How to Change Foreground and Background Terminal Colors of Console Window in Windows 10


A console (or "terminal) is an application that provides I/O to character-mode applications.

For example: command prompt, PowerShell, or Linux

Starting with Windows 10 build 18298, when you open the properties page of any Console window, you will notice an additional Terminal tab containing several new settings for some experimental features.

The Terminal Colors fields on the properties page of a console window will allow you to specify specific RGB color values for the default foreground and/or background colors. These colors are independent of the color palette and are not affected by changes you make to your color palette.

See also: New Experimental Console Features Windows Command Line Tools For Developers

This tutorial will show you how to change the foreground and background terminal colors of a console window (ex: command prompt, PowerShell, Linux) for your account in Windows 10.

The terminal colors you select for a console window will only be applied to the specific console window shortcut that opened it.

For example, command prompt opened via Win+X menu VS Run (Win+R) dialog. Each location would have its own settings.



Here's How:

1. Open a command prompt, elevated command prompt, PowerShell, elevated PowerShell, or Linux console window you want to change the terminal colors for.

You could also just directly right click on the console window shortcut or file, click/tap on Properties, and go to step 3 below.

2. Right click or press and hold on the title bar of the console window, and click/tap on Properties. (see screenshot below)

Change Terminal Colors of Console Window in Windows 10-console_window_terminal_colors-1.png

3. Do step 4 (default) or step 5 (custom color) below for what cursor color you want.


 4. Use Default Foreground and/or Background Terminal Colors in this Console Window

A) Click/tap on the Terminal tab. (see screenshots below)

B) Uncheck Use Separate Foreground and/or Use Separate Background under Terminal Colors for what you want.

C) Click/tap on OK to apply, and go to step 6 below.

Change Terminal Colors of Console Window in Windows 10-console_window_terminal_colors-2.png


 5. Use Custom Foreground and/or Background Terminal Colors in this Console Window

A) Click/tap on the Terminal tab. (see screenshot below)

B) Check Use Separate Foreground and/or Use Separate Background under Terminal Colors for what you want.

C) Enter the RGB numbers for the color you want for the checked Use Separate Foreground and/or Use Separate Background.

Tip   Tip
If you like, you can use Paint (mspaint.exe) to get the RGB numbers for a color you want.

1) Open Paint (mspaint.exe).
2) Click/tap on Edit color on the toolbar in the Home tab.
3) Select and adjust a color to what you want.
4) Make note of the RGB numbers for the color.
Change Terminal Colors of Console Window in Windows 10-mspaint_for_color.jpg
D) Click/tap on OK to apply, and go to step 6 below.

Change Terminal Colors of Console Window in Windows 10-console_window_terminal_colors-3.png

6. You can now close the console window if you like.


That's it,
Shawn


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