How to use Windows Terminal in Windows 11

September 26, 2025

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Windows Terminal is one of Microsoft’s most powerful tools introduced with Windows 10 and further polished in Windows 11. It brings together multiple command-line interfaces—Command Prompt, PowerShell, Azure Cloud Shell, and even Linux shells via WSL—into a single modern, fast, and customizable application. If you’ve just upgraded to Windows 11 and want to learn how to use Windows Terminal effectively, this guide will walk you through everything step by step.

By the end of this article, you’ll know how to launch, configure, and personalize Windows Terminal, as well as how to use it for productivity, automation, and advanced system management.

Introduction to Windows Terminal

Windows Terminal is a multi-tabbed, modern terminal application for Windows 11. Unlike the traditional Command Prompt window, which is limited in customization and functionality, Windows Terminal offers:

Multiple shells in one place – Access PowerShell, Command Prompt, and Linux distributions without switching apps.
Tabbed interface – Open different terminals in separate tabs, similar to a web browser.
Customizable appearance – Themes, colors, fonts, and transparency can be tailored to your liking.
Better rendering – GPU-accelerated text rendering makes scrolling and output smooth.
Profiles – Each shell (e.g., PowerShell, CMD, Ubuntu) can be customized independently.

Why Use Windows Terminal in Windows 11?

Windows Terminal isn’t just a fancier version of Command Prompt; it’s a major upgrade. Here are a few reasons why you should use it:

Efficiency – Run multiple command-line tools from one app without opening multiple windows.
Customization – Change fonts, colors, background images, and shortcuts to match your workflow.
Productivity – Split panes, hotkeys, and profiles make it easier to multitask.
Integration with WSL – If you use Linux on Windows, Terminal makes it seamless.
Modern UI – Unlike the plain black window of CMD, Terminal has a modern, polished design.

How to Install and Open Windows Terminal in Windows 11

Pre-installed on Windows 11

Windows Terminal is pre-installed in Windows 11. You can find it quickly by searching in the Start menu.

Steps to Open Windows Terminal

From Start Menu:

Click on the Start button.
Type Windows Terminal in the search bar.
Click Open.

From Quick Menu (Win + X):

Right-click on the Start button or press Win + X.
Select Windows Terminal (or Windows Terminal (Admin) for elevated privileges).

From Run Dialog:

Press Win + R.
Type wt and hit Enter.

Pinning for Quick Access:

Right-click the Windows Terminal icon in the taskbar.
Select Pin to taskbar for easier access in the future.

Running Commands in Windows Terminal

You can run the same commands you would in CMD or PowerShell.

Examples:

dir → Lists files and directories.
ipconfig → Shows network information.
sfc /scannow → Runs system file checker.
winget install appname → Installs apps using Windows Package Manager.

Using PowerShell in Windows Terminal

PowerShell is a more powerful alternative to CMD. Examples include:

Get-Process → Shows running processes.
Get-ChildItem → Lists files in a directory (similar to dir).
Get-Help → Provides help on commands.
Stop-Process -Name notepad → Stops a process.

PowerShell also supports scripting, making it ideal for automation.

Using WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) in Windows Terminal

If you install Linux on Windows (via WSL), Terminal integrates it seamlessly.

Example Commands:

wsl --install → Installs default Linux distribution.
Open Ubuntu/other distributions from Terminal’s dropdown.
Run Linux commands like ls, pwd, apt-get install.

Advanced Features

Quake Mode
- Press Win + ` (backtick) to open Terminal in “quake mode” (a drop-down window from the top of the screen).
- Useful for quick commands without leaving your workflow.
Startup Customization
- Set your default profile (e.g., PowerShell or CMD).
- Define whether Terminal opens in a maximized window.
Search
- Use Ctrl + Shift + F to search within the Terminal buffer.
Clipboard Integration
- Copy: Ctrl + Shift + C
- Paste: Ctrl + Shift + V

Working with Tabs and Panes

Creating New Tabs:

Click the + button in the tab bar to open a new tab with your default profile
Press Ctrl + Shift + T to open a new tab quickly
Click the dropdown arrow next to the + button to choose a specific profile for your new tab
Right-click on the tab bar to access additional tab options

Managing Tabs:

Click on any tab to switch to it
Press Ctrl + Tab to cycle through tabs
Press Ctrl + Shift + Tab to cycle through tabs in reverse order
Right-click on a tab to access options like duplicate, rename, or close
Drag tabs to reorder them within the window

Working with Panes: Windows Terminal supports splitting your window into multiple panes, allowing you to work with several command-line sessions simultaneously.

Creating Panes:

Press Alt + Shift + D to split the current pane vertically
Press Alt + Shift + – to split the current pane horizontally
Right-click in the terminal and select Split pane options
Use the dropdown menu and select Split pane with your desired orientation

Navigating Between Panes:

Press Alt + Arrow Keys to move focus between panes
Click directly on a pane to focus on it
Use Alt + Shift + Arrow Keys to resize panes
Press Ctrl + Shift + W to close the current pane

Customizing Profiles

Profiles in Windows Terminal define the settings for different command-line tools. Each profile can have unique appearance settings, startup commands, and behavior configurations.

Accessing Profile Settings:

Click the dropdown arrow next to the new tab button
Select Settings from the menu
Navigate to the Profiles section in the left sidebar
Choose the profile you want to customize

Default Profile Configuration: You can set which profile opens by default when you create a new tab:

Open Settings
Go to Startup in the left sidebar
Select your preferred default profile from the dropdown menu
Choose your default terminal application if prompted

Creating Custom Profiles:

Open Windows Terminal settings
Click Add a new profile in the Profiles section
Choose New empty profile or duplicate an existing one
Configure the profile name, command line, starting directory, and icon
Customize appearance settings like color scheme, font, and transparency
Save your changes

Profile-Specific Settings: For each profile, you can customize:

Command line: The executable that runs when the profile starts
Starting directory: The default folder that opens
Icon: The image displayed in tabs and the new tab menu
Tab title: The default title for tabs using this profile
Color scheme: The color palette used for text and background
Font: The typeface, size, and weight of text
Cursor: The shape, color, and blinking behavior of the cursor

Appearance Customization

Changing Color Schemes: Windows Terminal comes with several built-in color schemes, and you can create custom ones:

Open Settings and navigate to Color schemes in the left sidebar
Select from existing schemes like Campbell, One Half Dark, or Solarized Dark
To create a custom scheme, click Add a new color scheme
Define colors for background, foreground, cursor, selection, and ANSI colors
Apply the scheme to specific profiles in their respective settings pages

Font Configuration:

Go to the profile settings you want to modify
Navigate to the Appearance section
Change the Font face to any installed monospace font
Adjust Font size for readability
Set Font weight for bold or light text appearance
Enable or disable Font features like ligatures

Background and Transparency:

Adjust Opacity to make the terminal background transparent
Set Background image to use a custom wallpaper
Configure Background image opacity to control image visibility
Choose Background image stretch mode to control how images are displayed
Enable Acrylic material for a frosted glass effect

Advanced Features and Shortcuts

Essential Keyboard Shortcuts:

Ctrl + C: Copy selected text (or interrupt running command)
Ctrl + V: Paste text from clipboard
Ctrl + Shift + F: Open find dialog
Ctrl + Shift + P: Open command palette
F11: Toggle full-screen mode
Ctrl + ,: Open settings
Ctrl + Shift + D: Duplicate current tab
Alt + F4: Close Windows Terminal

Command Palette Usage: The command palette provides quick access to various terminal functions:

Press Ctrl + Shift + P to open the command palette
Type keywords to search for specific actions
Use arrow keys to navigate through options
Press Enter to execute the selected command

Search Functionality:

Press Ctrl + Shift + F to open the search box
Type your search term
Use F3 or Enter to find the next occurrence
Press Shift + F3 to find the previous occurrence
Use the search options to match case or use regular expressions

Working with Different Shells

PowerShell Integration: Windows Terminal provides excellent PowerShell support with features like:

Syntax highlighting for PowerShell commands
Tab completion for cmdlets and parameters
Integrated PowerShell modules and snap-ins
Support for PowerShell profiles and scripts

Command Prompt Usage: The classic Command Prompt remains available within Windows Terminal:

All traditional CMD commands work as expected
Batch files execute normally
Environment variables are accessible
Legacy applications run without modification

Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL): If you have WSL installed, Windows Terminal automatically detects Linux distributions:

Install WSL through Windows Features or Microsoft Store
Install your preferred Linux distribution
Windows Terminal will automatically create profiles for detected distributions
Access Linux commands and tools through these profiles
File system integration allows easy navigation between Windows and Linux

Configuration and Settings Files

JSON Configuration: Windows Terminal stores all settings in JSON files that you can edit directly:

Accessing Settings JSON:

Open Windows Terminal settings
Click Open JSON file at the bottom left
Edit the configuration using any text editor
Save changes to apply them immediately

Key Configuration Sections:

defaultProfile: Sets the default shell that opens
profiles: Contains all profile configurations
schemes: Defines color schemes
actions: Customizes keyboard shortcuts and commands
appearance: Controls global appearance settings

Backup and Sync:

Settings files are located in the LocalState folder
You can backup these files to preserve custom configurations
Settings can be synced across devices using cloud storage
Import and export functionality allows sharing configurations

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Performance Optimization: If Windows Terminal runs slowly:

Disable unnecessary visual effects like acrylic material
Reduce the scrollback buffer size in profile settings
Close unused tabs and panes
Update to the latest version
Check for conflicting software or antivirus interference

Display Issues: For rendering or display problems:

Update graphics drivers
Try different rendering engines in advanced settings
Adjust DPI scaling settings
Disable hardware acceleration if experiencing glitches
Reset settings to default if problems persist

Profile Problems: When profiles don’t work correctly:

Verify the command line path is correct
Check starting directory permissions
Ensure required applications are installed
Review error messages in the terminal output
Recreate problematic profiles with default settings

Integration with Development Workflows

Git Integration: Windows Terminal works seamlessly with Git repositories:

Full Git command support across all shells
Visual indicators for repository status in supported shells
Integration with Git Bash if installed
Support for SSH keys and authentication

Development Environment Setup:

Configure profiles for different programming languages
Set up custom environments with specific PATH variables
Create shortcuts for common development tasks
Integrate with code editors and IDEs
Use the terminal for package management and build processes

Bottom Line

Windows Terminal in Windows 11 represents a significant advancement in command-line interfaces for Windows users. Its flexibility, customization options, and modern features make it an essential tool for power users, developers, and system administrators.

By mastering these features and configurations, you can create a personalized and efficient command-line environment that enhances your productivity and workflow. Regular practice with the various shells and features will help you become proficient in using this powerful tool to its full potential.