Open Windows Terminal by searching Terminal in Start, or press Windows key + R, type wt and press Enter; each tab then runs a shell such as PowerShell, Command Prompt or a Linux distribution.
This guide covers installing it on Windows 10, tabs, panes, profiles, admin mode, the Command Palette, appearance settings, WSL, the default shortcuts and fixes for common problems.
The fastest way to open Windows Terminal and run a command
These steps work on Windows 11 and on Windows 10 once Terminal is installed. The first tab uses your default profile, which is PowerShell after a fresh install.
- Press Windows key + R to open the Run box.
- Type
wtand press Enter. Windows Terminal opens with a PowerShell tab. - Type a command such as
Get-ChildItemand press Enter to list the files in the current folder. - Press Ctrl + Shift + T to open another tab, or select the ˅ arrow next to + to pick Command Prompt or another profile.
- Type
exitand press Enter, or press Ctrl + Shift + W, to close the tab.
What is Windows Terminal?
Windows Terminal is Microsoft's host application for command-line shells. It does not replace PowerShell or Command Prompt; it runs them inside tabs and panes and draws their text.
It is open source, and Windows 11 version 22H2 made it the default command-line experience.
| Feature | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Tabs and tab tearout | Several shells in one window; drag a tab out to make a new window, or into another window |
| Panes | Two or more shells side by side inside one tab |
| Profiles | One entry per shell (PowerShell, Command Prompt, Azure Cloud Shell, each WSL distribution), each with its own look and starting folder |
| GPU text rendering | Text is drawn on the graphics card, which Microsoft says performs better than the classic console |
| Unicode and UTF-8 | Emoji and characters from many languages display correctly |
| Custom actions | Every keyboard shortcut can be changed or added |
| Themes and backgrounds | Color schemes, fonts, transparency and background images or GIFs per profile |
Windows Terminal vs Command Prompt vs PowerShell
The difference is terminal versus shell. A shell such as cmd.exe or PowerShell interprets what you type. A terminal is the window that displays it.
When you start cmd.exe outside Windows Terminal, Windows opens it in conhost.exe, the original Windows Console host.
| Windows Terminal | Command Prompt | PowerShell | |
|---|---|---|---|
| What it is | Terminal (the window) | Shell (cmd.exe) |
Shell (powershell.exe, or pwsh.exe for PowerShell 7) |
| Runs commands itself | No, it hosts a shell | Yes, classic commands and batch files | Yes, cmdlets and scripts |
| Tabs and panes | Yes | Only when hosted in Terminal | Only when hosted in Terminal |
| Example command | wt -d . opens a tab in the current folder |
dir, cd, cls |
Get-ChildItem, Set-Location, Clear-Host |
| Use it for | Running any shell comfortably | Old batch scripts and classic tools | Automation and Windows administration |
You do not choose between them. Open Windows Terminal, then choose Command Prompt or PowerShell as the profile for each tab.
How to install Windows Terminal
Windows Terminal needs Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or later. Windows 11 version 22H2 and later include it, so most Windows 11 users can skip to opening it.
Microsoft recommends the Microsoft Store listing, because that copy updates automatically.
| Your situation | Install this way | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11, version 22H2 or later | Nothing to install; search Terminal in Start | If it was removed, reinstall it from the Microsoft Store |
| Windows 10 with Microsoft Store access | Open Microsoft Store, search Windows Terminal, select Get or Install | Updates arrive automatically |
| Windows 10 or 11, you prefer the command line | Run winget install --id Microsoft.WindowsTerminal -e |
Needs the Windows Package Manager (winget) client |
| No Microsoft Store access | Install the .msixbundle from the Windows Terminal GitHub releases page |
Does not update itself; install new releases by hand |
| You want new features early | Install Windows Terminal Preview from the Store | Runs side by side with the stable version and has its own settings |
How to open Windows Terminal
Every route opens the same app. The one difference is which folder the first tab starts in.
| Route | What to do | Starting folder |
|---|---|---|
| Start menu | Select Start, type Terminal, press Enter |
Your profile's starting directory (your user folder by default) |
| Right-click Start (Windows 11) | Press Windows key + X, select the Terminal entry | Your profile's starting directory |
| Run box | Press Windows key + R, type wt, press Enter |
Your user folder (%USERPROFILE%) |
| File Explorer folder | Right-click inside a folder and select Open in Terminal | That folder |
| File Explorer address bar | Click the address bar, type wt, press Enter |
The folder you were viewing |
| From another Terminal window | Press Ctrl + Shift + N | A new window with the default profile |
Open in Terminal appears only for the Store (packaged) version. The unpackaged ZIP and portable builds do not add it.
Understanding the Windows Terminal interface
| Part of the window | Where it is | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Tab row | Top of the window, inside the title bar | One tab per session; the icon and title show the profile |
| + button | Right of the last tab | Opens a new tab of the default profile; hold Alt and click to open a pane instead |
| ˅ dropdown | Next to + | Lists every profile, plus Settings and Command palette |
| Terminal area | Main part of the window | The shell prompt, its output and the scrollback |
| Pane border | Around the focused pane when a tab is split | Shows which pane has focus, in your Windows accent color |
| Tab right-click menu | Right-click any tab | Rename Tab, Color…, Split Tab and close options |
| Settings | ˅ > Settings, or Ctrl + , | The graphical settings pages; hold Shift while selecting Settings to open settings.json instead |
Opening tabs and choosing profiles
A profile is a saved shell plus its settings. Windows Terminal creates PowerShell, Command Prompt and Azure Cloud Shell profiles itself, and adds one for each WSL distribution and extra PowerShell version it finds.
| To do this | Mouse | Keyboard |
|---|---|---|
| Open a new tab of the default profile | Select + | Ctrl + Shift + T |
| Open a tab of a different profile | Select ˅, then the profile | Ctrl + Shift + 1 to 9 (the profile's position in the list) |
| Duplicate the current tab | Command Palette > search duplicate tab |
Ctrl + Shift + D |
| Switch between tabs | Click the tab | Ctrl + Tab forward, Ctrl + Shift + Tab back, Ctrl + Alt + 1 to 8 for a specific tab |
| Rename a tab | Right-click the tab, select Rename Tab, type the name | No default shortcut |
| Color a tab | Right-click the tab, select Color… | No default shortcut |
| Close a tab | Select the X on the tab | Ctrl + Shift + W (closes the focused pane, or the tab if it has one pane) |
A renamed tab keeps its name only for that session. To fix a title for a profile every time, set its Tab title in the profile settings.
Using panes to split the terminal window
Panes put several shells in one tab, so you can watch output in one while typing in another.
| To do this | Keyboard | Mouse |
|---|---|---|
| Split to the right (vertical) | Alt + Shift + Plus (+) | Hold Alt and select + |
| Split below (horizontal) | Alt + Shift + Minus (-) | Hold Alt and select a profile in ˅ |
| Split in the best direction, same profile | Alt + Shift + D | Right-click the tab and select Split Tab |
| Move between panes | Alt + Arrow keys | Click the pane |
| Resize the focused pane | Alt + Shift + Arrow keys | Not available by default |
| Zoom one pane to fill the tab | Command Palette > toggle pane zoom | Not available by default |
| Close the focused pane | Ctrl + Shift + W | Type exit in the pane |
Basic commands to try in Windows Terminal
The commands you type belong to the shell in that tab, not to Windows Terminal. Check the tab icon before you type.
| Shell | Command | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| PowerShell | Get-ChildItem (or dir, ls) |
Lists files and folders in the current location |
| PowerShell | Set-Location C:\Windows (or cd) |
Changes the current folder |
| PowerShell | Get-Help Get-ChildItem |
Shows help for a cmdlet |
| PowerShell | Clear-Host (or cls) |
Clears the screen |
| Command Prompt | dir /w |
Lists the folder in wide format, up to five names per line |
| Command Prompt | cd .. |
Moves up to the parent folder |
| Command Prompt | cls |
Clears the Command Prompt window |
| Linux (WSL) | sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade |
Updates packages on Ubuntu and other Debian-based distributions |
| Linux (WSL) | explorer.exe . |
Opens the current Linux folder in File Explorer |
| Linux (WSL) | clear |
Clears the screen |
How to change the default profile
The default profile opens when you start Terminal, press Ctrl + Shift + T or select +. Change it if you use Command Prompt or Ubuntu more than PowerShell.
- Open Windows Terminal and press Ctrl + , to open Settings.
- Select Startup in the left pane.
- Open the Default profile list and pick the profile you want, such as Command Prompt.
- Select Save at the bottom right.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + T to confirm the new tab opens with that profile.
How to run Windows Terminal as administrator
Admin tabs and normal tabs cannot share one window. An elevated profile always opens in its own elevated window.
- Press Windows key + X to open the Quick Link menu.
- Select the Terminal entry marked (Admin).
- Select Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
- Alternatively, select Start, type
Terminal, right-click Terminal and select Run as administrator. - To make one profile always open elevated, open Settings, select the profile, turn on its run-as-administrator setting and select Save.
The last step sets the profile's elevate property to true. Microsoft's docs name it Automatically run as Administrator.
Customizing the look of Windows Terminal
Appearance is set per profile, so PowerShell and Ubuntu can look different. To change every profile at once, edit Defaults under Profiles in Settings.
Open Settings (Ctrl + ,), select a profile, then select Appearance. Select Save after each change.
| What to change | Where in Settings | Default | Tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Light or dark window theme | Appearance > Theme | Dark | Pick the system option to follow the Windows light or dark setting |
| Color scheme | Profile > Appearance > Color scheme | Campbell | Preview and edit schemes on the Color schemes page |
| Font and size | Profile > Appearance > Font face, Font size | Cascadia Mono, 12 pt | Ctrl + Plus and Ctrl + Minus zoom the text for this session only; Ctrl + 0 resets it |
| Cursor | Profile > Appearance > Cursor shape | Bar | Options include underscore, filled box and empty box |
| Transparency | Profile > Appearance > Transparency | 100% opaque, acrylic off | Unblurred transparency works only on Windows 11; hold Ctrl + Shift and scroll to try it for one session |
| Background image | Profile > Appearance > Background image | None | Can use your desktop wallpaper |
| Startup size | Startup > Launch size | 120 columns x 30 rows | Ignored when Launch mode is set to maximized |
| Launch mode | Startup > Launch mode | Default | Also offers maximized, full screen and focus mode |
Using the Command Palette
The Command Palette lists nearly every action Windows Terminal can perform, so you do not need to memorize shortcuts.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + P, or select ˅ > Command palette.
- Type part of an action name, such as
splitorfont. - Select the action, or highlight it and press Enter, to run it.
- To run a
wtcommand instead, delete the > character in the search box and type the command, for examplenew-tab -p "Command Prompt".
Copying, pasting, searching, and clearing the screen
Ctrl + C copies only when text is selected. With nothing selected it goes to the shell, where it stops the running command.
| Task | Keyboard | Mouse |
|---|---|---|
| Copy selected text | Ctrl + C, Ctrl + Shift + C, Ctrl + Insert or Enter | Select text, then right-click |
| Paste | Ctrl + V, Ctrl + Shift + V or Shift + Insert | Right-click with no text selected |
| Select all output | Ctrl + Shift + A | Triple-click selects one line |
| Select with the keyboard | Ctrl + Shift + M (mark mode), then Shift + Arrow keys | Hold Alt and drag for a rectangular block |
| Search the output | Ctrl + Shift + F, type the word, press Enter | Use the arrows and case-match button in the search box |
| Clear the screen | Type cls (Command Prompt or PowerShell) or clear (Linux) |
Command Palette > search clear buffer when no prompt is available |
Search looks only inside the focused pane and runs from the bottom of the buffer upward by default.
Making Windows Terminal the default terminal app
The default terminal decides which window opens when any console program starts, such as cmd.exe launched from the Run box. Windows 11 22H2 already uses Let Windows decide, which points to Windows Terminal.
Only the Store (packaged) version can be the default. Windows 10 22H2 needs the May 23, 2023 update (KB5026435) or later.
| Windows version | Where to set it | Choose |
|---|---|---|
| Any supported version | Windows Terminal > Settings > Startup > Default terminal application | Windows Terminal, then Save |
| Windows 11, version 25H2 and later | Settings > System > Advanced > Terminal | Windows Terminal |
| Windows 11, version 22H2 to 24H2 | Settings > Privacy & security > For developers > Terminal | Windows Terminal |
| Windows 10, version 22H2 with KB5026435 | Windows Terminal > Settings > Startup | Windows Terminal |
To go back to the classic console window, choose Windows Console Host in the same list.
Opening Windows Terminal with command-line options
wt.exe opens Terminal in a chosen layout from Run, a shortcut or another shell. Separate commands with ;. In PowerShell, write the separator as ` ; “ so PowerShell does not treat it as its own separator.
| You want | Command | Result |
|---|---|---|
| A tab of a specific profile | wt -p "Command Prompt" |
New window with a Command Prompt tab |
| Start in a folder | wt -d D:\Projects |
First tab starts in that folder |
| Two tabs at once | wt -p "Command Prompt" ; new-tab -p "Windows PowerShell" |
One window, two tabs |
| Split panes at launch | wt -p "Command Prompt" ; split-pane -p "Windows PowerShell" |
Two panes side by side |
| A tab in the window already open | wt -w 0 nt |
New tab in the most recently used window |
| Maximized or full screen | wt -M or wt -F |
Window opens maximized or full screen |
| See every option | wt -h |
Help message listing all arguments |
Installing and using WSL in Windows Terminal
WSL runs Linux distributions such as Ubuntu inside Windows. It needs Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or later, or Windows 11. Windows Terminal adds a profile for each distribution automatically.
wsl --installRun it in an administrator Terminal tab (see the admin steps above). It turns on the Windows features WSL needs and installs Ubuntu. Restart the PC when it finishes. To pick another distribution, run wsl --list --online, then wsl --install -d <DistroName>.
You should see: After the restart, the first launch unpacks the distribution and asks you to create a Linux user name and password. From then on, Ubuntu appears in the ˅ profile list with the Linux penguin icon.
If wsl --install prints the WSL help text instead, WSL is already installed; use wsl --install -d <DistroName> to add a distribution.
Creating and editing profiles
Add a profile to open a specific program or folder in one click, for example a Command Prompt that always starts in your projects folder.
- Press Ctrl + , to open Settings.
- Scroll to the bottom of the profile list in the left pane and select + Add a new profile.
- Select + New empty profile, or duplicate an existing profile to copy its settings.
- Enter a Name, then set Command line to the program, such as
cmd.exeor a batch file path. - Set Starting directory, using Browse… to pick the folder.
- Optionally set an Icon and Tab title, then select Save.
- To edit an existing profile, select it in the left pane, change a field and select Save; to hide one from the ˅ list, turn on its hide-from-dropdown setting.
Prefer text? Hold Shift and select Settings in the ˅ menu to open settings.json. The Store version keeps it at %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\settings.json.
Useful Windows Terminal keyboard shortcuts
These are the default bindings. Change any of them on the Actions page in Settings.
| Shortcut | Action |
|---|---|
| Ctrl + Shift + T | New tab (default profile) |
| Ctrl + Shift + 1 to 9 | New tab of profile 1 to 9 |
| Ctrl + Shift + N | New window |
| Ctrl + Shift + D | Duplicate tab |
| Ctrl + Tab / Ctrl + Shift + Tab | Next / previous tab |
| Ctrl + Alt + 1 to 8 | Go to tab 1 to 8 |
| Ctrl + Shift + W | Close pane or tab |
| Alt + Shift + Plus / Minus / D | Split right / split down / split automatically |
| Alt + Arrow keys | Move focus between panes |
| Alt + Shift + Arrow keys | Resize pane |
| Ctrl + Shift + P | Command Palette |
| Ctrl + Shift + F | Search output |
| Ctrl + , | Settings |
| Ctrl + Shift + , | Open settings.json |
| Ctrl + Shift + Space | Open the new-tab dropdown |
| Alt + Enter or F11 | Toggle full screen |
| Ctrl + Plus / Ctrl + Minus / Ctrl + 0 | Bigger text / smaller text / reset size |
| Ctrl + Shift + Home / End | Scroll to top / bottom of output |
| Alt + F4 | Close the window |
Safety tips for beginners
| Risk | What to do |
|---|---|
| Pasting commands you do not understand | Read every command before pressing Enter; commands from untrusted pages can change or delete files |
| Working as administrator all the time | Open an admin window only for the task that needs it, then close it; admin and normal tabs never share a window |
| Pressing Ctrl + C to copy with nothing selected | It stops the running command; select text first, or use Ctrl + Shift + C |
| Typing into the wrong pane | Check the highlighted border before typing; mark a pane read-only from the Command Palette to block input |
Breaking settings.json with a typo |
Copy the file before editing it, or use the Settings pages instead |
| Running a new distribution's setup blind | Keep the Linux password you create; sudo asks for it |
How to check Windows Terminal is set up correctly
- Press Windows key + R, type
wtand press Enter. Windows Terminal should open with a tab of your chosen default profile. - Press Ctrl + Shift + P. The Command Palette should appear at the top of the window.
- Press Windows key + R, type
cmdand press Enter. If Terminal is your default terminal, Command Prompt opens inside Windows Terminal, with tabs, not in the older console window. - Select ˅ and confirm your WSL distribution, if you installed one, appears in the profile list.
- Press Alt + Shift + D. The tab should split into two panes.
Troubleshooting common Windows Terminal problems
These symptoms come from the "where is terminal in windows" searches and from Microsoft's Windows Terminal troubleshooting and FAQ pages.
Terminal is not in the Start menu
Windows 10 does not include Windows Terminal, or the app was uninstalled.
- Confirm your Windows 10 version is 2004 (build 19041) or later.
- Open Microsoft Store, search Windows Terminal and select Get or Install.
- Or run
winget install --id Microsoft.WindowsTerminal -ein PowerShell. - Search Terminal in Start again.
No tabs, title bar or menus are visible
Focus mode is on, which hides the tabs and title bar.
- Press Ctrl + Shift + P to open the Command Palette.
- Type
focus modeand select Toggle focus mode. - Open Settings > Startup and set Launch mode to Default so it does not return next time.
- Select Save.
Settings opens Notepad, Visual Studio or another app
You opened settings.json, which Windows hands to whatever app is set for .json files.
- Close that app.
- Press Ctrl + , to open the graphical Settings pages instead.
- Use Ctrl + Shift + , only when you want to edit the JSON file.
Terminal stopped working after a settings change
A setting in settings.json is invalid or the saved state is damaged.
- Close every Windows Terminal window.
- Open File Explorer and paste
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalStateinto the address bar. - Move
settings.jsonandstate.jsonto another folder as a backup. - Open Windows Terminal. It creates a new
settings.jsonwith default settings.
Transparency or acrylic does not show
Windows turns acrylic off for background windows, in battery saver, over Remote Desktop, in many virtual machines and on unsupported graphics hardware.
- Click the Terminal window so it is in the foreground.
- Turn off battery saver and check again.
- Set Transparency below 100% without acrylic on Windows 11, which uses plain opacity instead.
A warning says the keyboard service is disabled
The Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service is off, and Windows needs it to route input to Terminal.
- Press Windows key + R, type
services.mscand press Enter. - Double-click Touch Keyboard and Handwriting Panel Service.
- Set Startup type to Automatic and select OK.
- Restart the PC.
Ctrl + = does not make the text bigger
With a German layout, Ctrl + = becomes Ctrl + Shift + 0, which Windows reserves when several keyboard layouts are active.
- Use Ctrl + Plus on the numeric keypad, or scroll with Ctrl held.
- Or add your own font-size binding on the Actions page in Settings.
Best beginner setup for Windows Terminal
Install the Microsoft Store version, set Windows Terminal as the default terminal app, pick the shell you use most as the default profile, and learn four shortcuts: Ctrl + Shift + T, Alt + Shift + D, Ctrl + Shift + P and Ctrl + Shift + F. The Store version updates itself and is the only build that can be the default terminal or add Open in Terminal to File Explorer. Those four shortcuts cover tabs, panes, every other action and search, so the rest can wait until you need it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I open the terminal in Windows?
Select Start, type Terminal and press Enter. You can also press Windows key + R, type wt and press Enter, or right-click inside a folder in File Explorer and select Open in Terminal to start in that folder.
Where is Terminal in Windows 11?
Terminal is an app in the Start menu; search for Terminal to find it. On Windows 11 it is also in the menu that appears when you right-click Start or press Windows key + X, including an entry marked Admin for an elevated window.
How do I get Windows Terminal on Windows 10?
Install Windows Terminal from the Microsoft Store, or run winget install –id Microsoft.WindowsTerminal -e. It needs Windows 10 version 2004 (build 19041) or later. The Store version updates automatically, which is why Microsoft recommends it.
What is a terminal window?
A terminal window is the app that displays a command-line shell and passes your typing to it. Windows Terminal is one; the shells it hosts are PowerShell, Command Prompt and Linux distributions through WSL. The older Windows terminal window is conhost.exe.
How does Windows Terminal work?
Windows Terminal starts a shell for each tab or pane based on a profile, then draws that shell's output with a GPU-accelerated text renderer. The shell runs the commands. Terminal handles tabs, panes, fonts, colors, copying and shortcuts.
Is Windows Terminal needed?
No. PowerShell and Command Prompt run without it in the classic console window. Windows Terminal adds tabs, panes, better text rendering and customization, and on Windows 11 22H2 and later it is the default window for command-line apps.
How do I use Windows Terminal in Windows 11?
Open Terminal from Start, type commands in the PowerShell tab, press Ctrl + Shift + T for new tabs and Alt + Shift + D to split a pane. Use the down arrow next to + to switch to Command Prompt or a Linux profile.
What is the recommended terminal for Windows?
Microsoft's own recommendation is Windows Terminal installed from the Microsoft Store. It hosts PowerShell, Command Prompt, Azure Cloud Shell and WSL distributions in one window, updates automatically and can be set as the default terminal for all command-line apps.
Can I run admin and normal tabs in the same Windows Terminal window?
No. Microsoft does not allow elevated and non-elevated tabs in one window for security reasons. A profile set to run as administrator opens in a separate elevated window, and additional elevated tabs can then open in that window.
