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From a running Windows 10 session, press Windows key + R, enter shutdown.exe /r /o /f /t 0, and press Enter. Windows closes applications, restarts immediately, and opens the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE), where you can reach Troubleshoot > Advanced options. To open Safe Mode, continue to Startup Settings > Restart, then choose the numbered startup mode you need.
Save open work first: the /f switch forcibly closes running applications and can discard unsaved data. If Windows cannot reach the desktop, use Shift+Restart, Settings recovery controls, Automatic Repair, or a Windows recovery or installation USB instead. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025, but these recovery procedures remain documented for the operating system.
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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallWhat command opens Windows 10 Advanced Startup Options directly?
The direct command is:
shutdown.exe /r /o /f /t 0Run it from the Windows 10 desktop, the Run dialog, or Command Prompt. Microsoft documents /o as opening the Advanced boot options menu and restarting the device; it must be combined with /r. The other switches control how that restart occurs:
| Switch | Function | Practical effect |
|---|---|---|
/r |
Restart | Reboots the computer rather than shutting it down. |
/o |
Advanced boot options | Sends the restart to the recovery and advanced-startup menu. |
/f |
Force application closure | Closes running programs without waiting for them to exit normally. |
/t 0 |
Zero-second timeout | Starts the restart immediately instead of counting down. |
Because /f can close programs without warning, save documents, stop downloads, and close anything that must preserve unsaved data before running the command. If you prefer Windows to give applications an opportunity to close normally, use a graphical restart method instead.
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Run the command from the Run dialog
- Save your work.
- Press Windows key + R to open Run.
- Type
shutdown.exe /r /o /f /t 0. - Press Enter. Windows closes applications and restarts into WinRE.
Run it from Command Prompt
- Open Command Prompt from the Start menu or another administrator-approved session.
- Enter
shutdown.exe /r /o /f /t 0and press Enter. - Wait for the recovery screen; do not power off the computer during the planned restart.
The command does not itself select Safe Mode, Startup Repair, System Restore, or another tool. It gets you to the recovery menu; you choose the specific operation there.
What should I select on the blue recovery screen?
After the restart, Windows displays WinRE, a set of built-in Windows tools for troubleshooting and fixing common system problems. Choose Troubleshoot, then Advanced options.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Select Advanced options.
- For Safe Mode and related boot choices, select Startup Settings.
- Select Restart.
- After the next restart, press the number or function key shown for the required mode.
Press Enter when you want Windows to start normally instead of choosing a special startup mode.
What Startup Settings options are available?
The exact numbering can vary by screen, but Windows 10 Startup Settings commonly includes these choices:
- Enable Safe Mode.
- Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
- Enable Safe Mode with Command Prompt.
- Enable boot logging.
- Enable low-resolution video.
- Disable driver-signature enforcement.
- Disable early-launch anti-malware protection.
- Disable automatic restart after a system failure.
Use ordinary Safe Mode when you need a minimal Windows session to remove a faulty driver or application. Safe Mode with Networking adds network components, while Safe Mode with Command Prompt opens a command-line environment instead of the usual desktop shell. Low-resolution video can help when a display driver prevents a usable picture; disabling automatic restart gives you time to read a stop-error screen.
What other tools are under Advanced options?
Depending on the installation and its recovery configuration, Advanced options can provide Startup Repair, Command Prompt, System Restore, uninstall-update controls, and other recovery tools. Choose the least destructive tool that addresses the symptom. Resetting or reinstalling Windows is more disruptive and can remove applications, settings, or files depending on the option selected.
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How can I open Advanced Startup without using a command?
Two desktop routes avoid typing the shutdown command. They are preferable when you want to review your work and use Windows’ normal restart handling.
Shift+Restart
- Open the Start menu.
- Select Power.
- Hold Shift while selecting Restart.
- Keep holding Shift until Windows begins the recovery restart, then choose Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
This route is usually the fastest graphical method and does not require an external drive.
Settings recovery page
- Open Settings.
- Go to Update & Security > Recovery.
- Under Advanced startup, select Restart now.
- When WinRE appears, select Troubleshoot > Advanced options.
Do not follow Windows 11 instructions that say System > Recovery; Windows 10 uses Update & Security > Recovery.
How do I reach Advanced options if Windows will not boot?
When Windows repeatedly fails during startup, it can launch WinRE automatically. If that does not happen, Microsoft documents a forced-interruption sequence that leads to Automatic Repair.
- Turn on the PC and wait for the Windows logo or the manufacturer’s logo.
- Hold the physical power button until the computer shuts down.
- Start it again and repeat the forced shutdown at the logo.
- Start the computer a third time and allow it to continue.
- When Automatic Repair appears, select Advanced options.
This sequence deliberately interrupts startup. Use it only when normal restart methods are unavailable: repeated hard power-offs can risk data loss or file-system damage. Once Advanced options is open, use Troubleshoot and select the repair tool that matches the failure.
Which recovery tool should I try first?
- Startup Repair: Try this when Windows cannot complete booting and you have not identified a specific recent change.
- Startup Settings: Use this to test Safe Mode or disable a startup behavior that is preventing a normal session.
- Uninstall Updates: Consider this when the boot failure began immediately after a Windows update.
- System Restore: Use an available restore point to roll back system changes without choosing a full reset.
- Command Prompt: Use it for advanced diagnostic or repair commands when you understand the operation and its consequences.
- Reset or reinstall: Reserve these for cases where less destructive recovery has failed; read every keep-or-remove option carefully.
Can I boot Windows recovery from a USB drive?
Yes. A Windows recovery USB drive, repair disc, or Windows installation USB can start a computer directly into recovery tools when the internal Windows installation will not load.
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Windows installation media
Microsoft’s documented installation-media process uses a bootable USB flash drive. The stated minimum for bootable installation media is 8 GB. Creating the media requires a working PC and a USB drive whose existing contents can be overwritten during preparation. Boot the affected computer from that USB, select the language options, choose Repair my PC, and continue to Windows RE rather than selecting a new installation.
Windows recovery USB drive
A recovery-drive process creates a Windows recovery USB for troubleshooting. The process erases the USB drive’s existing contents, so copy any files from it before creating the drive. Keep the finished drive with the computer; it can provide a recovery path when the internal recovery partition is unavailable.
When is OEM recovery media useful?
Manufacturer-supplied recovery media can be preferable when you need hardware-specific drivers or factory applications restored. It may return the PC to its manufacturer’s configuration rather than merely opening the general Windows recovery tools, so confirm what the media will erase before proceeding.
Which entry method should I choose?
The best route depends on whether Windows is running, whether you have external media, and how much risk you can accept.
| Starting condition | Recommended entry | External media | Main risk or dependency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows desktop is working | shutdown.exe /r /o /f /t 0 |
None | /f force-closes applications; unsaved work can be lost. |
| Windows desktop is working and you prefer menus | Shift+Restart or Update & Security > Recovery > Restart now | None | Requires access to the normal Windows interface. |
| Windows fails during startup | Automatic Repair, or the documented interrupted-boot sequence | None initially | Repeated forced shutdowns can risk data or file-system damage. |
| Internal recovery cannot start | Recovery USB, repair disc, or installation USB | Required | Installation media needs an 8 GB-or-larger USB; recovery-drive creation erases that drive. |
| Encrypted device | Any applicable WinRE route | Not necessarily | BitLocker recovery tasks may require the recovery key. |
What should I know about BitLocker and data loss?
Have the device’s BitLocker recovery key available before entering recovery. Microsoft notes that WinRE recovery tasks may request it, and you may be unable to continue without the correct key.
Opening Advanced Startup does not automatically reset Windows or delete personal files. However, choices made afterward can be destructive: reset and reinstall paths can remove applications, settings, or files depending on the selected mode. Read the confirmation screen, back up accessible data, and choose a less destructive repair option first when it fits the problem.
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Why might the restart command fail, and what should I do?
The command says it is not recognized
Use the complete executable name, shutdown.exe, rather than relying on a shortened command. Re-enter the switches exactly, including the spaces: /r /o /f /t 0.
The PC restarts normally instead of showing WinRE
Use Shift+Restart or the Settings path and verify that you selected Advanced startup, not an ordinary Restart. If Windows cannot reach the desktop, let Automatic Repair appear after startup failures or use external recovery media.
An application warns about unsaved work
Cancel the operation, save the file, and run the command again. The /f switch is intentionally forceful; it does not provide a reliable save opportunity.
WinRE requests a recovery key
Enter the matching BitLocker recovery key. If you do not have it, stop before selecting operations that could alter the installation and locate the key through the account or organization that manages the encrypted device.
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The recovery USB is not usable
Re-create the media on a different USB drive if necessary, remembering that recovery-drive creation erases the target drive. For an installation USB, verify that it meets the documented 8 GB minimum and that the PC is actually booting from the USB rather than its internal disk.
Does Windows 10 still receive support?
Microsoft’s support lifecycle lists October 14, 2025 as the end of Windows 10 support. The Advanced Startup and WinRE procedures still apply to existing Windows 10 installations, but the operating system is outside Microsoft’s free security-update and technical-support period. Treat recovery as a way to repair the current installation, not as a substitute for planning a supported operating system.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is a recovery USB the same as Windows installation media?
No. Both can open Windows RE, but installation media is designed to install Windows as well as provide a Repair my PC path, while a recovery USB is created specifically for recovery tools. The preparation process for a recovery drive erases the USB contents.
Will opening Advanced Startup erase my personal files?
Entering WinRE or Startup Settings alone does not erase files. Data loss becomes possible when you choose reset, reinstall, or another operation whose confirmation screen says that files, applications, or settings will be removed.
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Why is my BitLocker key needed during a repair?
WinRE may need to unlock the encrypted Windows volume before it can inspect or modify it. The recovery key is separate from your normal Windows sign-in password, so keep a copy accessible before starting recovery work.
Can I use Startup Settings to return to a normal boot?
Yes. At the Startup Settings screen, press Enter instead of selecting one of the numbered special modes. Windows then attempts an ordinary startup.
Should I use manufacturer recovery media instead of a Microsoft USB?
Use manufacturer media when restoring hardware-specific drivers or factory applications is important. It can return the computer to its original configuration, so review its erase and restore behavior before choosing it.
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