How Do I Start My Windows ASUS Computer in Safe Mode? (Explained)

Most things work as they should when you boot up your ASUS computer and get to work. However, there are times when something goes wrong, and the “safe mode” on your ASUS is one way you can figure out what that something is. We’ll take you through the benefits of safe mode and how to use it below.

Why is F8 Not Working for Safe Mode?

You might be familiar with the using computer’s F8 key to enter safe mode. This may be the case if you have experience with some older Windows operating systems, such as XP or Vista. However, if you’re running a newer version of Windows now, you may notice that pressing F8 does not put your ASUS computer in safe mode.

This is because Microsoft chose to remove this particular functionality for F8 as a way to maximize system boot time. Once you’ve moved from an older version of Windows, you’ll likely notice that the new version boots quite a bit quicker than you’re expecting.

The OS doesn’t recognize the F8 key press during the boot process. However, safe mode is still an important tool for users, and Microsoft has provided an alternate way to get things started in Windows 10.

Before we get into that, it is worth noting that you have the option of manually re-enabling the F8 safe mode functionality.

Reactivate F8 Safe Mode Functions

Go to your Windows search bar and type in ‘CMD’ to bring up the relevant program. You’ll want to right-click on this program and select Run as Administrator to activate it with administrator privileges.

This is because some actions are only available to the system administrator. For your personal ASUS computer, which is you, but sometimes you need to tell Windows that.

1. Copy the command value bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy legacy exactly as it appears and press the ‘Enter’ key.
2. Restart your ASUS computer for the changes to take effect.

Although you may notice slight changes in boot time when you start your computer, you should now have access to the F8 safe mode functionality.

If you want to revert to the original way Windows 10 handles safe mode, re-enter the command prompt program as an administrator and type or copy the command bcdedit /set {default} bootmenupolicy standard and press ‘Enter’. Finally, restart your computer again for the changes to take effect.

What is The ASUS Boot Menu key?

The boot menu on your ASUS computer is a special screen that is available just as your device starts up from a powered-down state.

It contains a selection of devices that the computer’s operating system might boot to, either by default or as directed by you. There are a few reasons the boot menu is essential and you might want to access it.

The precise ASUS boot menu key can change depending on the specific type or model of computer you are using.

However, most experts agree that the boot menu key will either be Esc or F8. If F8 isn’t working as per new operating system parameters, Esc will be the next most likely choice.

Less common but still viable options for ASUS might include the Delete or F2 keys. You can always try the most common or recommended key before moving on to the next. There isn’t a penalty or issue with trying a different key that may work.

You just might have to restart the computer once or twice before you get to the proper key that activates safe mode for your operating system.

Loading Different Operating Systems

You can use functions within the boot menu to load a different OS onto your ASUS computer. It is worth noting that you can do this even if your computer already has a native OS.

This feature could be handy for testing the differences between systems, or installing a virtual machine that uses a different system.

Checking Applications

You can use the boot menu to load particular applications or programs like operating systems. The boot menu is useful if you want to select which mediums those applications might boot to when the machine starts.

For example, a CD-ROM, flash drive, or external hard drive are all options for booting applications, and you can choose from among these when starting your ASUS computer.

How do I start my ASUS computer in safe mode?

If you’re experiencing a problem running Windows normally, it’s time to boot in safe mode to check where the issue might be. Safe mode for ASUS computers means using only the default drivers and programs on the machine.

If you don’t experience the same issues when running your OS in safe mode, the regular settings for the computer are not part of the issue. With that in mind, let’s check how to start your ASUS computer in safe mode.

Enable Safe Mode

You should be able to use one of the keys discussed earlier in the article to get into safe mode when the computer boots. However, to save a step, we should ensure that safe mode capabilities are enabled and ready to go.

1. Click the ‘Start’ icon and select ‘Settings’ from the menu.
2. Go to ‘Update and Security’ and select the ‘Recovery’ option.
3. Click on ‘Restart Now.’ From this point, your system will reboot in the recovery environment and ask you for some information. You can go to ‘Troubleshoot’ and select ‘Advanced Options’ to check out the ‘Startup Settings’.
4. Once you click on ‘Startup Settings’, you can have your ASUS computer restart and make sure safe mode is enabled. You can also allow another version of safe-mode that has network settings attached.

Network settings give you access to other networked devices, the internet, and other things you might need while still in safe mode.

Press the Appropriate Key

Assuming your computer is ready to boot into safe mode, you can simply press the corresponding key right as the computer is starting up.

From here, you’ll be able to check which programs, drivers, or other things you’ve installed beyond the basic Windows OS on your ASUS computer might be causing you some issues.

How do you boot into Safe Mode on Windows 10?

Safe mode will start your Windows 10 computer with many nonessential functions turned off automatically if you boot into safe mode. We’ve covered how this might be useful for figuring out specific issues.

However, it can also be a lifesaver if, for whatever reason, your Windows 10 ASUS computer won’t startup as it normally should.

Below, we will cover the primary ways to boot into safe mode on Windows 10.

Use the Power Icon

You know how to click on the power icon to turn off or start your Windows 10 machine normally. You can also use it to start in safe mode. To do this, simply click the power icon as you would normally. When the menu pops up, hold down your ‘Shift’ key, and click restart while you are holding down the key.

After your computer restarts, the blue troubleshooting menu we talked about earlier will appear. This menu will allow you to select the appropriate restart options for booting in safe mode.

How Do You Boot in Safe Mode If Windows Can’t Start?

If Windows won’t start up normally, you still have a way to boot up in safe mode to try to figure out what is happening.

1. Power on your computer.
2. As soon as you see the manufacturer’s logo, press and hold down the power button.
3. Repeat this process once or twice until the computer says “Preparing Automatic Repair” at the bottom of the screen when you start it up.

Once it goes through this process, it should give you access to the same troubleshooting menu you will need to access startup options to boot into safe mode.

Bottom Line

Safe mode is a powerful tool that can lead you to the root of an issue that might cause your computer to perform sub-optimally. There are multiple ways to get into this mode, but, most of the time, it will just take a simple key press.

It is essential to keep in mind that there are times when your ASUS computer might boot into safe mode without you doing anything. If this happens, it could be a clue that there is a problem that needs your attention.