![startup-settings.jpg](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/13851999ed36e7aeb9090f88017b47bba823079a/hub/2015/07/14/d143e661-45d0-481d-8ded-9a43b28368d8/startup-settings.jpg?auto=webp&width=1200)
Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET
If you’re having trouble with your PC (read: blue screen of death), safe mode is a troubleshooting mode that can help you isolate problems. Safe mode disables unnecessary programs and drivers at startup, so you can determine whether it’s a basic setting or driver that’s causing your issues.
In the Windows 10 Pro Insider Preview Build 10166, booting into safe mode is extremely easy — and you don’t even have to open the command prompt to do it. Here’s how:
![safe-mode-1.png](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/1015dc9c7eca44e7e3b40b68a946dfd362643a7d/hub/2015/07/14/961dd23c-375b-43bf-8af0-801b20392cb4/safe-mode-1.png?auto=webp&width=644)
Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET
1. Open the Settings menu and go to Update & security > Recovery > Advanced startup. Clicking Advanced startup will restart your PC in recovery mode.
![choose-an-option.jpg](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/c89d8f8463ab5d4dfa7b58307933ad666254560b/hub/2015/07/14/fa608516-dc92-4bb9-aa5a-ef08cc2d0475/choose-an-option.jpg?auto=webp&width=644)
Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET
2. You’ll see a light blue screen with three options: Continue, Troubleshoot, and Turn off your PC. You are now in recovery mode. Click Troubleshoot to see your advanced options.
![troubleshoot.jpg](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/8387c7119228da5febd84734edd86bf1f20c97d3/hub/2015/07/14/f57eb52a-c984-4a81-bcdf-9d194a36d6cc/troubleshoot.jpg?auto=webp&width=644)
Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET
3. In the Troubleshoot menu, click Advanced options. The Advanced options menu will give you several options: System Restore, System Image Recovery, Startup Repair, Command Prompt, Startup Settings, and Go back to the previous build. Click Startup Settings to change Windows’ startup behavior.
![advanced-options.jpg](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/18f72dd27d75c1bbe77e423be6fe4ed98f457f49/hub/2015/07/14/58ba5dc0-d414-4af1-b030-6a13d3997dae/advanced-options.jpg?auto=webp&width=644)
Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET
4. In the Startup Settings menu, click the Restart button to restart your PC. Your PC will now restart.
![startup-settings-1.jpg](https://www.cnet.com/a/img/resize/606d3b1adf847a6fed924f6d91a1463dfe75b620/hub/2015/07/14/3a80d85d-abb1-44c7-a36c-e2a5baa92892/startup-settings-1.jpg?auto=webp&width=644)
Sarah Jacobsson Purewal/CNET
5. When your PC starts up, you’ll see a light blue screen with the Startup Settings menu. You can now choose an option using your keyboard (number keys or function keys). To start up in Safe Mode, press 4 or F4. To start up in Safe Mode with networking, press 5 or F5. To start up in Safe Mode with the Command Prompt, press 6 or F6. If you change your mind and decide you don’t want to boot into Safe Mode after all, hit Enter to boot normally.