Customize Colors, Fonts, and Profiles in Windows Terminal

Customizing Windows 11 Terminal allows you to optimize your command-line environment for better readability and productivity. This guide walks you through accessing the built-in settings interface to create and manage custom shell profiles, adjust font typography and sizing, and apply or create personalized color schemes for individual terminal tabs.

Opening the Settings Menu

To begin customizing, launch Windows Terminal and open the configuration menu:

  1. Click the downward-facing arrow in the title bar (next to the new tab button).
  2. Select Settings from the dropdown menu, or press the shortcut Ctrl + ,.

Managing and Customizing Profiles

Profiles allow you to configure distinct environments for different shells, such as PowerShell, Command Prompt, and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).

Adding or Duplicating a Profile

  1. In the left sidebar under the Profiles section, select Add a new profile.
  2. Choose New empty profile to start from scratch, or duplicate an existing profile.
  3. Configure the essential details:
    • Name: Label your profile (e.g., “Work PowerShell”).
    • Command line: The path to the executable (e.g., pwsh.exe or wsl.exe).
    • Starting directory: The default folder path opened when launching the tab.
    • Icon: A custom icon path to display in the tab header.
  4. Click Save in the bottom right.

Setting the Default Profile

Under the Startup section in the left sidebar, click the Default profile dropdown to select which shell opens automatically when launching Windows Terminal.

Changing Fonts and Text Appearance

You can set unique fonts for specific profiles or apply them globally across all shells.

  1. Under the Profiles section, click on the specific profile you want to customize (or click Defaults to apply changes to all profiles).
  2. Under the Additional settings section, click Appearance.
  3. Adjust the typography options:
    • Font face: Select any font installed on your system (e.g., Cascadia Code, Consolas, or custom Nerd Fonts).
    • Font size: Set your preferred text size in points.
    • Font weight: Adjust the thickness of the text (e.g., Normal, Medium, Bold).
  4. Click Save.

Customizing Color Schemes

Windows Terminal includes several pre-installed color themes, such as Campbell, One Half Dark, and Solarized, while also letting you design custom palettes.

Applying an Existing Color Scheme

  1. Select a profile under Profiles (or select Defaults).
  2. Click Appearance.
  3. Open the Color scheme dropdown menu and choose your preferred preset.
  4. Click Save.

Creating a Custom Color Scheme

  1. In the left sidebar, select Color schemes.
  2. Click Add new at the top of the screen.
  3. Enter a Name for your scheme.
  4. Click on individual color swatches (such as Black, Red, Green, Foreground, and Background) to enter hex codes or choose colors via the color picker.
  5. Click Save.
  6. Navigate back to your target profile’s Appearance page and select your newly created scheme from the dropdown.

Advanced Configuration via JSON

For precise control, you can edit the configuration file directly by clicking Open JSON file at the bottom-left corner of the Settings UI. This opens settings.json in your default code editor, where you can paste theme blocks, automate keybindings, and configure advanced rendering settings.