BrowserDeskHelp › In the session › E18
Restart in safe mode and keep working there
Start a Windows device remotely in safe mode with networking and keep working there — the start after that is normal again.
Preview this guide has not yet been clicked through on a real device. Button names and steps come from the program but may differ in details.
- For
- Technician
- Applies to
- Cloud · Own relay
- Licence
- Feature "Unattended access"
- Right in the console
- from the console as for running scripts (the device checks)
- Controlled device
- Windows
- Control from
- Program (Windows, macOS, Linux) · Browser
- from version
- 20261010.37
What it is for
Stubborn malware, a driver that hangs at start-up, a service that will not stop — that is what Windows safe mode is for. BrowserDesk keeps running there and your window reconnects by itself. The start after that is normal again; the device never stays in safe mode for good.
What you need
- A Windows device with the BrowserDesk service installed (C4), BrowserDesk from version 20261010.37.
- Cloud or an own relay with access without consent. After the restart nobody sits at the sign-in screen who could agree.
- The control right in the session — or access to the device in the console.
How to do it
From the session
- Menu Verwaltung (Management) → Neustart im abgesicherten Modus (Restart in safe mode; in the browser in the selection "System-Infos / Energie…").
- Confirm with Ja (Yes).
- Wait. Above the picture it says "Gerät startet im abgesicherten Modus mit Netzwerk – Verbindung wird wiederhergestellt …" (device is starting in safe mode with networking – connection is being restored). Your window waits up to 7 minutes on purpose, then continues with a notice.
- Work in safe mode. The picture comes through Windows' basic display driver.
- Back: Normal neu starten (Restart normally — shown while the device runs in safe mode) — or simply Neustart (Restart).
From the console
- Devices → the device's menu (⋮) → group Restart → Restart in safe mode….
- Confirm with Restart. The console reports "Request sent – the device checks and replies." and then the result.
- Back: Restart normally… in the same menu.
How you know it worked
- The picture comes back.
- The Verwaltung menu now offers Normal neu starten instead of Neustart im abgesicherten Modus.
What the other side sees
Windows briefly announces "BrowserDesk: Neustart im abgesicherten Modus mit Netzwerk" and restarts after a few seconds. If the request comes from the console, a confirmation may appear at the device first, depending on the device's settings — as when running a script.
Good to know
- One time only: as soon as it starts in safe mode, BrowserDesk sets the next start back to normal — even if BrowserDesk itself does not come up there.
- Normal neu starten also clears a safe start that someone set by hand (e.g. with
msconfig). - In safe mode BrowserDesk runs no updates and no watchdog, and third-party antivirus does not run either.
- If Windows lacks something needed for networking in safe mode, BrowserDesk changes nothing and does not restart — otherwise the device would end up without network.
- Domain computers: signing in with a domain account usually works; without a reachable domain controller only with cached credentials.
If it does not work
| You see | Meaning and fix |
|---|---|
| The item Neustart im abgesicherten Modus is missing | Not a Windows device, no service or an older version. Set up the service or update the device. |
| Console: "Rejected: Nur unter Windows mit installiertem BrowserDesk-Dienst (aktuelle Fassung)" (the device's reason: only Windows with the service installed, current version) | As above. |
| Console: "No reply from the device – result unknown. Check the device log." | The device has an older version or does not answer. |
| Console: "The device is not connected." | The device is offline. |
| No picture after the restart | Wait longer. If nothing comes, the device starts normally at the next restart (also by hand or power). |