How to Turn Off Safe Mode on Windows Server 2016

To turn off Safe Mode on Windows Server 2016, you typically use the System Configuration utility (msconfig) to adjust the boot settings. This process restores your server to its normal operating mode after you've completed any necessary troubleshooting.

Method 1: Using System Configuration (msconfig)

This is the most common and straightforward method to disable Safe Mode if your server can boot into the Windows environment, even in Safe Mode.

Open the Run dialog: Press the Win + R keys simultaneously on your keyboard.
Launch System Configuration: In the Run dialog box, type msconfig and press Enter or click OK. This action opens the System Configuration utility.
Navigate to the Boot tab: In the System Configuration window, click on the Boot tab. This tab lists the operating systems installed on your server and their boot options.
Disable Safe boot: Under the "Boot options" section, look for the Safe boot checkbox. If it is checked, uncheck it. This is the critical step to disable Safe Mode.
Apply changes and restart:
- Click Apply, then OK.
- You will be prompted to restart your server. Click Restart to apply the changes and boot into normal mode.

Make sure no other troubleshooting boot options are enabled unless specifically required.

Method 2: Using Command Prompt (bcdedit)

If you cannot access the graphical user interface (GUI) or msconfig for some reason, or if you prefer a command-line approach, you can use the bcdedit command from an elevated Command Prompt, often accessed via the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE).

When to use this method:

Your server is stuck in a boot loop and cannot reach the desktop, even in Safe Mode.
You need to manage boot options remotely or via scripting.

Steps:

Access the Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE):
- If the server won't boot normally, it may automatically enter WinRE after a few failed boot attempts.
- Alternatively, boot from your Windows Server 2016 installation media (USB or DVD), select your language preferences, and then click Repair your computer.
Open Command Prompt:
- In WinRE, navigate to Troubleshoot > Advanced options > Command Prompt.
- You may need to select an administrator account and enter its password.
Identify the boot entry:
- Type bcdedit and press Enter. This command displays your Boot Configuration Data (BCD) store entries. Look for the "Windows Boot Loader" section that corresponds to your operating system, typically with identifier {current}.
Remove the Safe Mode setting:
- To remove the Safe Mode boot option for the current OS, type the following command and press Enter:
```
bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot
```
- If you see a specific Safe Mode type (e.g., safeboot minimal or safeboot network), the command will still be the same, as safeboot acts as a toggle.
Exit and restart:
- Type exit and press Enter to close the Command Prompt.
- Click Continue or Restart to exit the WinRE and boot your server normally.

This command explicitly removes the safeboot entry from the current boot configuration, ensuring the server attempts a standard boot. For more details on bcdedit, refer to Microsoft Docs - bcdedit.

Troubleshooting and Best Practices

Always Resolve Underlying Issues: Before turning off Safe Mode, ensure that the problem that required you to enter Safe Mode in the first place has been resolved. Disabling Safe Mode without fixing the root cause can lead to further boot issues or system instability.
Verify Boot Status: After restarting, confirm that your server boots into the normal Windows Server 2016 environment. You can check the Event Viewer for any critical errors or verify that all services are running as expected.
Backup (If Possible): If you're frequently encountering boot issues, consider performing a system backup before making significant changes to your boot configuration.

Quick Reference Table

Feature	Method 1: msconfig	Method 2: bcdedit
Interface	Graphical User Interface (GUI)	Command Line Interface (CLI)
Access	`Win + R` > `msconfig` (from within Windows)	Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) Command Prompt
Primary Use	When the server can boot into Windows (even Safe Mode)	When the server cannot boot into Windows at all, or scripting
Command/Steps	1. Open `msconfig`. 2. Go to `Boot` tab. 3. Uncheck `Safe boot`. 4. Apply & Restart.	1. Access WinRE. 2. Open `Command Prompt`. 3. Type `bcdedit /deletevalue {current} safeboot`. 4. Exit & Restart.

By following these steps, you can effectively turn off Safe Mode on your Windows Server 2016 instance and return it to normal operation.