6 Ways to Disable F8 Key & Safe Mode in Windows

Whether you’re troubleshooting issues or locking down a shared PC from prying hands (kids, maybe?), disabling the F8 key and Safe Mode can be a smart move. Safe Mode is a lifesaver when things go south on Windows, but sometimes you don’t want others sneaking around your system using it.

Important: These steps involve editing system files and the registry. Be cautious. Always back up your system before making changes.

Why Disable the F8 Key and Safe Mode?

By default, Windows lets users press F8 during startup to access Safe Mode. This is great for fixing broken drivers or software—but also a loophole.

Let’s say you’ve got:

• Monitoring software for kids
• Security tools that auto-start
• Or just a public/shared computer setup

All that can be bypassed in Safe Mode, making it essential to block access in some cases.

Read more: Booting to Safe Mode – For Dummies

Windows XP: Editing the Registry

If you’re still rockin’ XP, here’s how to disable Safe Mode through the registry:

1. Press Win + R, type regedit, hit Enter.
2. Navigate to: sqlCopyEditHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot
3. You’ll see two subkeys: Minimal and Network. Don’t delete them—rename to something like MinimalX and NetworkX.

Now, pressing F8 will trigger a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) instead of Safe Mode. To reverse this, just rename the keys back.

Advanced fix: Edit the Windows Registry Without Booting

Prefer a Tool? Use Enable/Disable SafeMode

Not a fan of the registry? Try the Enable/Disable SafeMode Tool. It renames those keys for you and adds a password option for security.

XP Pro Hack: Edit the NTLDR Boot Loader

This is a more technical option for XP:

1. Open Run, type: cssCopyEditattrib -r -s -h -a c:\ntldr
2. Use HxD Hex Editor to change the code at offset 00000770 from: rCopyEdit0F 85 09 ? 90 90 90

Once saved, F8 is disabled entirely.

Note: This won’t work for newer OS versions (Vista+), and it’s very advanced.

Windows Vista, 7, and 8: Disable Boot Menu with BCDEdit

1. Open Command Prompt as Admin (Win, type cmd, right-click > Run as admin).
2. Type: pgsqlCopyEditbcdedit /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu no

This removes the F8 boot menu entirely. To enable again:

bashCopyEditbcdedit /set {bootmgr} displaybootmenu yes

Learn more: How BCDEdit Works

Block Safe Mode via Registry (Vista/7/8)

This method is similar to XP but has permission hoops:

1. Open Regedit and go to: sqlCopyEditHKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot
2. Right-click Minimal ? Permissions ? Advanced ? Change Owner ? Your Username
3. Grant Full Control, then rename Minimal and Network just like in XP.

NoSafeMode: All-in-One Shareware Tool

The NoSafeMode tool supports Windows 2000 through 8. It doesn’t touch system files—just modifies the boot sector.

• Cost: $14.95 (personal), $89.95 (business)
• Use Ctrl+F8 + Password to override

Disable Safe Mode in Windows 10 Registry

1. Open the Registry Editor:
   • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog.
   • Type regedit and press Enter. If prompted by User Account Control (UAC), click Yes to allow access.
2. Navigate to the Safe Boot Key:
   • In the Registry Editor, go to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SafeBoot
   • You can also copy and paste this path into the address bar of the Registry Editor for quicker navigation.
3. Modify SafeBoot Settings:
   • In the SafeBoot key, you’ll see several folders like Minimal, Network, and others.
   • To disable Safe Mode, delete these folders:
     • Right-click on each folder under SafeBoot (e.g., Minimal, Network) and select Delete.
     • Confirm the deletion when prompted.
4. Exit the Registry Editor:
   • Close the Registry Editor after deleting the keys.
5. Restart Your Computer:
   • Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Command-Line Tool: DisableSafeMode.exe

Another slick option is DisableSafeMode:

sqlCopyEditDisableSafeMode.exe start

Behind the scenes, it runs these BCDEdit commands:

pgsqlCopyEditbcdedit /set {current} bootems off
bcdedit /set {current} advancedoptions off
bcdedit /set {current} optionsedit off
bcdedit /set {current} bootstatuspolicy IgnoreAllFailures
bcdedit /set {current} recoveryenabled off

To revert, just change all off to on.

Wrapping Up

Disabling Safe Mode and the F8 key isn’t something most users need—but if you manage public PCs, monitor kids, or run a tight home office, it’s a useful trick. From simple registry edits to full-on boot sector changes, you’ve got options.

If you’re unsure which method to use, start with Enable/Disable SafeMode tool or BCDEdit—they’re the most user-friendly.