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Windows recovery guide • Windows • Step-by-step Windows help

How to Open Advanced Startup Options

This guide explains the main ways to reach Advanced startup in Windows 11. It helps when you need Safe Mode, Startup Repair, UEFI firmware settings, or recovery tools.

Start here

Start with the fastest command or direct open action

This block comes first on purpose. Copy one command, open PowerShell, Windows Terminal, Run, or Start search, paste the exact text, press Enter, then do the slower click-by-click checks underneath only if you still need them.

This page is mostly menu-based, so the exact click path matters more than a command here.

Overview

What this guide helps you do

The Advanced startup menu is the place for Safe Mode, Startup Repair, reset choices, command-based recovery, and firmware shortcuts. Knowing multiple entry paths is useful when normal navigation fails.

  • Advanced startup is a restart-based recovery menu, not a normal settings page.
  • Different entry paths lead to the same recovery environment.
  • Choose only the repair option you actually need once you arrive there.

When to use this

When to use this guide

Best for troubleshooting boot problems, opening Safe Mode, or reaching recovery tools before normal Windows loading.

Before you start

What to review first

Save your work before forcing a restart into recovery. Advanced startup reboots the PC and interrupts your current desktop session.

Do this exactly

Open the right Windows area first, then follow the changes one by one

  1. Open Settings > System > Recovery.
  2. Find Advanced startup and click Restart now.
  3. If you cannot reach Settings normally, hold Shift while clicking Restart from the Start or sign-in power menu.
  4. If you prefer a command, open Terminal or Command Prompt and run shutdown /r /o /f /t 0.
  5. After restart, choose the troubleshooting option you actually need, such as Safe Mode, Startup Repair, or UEFI Firmware Settings.

Exact click path

Tell the user exactly what to open and press

Do not change ten things at once. Open the exact Windows page first, make one clear change, then check whether it solved the problem before moving on.

Fast open: If Windows is still usable, open Settings > System > Recovery first. If the desktop is unstable, Shift + Restart from the power menu is often faster.

Try a faster path

Best for troubleshooting boot problems, opening Safe Mode, or reaching recovery tools before normal Windows loading.

Open the Windows section

How to use

Save your work before forcing a restart into recovery. Advanced startup reboots the PC and interrupts your current desktop session.

Related pages

Keep going with the next useful page

Use these links when you want the matching script, another Windows help page, or a browser tool for the same job.

Open the tools section Browse all script pages Open the Windows section How to Stop Windows from Tracking Activity How to Disable Telemetry Safely How to Remove Personal Metadata from Files Before Sharing

FAQ

Questions about How to Open Advanced Startup Options

Can I open Safe Mode directly from there?

Yes. Advanced startup includes the path to Startup Settings, where you can choose Safe Mode options.

Does Advanced startup delete files?

No. Opening the menu itself does not delete files. Only later recovery choices such as reset or reinstall can change data.