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How to Change the Default Terminal in Windows 11
Switch to Command Prompt or Powershell within a few clicks
4 min. read
Updated onAugust 2, 2024
updated onAugust 2, 2024
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Key notes
Windows Terminal is the default command-line tool on Windows 11, and it replaces the PowerShell and Command Prompt.
The software has many improvements and can run various shell interfaces side by side, so you won’t have to learn to use a new tool from scratch.
Thanks to this feature, there’s no need to start Command Prompt, PowerShell, or any other shell individually since you can run them all from a single application.
Windows Terminal can run multiple shell interfaces; therefore, many users wonder if it is possible to set a default command-line shell.
We’re happy to inform you that this is one of the features that the Terminal supports, and in this guide, we will show you how to easily change the default Terminal in Windows 11.
Is Windows Terminal a new application?
Windows Terminal is a modern terminal app for Windows that works with various shells such as Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Windows Subsystem for Linux.
Do keep in mind that Windows Terminal isn’t a new application. It was released in 2019 and is available for download from the Microsoft Store for Windows 10.
You can easilyinstall Windows Terminal when using Windows 10, yet with Windows 11, the Terminal is now the default command-line application, so there’s no need to download and install it separately.
Are Command Prompt and Windows PowerShell still available in Windows 11?
Yes, Command Prompt and Windows PowerShell are available in Windows 11, and Windows Terminal can run both or any other installed shell interface.
If you want to use PowerShell or Command Prompt instead of Windows Terminal, you can search for them and open the app the same way you did on previous versions of Windows.
If you want to know quick ways toopen Terminal on Windows 11, we suggest you read this guide.
How can I change the default Terminal in Windows 11?
1. Change the Terminal settings
1.Click theSearchicon in theTaskbar.
2.Now typeWindows Terminalin the search box and selectthe appfrom the list of results.
3.Click the down arrow next to theOpentab and chooseSettingsfrom the menu.
4.Now select the desiredDefault profile.
- ClickSave.
In order to change the default terminal on Windows 11, you can access Windows Terminal’s settings and modify them to your liking.
Your default command-line shell can be changed, and each time you start the Terminal, the selected application will be used to process your commands.
2. Change the Command Prompt or PowerShell settings
If you have issues starting PowerShell, be sure to check ourWindows PowerShell has stopped working guideto see how to fix them properly.
What features does Windows Terminal have?
Windows Terminal has many unique features, and the first one that you’ll notice is the multi-tab interface allowing you to open several tabs.
This is crucial because the Terminal works with multiple shells so that you can use both Command Prompt and PowerShell from a single application.
Customization features are plentiful; you can rename tabs, give them different colors to distinguish them better, or change the color scheme of the entire application.
Lastly, Windows Terminal has a dedicated search feature to easily find any output.
How can I open Windows Terminal?
Keep in mind that this method will open the Terminal in that directory and not in the default one.
The Terminal is an excellent command-line tool, and changing the default Terminal in Windows 11 is simple and can be performed in seconds.
By default, the Terminal is set to run PowerShell, and from it, you should be able to run most commands, but if you need to switch your default shell, you can do it with the instructions from our guide.
Things aren’t at all complicated if you’re a Mac user, either. You can quicklyopen a file from Mac Terminalto make commands shorter and easier to remember.
If you want to learn more, our guide onCommand Prompt vs Windows Terminaldives into the differences between the two, so don’t miss it.
Also, you might want to visit our guide and learnhow to clear CMDif you want to keep your command line clutter-free.
Are you using the new command line in Windows 11 as well? Let us know in the comments section below what you think of it.
More about the topics:Windows 11,Windows Terminal
Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he spends most of his time learning about computers and technology.
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s one of the Troubleshooting experts in our worldwide team, specializing in Windows errors & software issues.
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Milan Stanojevic
Windows Toubleshooting Expert
Before joining WindowsReport, he worked as a front-end web developer. Now, he’s specialized in Windows errors & software issues.
