Windows 11 · Windows
Customize Windows Terminal Appearance
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Open Windows Terminal Settings to choose a theme and adjust a profile's color scheme, font, or background. Back up settings before manual JSON edits.
Open Windows Terminal Settings
Launch Windows Terminal, select the arrow beside the new-tab button, and choose Settings. Use the graphical settings interface for ordinary customization; edit the JSON file only when a documented option is not exposed there.
Set the application theme
Open Appearance under the application settings and choose the light, dark, or system theme. Review tab width, animations, and other interface options separately because they affect Terminal's frame rather than the shell text.
Choose the profile to customize
Under Profiles, select the specific PowerShell, Command Prompt, WSL, or other profile and open Appearance. A profile-level change affects only that shell; Defaults can apply supported choices to every profile that does not override them.
Select a readable font
Choose an installed monospaced font and adjust its size, weight, and line height. If a font is missing or glyphs render as boxes, install a trusted compatible font or return to the default rather than referencing a nonexistent family in JSON.
Apply a color scheme
Select a built-in color scheme and check normal text, bright colors, selection, and command errors for contrast. Microsoft's Color schemes documentation explains how custom palettes are defined when the built-in choices are insufficient.
Add a background cautiously
Choose a background image only for the intended profile, set its stretch mode, alignment, and opacity, and keep text readable. Excess transparency or a busy image can make commands and error messages difficult to distinguish.
Save and test safely
Save the settings and open a new tab to test the affected profile. Before manual JSON edits, use Open JSON file and copy the existing contents to a safe backup; if Terminal rejects a change, restore the last valid version.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If a profile becomes unreadable or Terminal reports invalid settings, restore the last valid JSON backup or reset only the affected appearance fields. If one profile ignores a default, check for profile-level overrides before reinstalling Terminal.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: Windows.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.