Introduction to Windows Terminal

Welcome to the official MSDN documentation. This article provides an introduction to Windows Terminal, a modern, fast, efficient, and powerful terminal application for users who can use command-line tools and scripting environments. This article covers its key features, installation, and basic usage.

What is Windows Terminal?

Windows Terminal is a new application that brings together many command-line experiences that developers and power users have asked for. It's a single application that can host multiple instances of various command-line shells and tools, including Command Prompt, PowerShell, and WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). Developed by Microsoft, it aims to be a more user-friendly and feature-rich alternative to the traditional Windows console.

Key Features:

Tabbed Interface: Open multiple tabs for different shells or directories within a single window.
Customization: Extensive customization options for appearance, including themes, fonts, transparency, and background images.
Multiple Profiles: Configure separate profiles for different shells (Command Prompt, PowerShell, Azure Cloud Shell, WSL distributions) with unique settings.
Search Functionality: Quickly find text within your terminal sessions.
Command Palette: Access commands and actions through a unified interface.
GPU Accelerated Text Rendering: Faster and smoother rendering of text.
UTF-8 and Emoji Support: Full support for Unicode characters, including emojis.

Installation

Windows Terminal can be installed in several ways, making it accessible to a wide range of users.

From the Microsoft Store:

The easiest and recommended way to install Windows Terminal is through the Microsoft Store. This ensures you always have the latest stable version.

Open the Microsoft Store application on your Windows device.
Search for "Windows Terminal".
Click on the "Get" or "Install" button.

From GitHub Releases:

For users who prefer to install manually or require specific versions, you can download release packages from the official GitHub repository.

Navigate to the Windows Terminal GitHub Releases page.
Download the latest `.msixbundle` or `.zip` file.
Follow the installation instructions provided on the GitHub page.

Getting Started

Once installed, launching Windows Terminal is straightforward. You can find it by searching for "Windows Terminal" in the Start Menu.

Launching Your First Session:

By default, Windows Terminal opens with your default shell (usually Command Prompt or PowerShell). You can:

Click the "+" icon in the tab bar to open a new tab with your default profile.
Click the dropdown arrow next to the "+" icon to select a different profile (e.g., a specific WSL distribution).

Windows Terminal with multiple tabs showing different shells.

Windows Terminal interface demonstrating tabbed browsing and different shell profiles.

Basic Configuration (Settings.json):

Windows Terminal is highly configurable via its `settings.json` file. You can access this file by clicking the dropdown arrow and selecting "Settings".

Here's a glimpse of what the settings file looks like:

                
{
    "defaultProfile": "{your-default-guid}",
    "theme": "system",
    "copyFormatting": "none",
    "profiles": {
        "list": [
            {
                "guid": "{your-default-guid}",
                "name": "Windows PowerShell",
                "commandline": "powershell.exe",
                "hidden": false
            },
            {
                "guid": "{another-guid}",
                "name": "Ubuntu (WSL)",
                "source": "Windows.Terminal.Wsl",
                "hidden": false
            }
        ]
    },
    "schemes": [
        {
            "name": "Campbell",
            "background": "#0C0C0C",
            "foreground": "#CCCCCC"
        }
    ]
}
                
            

You can customize colors, fonts, keybindings, and much more within this JSON structure. The graphical settings UI also provides an intuitive way to manage many of these options.

Note: Always back up your `settings.json` file before making significant changes. Invalid JSON syntax can prevent the terminal from launching correctly.

Conclusion

Windows Terminal represents a significant step forward in providing a robust and user-friendly command-line experience on Windows. Its flexibility, performance, and extensive customization options make it an indispensable tool for developers, system administrators, and anyone who frequently works with the command line.

Continue exploring the documentation to learn more about advanced customization, profile management, and integration with other tools.

Next Steps: