Customize VS Code Terminal Font Family and Size

Visual Studio Code allows users to fully customize their development environment, including the appearance of the integrated terminal. This guide provides a quick, step-by-step walkthrough on how to change both the font family and font size of the VS Code terminal using either the graphical Settings UI or the settings.json configuration file.

Method 1: Using the Settings UI

The easiest way to customize your terminal font is through the visual Settings menu.

  1. Open Settings: Press Ctrl + , (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + , (macOS). Alternatively, go to File > Preferences > Settings (or Code > Settings > Settings on macOS).
  2. Search for Terminal Font: In the search bar at the top of the Settings tab, type terminal font.
  3. Adjust Font Size: Locate the setting labeled Terminal > Integrated: Font Size and enter your desired size in pixels (e.g., 14).
  4. Change Font Family: Locate the setting labeled Terminal > Integrated: Font Family and type the exact name of the font you want to use (e.g., Consolas, Fira Code, or Courier New). Note that the font must already be installed on your operating system.

The changes will apply instantly to your open terminal windows.

Method 2: Editing the settings.json File

For more direct control, or to synchronize settings across devices, you can edit your global configuration file.

  1. Open the Command Palette: Press Ctrl + Shift + P (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + P (macOS).
  2. Open JSON Settings: Type Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON) and press Enter.
  3. Add Font Configurations: Insert the following lines inside the main curly braces {}. If these lines already exist, update their values:
"terminal.integrated.fontSize": 14,
"terminal.integrated.fontFamily": "'Fira Code', 'Courier New', monospace"
  1. Save the File: Save the file (Ctrl + S or Cmd + S) to apply the changes immediately.