Windows Terminal is a free terminal host for Windows, not a shell or a new command language. It gives Command Prompt, Windows PowerShell, PowerShell 7, WSL, SSH clients, and other command-line programs a shared window with tabs, panes, profiles, and customizable settings. The commands you can run depend on the shell or program in the active tab.
Windows Terminal, Command Prompt, PowerShell, and WSL: what is the difference?
Think of Windows Terminal as a browser window that can hold several tabs: each tab or pane can run a different command-line environment. The host provides the window and interaction features; the program inside it interprets what you type.
| Item | What it does |
|---|---|
| Windows Terminal | A graphical terminal host for command-line applications. |
Command Prompt (cmd.exe) |
Windows’ traditional command shell, including its own commands and batch scripting. |
| Windows PowerShell | The Windows-included generation of PowerShell, with its own command and scripting behavior. |
PowerShell 7 (pwsh.exe) |
A newer, separately installed PowerShell generation. It is not the same installation as Windows PowerShell. |
| WSL | A Windows feature for running Linux distributions and Linux user-space tools. |
| Bash | A shell commonly used through a WSL Linux distribution or Git Bash. |
| Console host | Windows console infrastructure used by command-line applications; it is distinct from the shell and the Terminal interface. |
For example, PowerShell interprets PowerShell commands, while a WSL distribution provides Linux tools and its shell interprets Linux commands. Windows Terminal does not translate one shell’s commands into another’s. Microsoft describes Terminal and its supported command-line environments in its Windows Terminal overview and FAQ.
Windows may be configured to show console applications inside Windows Terminal. That changes the host window, not the shell’s commands or scripting rules. Microsoft Support explains this behavior for Command Prompt and Windows PowerShell.
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What can you run in Windows Terminal?
Terminal can host command-line applications installed on the computer. Common choices include Command Prompt, Windows PowerShell, PowerShell 7, WSL distributions such as Ubuntu, Git Bash, Azure Cloud Shell, and SSH clients. It can also host tools such as Git, Python, Node.js, Docker CLI, cloud CLIs, and database clients.
Terminal can automatically create profiles for certain detected environments, including installed WSL distributions and, where applicable, multiple PowerShell installations. Detection is not universal: an absent profile commonly means the underlying program or distribution is missing, or Terminal has not detected it. Installing Terminal does not install WSL, Ubuntu, PowerShell 7, Git, Azure CLI, or any other separate tool.
The dependency chain for Linux work is: Windows Terminal hosts WSL; WSL provides the Linux environment; a Linux distribution provides its user space and commands; and Bash, Zsh, or another shell interprets commands within that environment.
Features that make Terminal useful
- Tabs and panes: Keep separate shells or tasks in one window, or split a tab to view multiple command-line sessions at once.
- Profiles: Give a shell or command its own name, executable, starting directory, icon, and appearance. A profile can also launch a custom shell, script, batch file, or SSH command.
- Command Palette: Find and run Terminal actions from the keyboard, including tab and pane operations.
- Custom actions and shortcuts: Change key bindings and configure actions to suit a workflow.
- Appearance controls: Adjust fonts, colors, color schemes, transparency, background images, cursor, padding, and other display options.
- Text rendering: Terminal supports Unicode and UTF-8 and uses GPU-accelerated text rendering. That is a feature description, not a guarantee of a particular speed improvement on every system.
- Startup layouts: Configure how Terminal starts and use the
wtcommand to open profiles or arrange tabs and panes.
Microsoft documents pane operations, the Command Palette, actions and key bindings, and profile appearance.
Windows requirements and release channels
Microsoft’s installation documentation lists Windows Terminal for all supported Windows 11 versions and for Windows 10 version 22H2 after the May 23, 2023 update, KB5026435. That is not a claim of support for every Windows 10 release. Features can also depend on the Windows build and Terminal version; WSL and other hosted tools have their own requirements. See Microsoft’s installation requirements before deploying it, especially on managed devices. These client requirements should not be assumed to describe Windows Server support.
| Channel | Best suited to | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Windows Terminal (stable) | Most users, workstations, and production administration. | The ordinary public release, rather than the earliest access to features under development. |
| Windows Terminal Preview | Users who want to try newer features and accept changes or bugs. | Newer does not mean more reliable; it is a separate channel from stable. |
| Canary | Testing and development. | The most experimental channel; not the default recommendation for everyday or production use. |
For a version number, consult the official releases page, which distinguishes stable and Preview releases. The release information available for this article lists stable Windows Terminal v1.24.11321.0 dated May 13, 2026; release numbers change, so that dated value should not be treated as a guarantee of the latest build. Microsoft also publishes Preview 1.25 release information.
How to install Windows Terminal
Windows Terminal is free software distributed by Microsoft and developed in the open-source microsoft/terminal repository. Choose the installation route that fits the computer’s Store access and update requirements.
Microsoft Store: the simplest route for most users
- Open Microsoft Store.
- Search for Windows Terminal.
- Install the stable Windows Terminal app, rather than Preview if you want the ordinary stable channel.
- Launch it from Start or Windows Search.
Microsoft recommends the Store for most users because it provides automatic updates. Store labels and screens can change; the official installation page is the current reference.
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WinGet: install or update from the command line
In PowerShell or Command Prompt with WinGet available, run:
winget install --id Microsoft.WindowsTerminal -eTo update an existing installation, run:
winget upgrade --id Microsoft.WindowsTerminal -eIf the package is not found or package metadata differs on your system, check the available listing with:
winget search TerminalGitHub and other package managers
Use the GitHub Releases page when Store access is blocked, an administrator needs a specific build, or manual deployment is required. Choose the correct package for the machine’s architecture and deployment method: release assets can differ, including packaged, unpackaged, portable, and framework-dependent options. Avoid selecting an arbitrary download without checking its requirements.
Chocolatey and Scoop are also distribution options. Installation and update behavior is not identical across Store, GitHub, and package managers, so plan updates according to the route used. Microsoft’s installation guidance covers available methods.
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Set up profiles, defaults, and appearance
On first launch, Terminal normally opens its default profile, commonly PowerShell. The tab dropdown shows detected profiles. If the shell you need is absent, install that shell or distribution first, then restart Terminal to allow detection.
Choose the default profile
The default profile is the one Terminal opens when you create a tab without choosing another profile. For the graphical route, open the tab dropdown, choose Settings, then use the Startup settings to select the default profile. The corresponding JSON property is defaultProfile, whose value is the profile’s GUID:
"defaultProfile": "{profile-guid}"Use the Settings interface if you are new to Terminal; JSON is useful for repeatable or version-controlled configurations. See Microsoft’s startup settings documentation.
Add a custom profile
- Open Terminal’s tab dropdown and select Settings.
- Open Profiles, then select Add a new profile.
- Choose New empty profile.
- Set a profile name, command line or executable, starting directory, and any icon or appearance settings you want.
- Save the profile and open it from the tab dropdown.
The executable path depends on what is installed on the computer. A representative JSON profile is:
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{
"name": "My Shell",
"commandline": "C:\Path\to\my-shell.exe",
"startingDirectory": "%USERPROFILE%"
}Replace the example path with the actual executable or command for your environment. A profile can also launch an SSH client or a script; Terminal does not supply the remote host details or the script itself.
Adjust fonts, colors, and other display settings
Use Settings to customize font family and size, colors, transparency, background, cursor, padding, scrollback, and other preferences. Profile-level values style one environment; defaults can apply shared settings across profiles. Effects can vary with the Windows build, GPU, and remote session. Microsoft’s guides cover general appearance and profile appearance.
Find and back up the settings file
For a stable packaged installation, the settings file is normally at:
%LOCALAPPDATA%PackagesMicrosoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbweLocalStatesettings.jsonInstall type can affect file locations. Before editing JSON directly, make a backup: a missing comma, mismatched brace, invalid property, or bad quote can prevent a configuration from loading. Close Terminal before restoring or replacing its settings file.
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Useful default keyboard shortcuts
These are documented defaults, not unchangeable guarantees. User bindings, Windows, a shell, a remote session, or another application can intercept or override a shortcut.
| Action | Default shortcut |
|---|---|
| Open a new tab | Ctrl+Shift+T |
| Move to the next tab | Ctrl+Tab |
| Move to the previous tab | Ctrl+Shift+Tab |
| Open a new window | Ctrl+Shift+N |
| Open the Command Palette | Ctrl+Shift+P |
| Create a horizontal pane | Alt+Shift+- |
| Create a vertical pane | Alt+Shift++ |
| Duplicate the current pane with automatic splitting | Alt+Shift+D |
Pane operations can split in directions such as up, down, left, right, horizontal, vertical, or automatic. The Command Palette lets you search available actions rather than memorize every binding. For the configurable list, see Microsoft’s actions documentation and pane guide.
Launch profiles and layouts with wt
The wt command starts Terminal and can open profiles, tabs, working directories, and panes. For example:
wt -p "Ubuntu"This opens a profile named Ubuntu, if that profile exists on the machine. Names are not universal: use the name shown in that Terminal installation.
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A more involved example opens a PowerShell tab, then adds Command Prompt and Ubuntu panes:
wt new-tab pwsh.exe ; split-pane -p "Command Prompt" -d C: ; split-pane -p "Ubuntu" -HThe example assumes those profiles exist. In PowerShell, the semicolon is also a statement separator, so shell parsing can affect how a multi-command wt line is passed; consult the command-line syntax when adapting it to a script or shell. Microsoft documents Terminal command-line arguments and related actions.
Practical ways to organize command-line work
Keep Windows shells side by side
Use one tab for PowerShell and another for Command Prompt when a task requires both environments. The same command may not work in both, because the shells have different syntax and built-in commands.
Pair a WSL shell with Windows tools
Open a WSL profile in one tab and a Windows shell in another, or split a tab to compare output. Terminal provides the shared interface; WSL and its distribution provide the Linux environment and commands.
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A custom profile can run an SSH command, for example:
{
"name": "Production SSH",
"commandline": "ssh [email protected]"
}Replace the example username and host with the authorized destination. SSH keys, host configuration, agents, jump hosts, port forwarding, and authentication belong to the SSH client and operating-system setup; Windows Terminal is not an SSH session-management platform.
Start a repeatable work layout
Use wt arguments to open profiles and create panes for a routine workflow. A useful layout might place a shell beside a test or log command, but the profile names and commands must be valid on that machine. Keep the command or shortcut in a script if it needs to be shared consistently.
Default terminal behavior and administrator sessions
There are two different defaults: Terminal’s default profile selects which shell opens inside Terminal, while Windows’ default terminal application determines which host receives console launches. Windows Terminal includes a default-terminal setting, but its availability and behavior depend on Windows version, policy, and system configuration. To open Terminal manually, use Start or run wt; to change how console applications are hosted, review the startup settings.
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Terminal can launch elevated shells, but elevation is governed by Windows and User Account Control, not granted by the Terminal window. Each tab or pane retains the permissions of its own process: an ordinary shell does not become elevated because another pane is running as administrator. Check the active profile or prompt before running commands that can change or delete data.
Troubleshooting common problems
There is no Ubuntu or other WSL profile
- Check whether WSL is installed and available separately.
- Install a Linux distribution and complete its first-run setup.
- Restart Terminal and check the profile list again.
- If the distribution exists but automatic detection still fails, add a custom profile only after confirming its actual launch command.
Terminal does not include Ubuntu. A missing profile is not, by itself, evidence that Terminal is broken.
PowerShell 7 is missing
Windows PowerShell and PowerShell 7 are separate installations. If only Windows PowerShell is present, install PowerShell 7 separately and restart Terminal so it can detect the newer executable, pwsh.exe. Do not assume that modules or behavior are identical between the two generations.
A command fails in an open tab
- Identify the active profile and shell.
- Check whether the command’s executable is installed and available on that shell’s
PATH. - Confirm the command syntax is valid for the active shell.
- Check the current directory and any required environment variables.
- Try the command directly in the underlying shell and inspect the profile’s command line or environment settings if it still fails.
Terminal can display a shell correctly while a command fails because the command, path, or environment is missing.
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Malformed JSON, a removed property, invalid executable path, unsupported action, or stale configuration fragment can cause problems. Back up the file, undo the latest change, and use the graphical Settings interface to correct it. If needed, temporarily remove custom profiles or extensions, then restore a known-good configuration. Settings copied from an older release may need adjustment.
A shortcut does nothing
The shell or foreground application may capture the key first; a custom binding may override it; Windows may reserve the combination; or an IME, accessibility feature, keyboard layout, or remote session may handle it. Review the configured bindings in Settings and Microsoft’s actions documentation. Windows-key combinations are often reserved by the operating system.
Terminal is not hosting console applications by default
Launching Terminal yourself and making it the default host for console applications are separate operations. If console programs still open in another host, check the Windows default-terminal setting where available and consider whether system policy or the Windows build controls it. The selected host does not change the command language of the shell.
When Windows Terminal may not be the right fit
Windows Terminal is a strong fit for local Windows command-line work, WSL, and straightforward SSH commands when you want a free, Microsoft-supported host with tabs and panes. It is not a full graphical development environment, a shell in its own right, or a sandbox.
Recommended Free Tools
Consider another tool if your priority is portable cross-platform terminal use with SSH workflows, bundled remote-administration features, or dedicated commercial SSH and serial-session management. Tabby presents itself as a cross-platform terminal with local-shell and SSH support (Tabby); MobaXterm is oriented toward Windows remote computing (MobaXterm); SecureCRT focuses on terminal and remote-session use (SecureCRT). Check each vendor’s current features, licensing, and support terms before choosing: those details are not established here. For users who simply need Windows PowerShell, Command Prompt, or WSL in a customizable window, switching tools is not necessary.
Is Windows Terminal worth using?
For most Windows users who work in a command line, Windows Terminal is a practical default host: it puts multiple shells and tools into a configurable interface without replacing or changing those tools. Choose the shell for the job, install it separately where necessary, and treat Terminal as the window that organizes the work.
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