizard FreeClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

Step 1. Launch the MiniTool program to enter its main interface, select the partition that you want to check from the disk map, and click on Check File System from the left action panel.

Step 2. In the pop-up window, select the Check & fix detected errors option and click on Start to begin repairing file system corruption on the disk.

Step 3. To check bad sectors on the disk, select the hard disk and click on Surface Test from the left panel.

Step 4. Click on Start Now and wait for the process to complete. If any blocks are marked with red color, it indicates that your hard drive is getting failing. In this case, you may consider replacing the hard disk with a new one.

Check Your Memory:

RAM is an important component of your computer. If the RAM gets faulty, you may encounter the “computer crashes in Safe Mode” issue. Here you can use the tool to check the RAM.

Step 1. Type Windows Memory Diagnostic in the search box and double-click this program from the top result.

Step 2. You will receive a message saying Check your computer for memory problems. Here are 2 options for you to perform a RAM test. It is recommended that you click Restart now and check for problems.

Step 3. Then your computer will restart and the tool will automatically diagnose the memory. This process may take you some time to complete. If it shows the memory is failing, you can refer to this guide to replace the faulty one.

Fix 5. Update Your Device Drivers

If some device drivers like chipset and GPU are outdated or incompatible with the system, it can trigger the Windows 10 Safe Mode crashing issue as well. In this case, you can try updating the device drivers to the latest version. Here we take the chipset driver update for example.

Step 1. Right-click the Start menu and select Device Manager from the context menu.

Step 2. Expand the System devices categories and right-click the chipset driver that you want to update, then select the Update driver option from the context menu.

Step 3. Select the Search automatically for drivers and follow the on-screen prompts to update the driver. If no updated drivers are found, you can visit the official website according to your motherboard’s manufacturer and download/install the latest chipset driver manually.

Then you can refer to the same procedure to update other device drivers. Once done, reboot your computer and see if the “computer crashing in Safe Mode” problem disappears.

Fix 6. Run a Full Virus Scan of Your Computer

Some users reported that the “Windows 10 Safe Mode crashes” issue can be caused by some types of malicious software. In this case, you can perform a full virus scan of your computer.

Step 1. Type virus in the search box and click the Virus & threat protection app from the top result.

Step 2. Inside the Windows Defender Security Centre, click the Scan options option on the right panel.

Step 3. Select Full scan and tap on Scan now to start the full virus scan. Then you need to wait for a while until the scan completes. 

Fix 7. Repair Windows 10/11 Using the Installation Media

If the Windows 11 Safe Mode crashing issue persists, you may try performing an automatic/startup repair using the Windows installation media. This can help repair the Windows system files. Here’s how to do that:

Step 1. Insert the Windows installation disc into your computer and restart it from the disc. Then press any key to boot from the media.

Step 2. Choose the language preference and go on until you arrive at the Install Now screen. Then click on Repair Your Computer to open the Advanced Settings menu.

Step 3. Select Troubleshoot to access Advanced Options, and click Startup Repair. Then this tool will automatically diagnose and repair your system. Once completed, restart your system and check if your computer crashes in Safe Mode.

Fix 8. Reinstall Windows 10/11

If the “computer crashing in Safe Mode” issue still occurs after trying all the above methods, you may consider reinstalling Windows 10/11. However, this operation will delete all data on the system drive and reset your system to its normal state. If you want to reinstall OS without data loss, we highly recommend you back up all important data beforehand.

How to back up Windows 10/11 safely? MiniTool Partition Wizard is a professional disk backup tool that can migrate only OS, clone hard drive, and copy partitions. Besides, it can convert MBR to GPT without data loss, rebuild MBR, wipe hard drives, and more.

MiniTool Partition Wizard DemoClick to Download100%Clean & Safe

After you have all the important data backed up, you can refer to the following guides to reset Windows 11/10.

Detailed Steps and Instructions to Reinstall Windows 10

How to Clean Install Windows 11? Here Are 5 Options

I have been troubled by the Windows 10 Safe Mode crashing issue for a long time until MiniTool Partition Wizard helped me fix it. Are you still trying to solve the problem? Read this post now!Click to Tweet

What’s Your Opinion

How to fix it if Windows 10 crashes in Safe Mode? This post has introduced 8 effective ways to sort out this problem. If you have any other solutions, please share them with us in the following comment zone. Besides, you can contact us via [email protected] if you have any confusion or feedback about MiniTool Partition Wizard.