After searching for the past hour and finding little (even in the actual owners manual) I found several website hosting the same question, but no answers. The problem appears to be common across several vendor models for VCR and very likely DVD players.

PROBLEM: The VCR displays "SAFE" in the channel/status display window and will not operate by manual power-on or remote control. The VCR is not useable.

Dave, December 2005

It worked for me in the remote I press g-lock, but if you don`t have the remote what you do?

HighTemper, January 2023

I have an LG FC250SW VCR. It was turned on and we had a power cut/outage. When power came back on, lines that represent the time came on but nothing else. I can't turn the power on even holding it up to 15 seconds. There is no C Lock or drying buttons or optionbs. I have the remote contral-just don't know what to do to get the power back on the VCR(which I need with my TV as my DVD players runs through the VCR). Can someone help me please?

Kane, March 2020

Ours is an LG model EC490SW. I just picked it up for a song at the recyclers but it is also in SAFE mode BUT there was no remote with it. Can we fix it or is it scrap?

Richard., December 2018

Dave I love you. Just put away the hammer. New batteries and hold for 6 seconds worked and released the child lock. I was reviewing a 30 year old video of my children to get it put on dvd and the video would not come out of the VCR. I have been trying for days and was about to try taking the VCR apart. Thank you so much.

Phyllis Gordon, November 2018

12th Jan 2017.

My BUSH DVD / VCR Combie (Model DVCR-254) showed "LOCK" on the LCD Display. I tried Daves method and it worked (unlocked it).

#1- I took the batteries out of the remote and replaced them.
#2- Power up the dvd/vcr machine.
#3- Held the "POWER ON / OFF" on the remote for 6+ seconds.
#4- Working like new now.

Steve, January 2017

Chris D you are not alone, I also thought CLOCK was to set the time when recording DUH!!! I even had a technician call in but he didn't know how to turn it off either. Read your post, flew back to check remote and sure enough it is actually C.LOCK. Pressed it and the lock is gone!! To anyone else asking this question I would suggest looking for a C.LOCK button on the remote first. Off to watch my video now but cant wait to tell the technician how simple it was :/ .....in the end!! PS fantastic site.

Jenny M, July 2013

Hi I don't have a remote for my VCR. It is a Panasonic. I was able to get my VCR off lock by pressing the record button for 6 seconds. Make sure you don't have a tape in it to be on the safe side.

Stella, January 2013

hi, I have a THORN VCR VR212LVA and Chris D's answer (Jan 2009) worked for me also. - pressing the C. Lock button on the remote released the lock mode of the VCR enabling it to work. Many thanks.

legin, January 2013

You are right, Dave's method DOES work!!

I picked up a nice old RCA VCR, it works and programs beautifully.. then the second day I had it, turned it on but nothing worked from the remote.. "SAFE" flashed on the display, and as I am working with no manual, I tried everything.. except consulting the Internet.

So Dave's highly detailed and easy to understand summary was just what I needed.. and I used the method (as my batteries were new) and it worked!!
No idea how I got it to go into "SAFE" mode in the first place..but at least now I know how to get it out.

Back to fully functional, and as a side note, I will still buy my VCRs at thrift stores instead of online.

Thanks again!!

Mark, June 2012

Dave's method works. I have an older RCA and I held the on/off button down 6 to 8 seconds and unlocked the VCR.

Sonny, February 2011

We have an LG VCR and could not work out why 'SAFE'
kept appearing on the LCD display and couldn't understand why the thing wouldn't work - eventually sorted it by pressing C.LOCK on the handset - It released the Child Lock and away it went (We thought C.LOCK was a setting for the clock - DOH!!)

Chris D, January 2009

I also have a GE VCR and I accidentally put it on safe mode. Holding the VCR button on the remote down for 6 seconds releases the safe mode!!!!

Gary, August 2008

I have a GE VCR and I accidentally put it on safe mode by
laying a book on the remote. I checked the book and it said
to hold the VCR button on the remote down for 6 seconds and it worked.

mjn, July 2008

You might be able to access the child-lock feature through the setup menu. My Panasonic has it set up that way. Once the VCR is powered back on, go to the menu (or setup---not program) screen. It shouls be one of the options listed.

Adina Hirschmann, Proprietor: Component Connections, Bergen County, NJ, June 2007

(Now for the solution! If the info is badly formatted, sorry...this website may not handle white space appropriately.)

SOLUTION:
This specific solution is for an RCA VCR, but give it a try for other vendors and models.

The RCA or child lock feature [tradmarked as Pro-tect Plus(TM)] is controlled absolutely via the RCA remote control unit. The setting can be very easily activated by accident without any clear indication of what you did to cause the change.

My specific model is an older RCA model VR629HF, but this issue is similar across multiple RCA models. No override method appears to be documented, if such override exists at all.

However, even new RCA remote control units seem to work well when paired with older RCA players, as I have recently replaced a worn-out RCA remote unit. If you have another vendor's product, simply try the steps below or search for "Child Lock" or "Protect" on your vendor's product support pages for your model.

(1) Enable/Activate the child lock - Point the RCA remote control at your VCR and press and hold the VCR (or VCR-AUX, or even the ON/OFF as newer models offer both options). Hold the button for 6 seconds. "SAFE" is displayed in the status display window. The VCR appears to become an excellent boat anchor at this point. It is frustratingly disabled.

(2) Disable/Deactivate the child lock - Repeat the procedure in Step 1 above. The same procedure is used toggle the feature on or off.

IF THE REMOTE DOESN'T WORK, YOU'RE TOAST! So, please read on to make sure your remote is working.

If Step #2 above fails - as in my case - the remote control unit may have gone temporarily bonkers.

(3) Make sure your remote control batteries are good!
Dead battery = no service
Weak battery = questionable service

(4) Remove the batteries from the RCA remote.

(5) Wait 30 seconds or longer. Reinstall working batteries. The remote control should (may?) reset itself to its default, factory settings. The factory settings then should work with your RCA equipment, but you may have to reset the key codes for the remote.

In my case, the battery removal trick worked and the factory setting was fine for the VR629HF VCR, but I did have to reprogram codes lost for my non-RCA DVD and TV sets. Minor issue after the previous headache!

Hopefully, this adventure will help someone else along. Cheers!

Dave, December 2005