How to Change Default Terminal Application in Windows 10


The Windows Terminal is a modern, fast, efficient, powerful, and productive terminal application for users of command-line tools and shells like Command Prompt, PowerShell, and WSL. Its main features include multiple tabs, panes, Unicode and UTF-8 character support, a GPU accelerated text rendering engine, and custom themes, styles, and configurations.

Starting with Windows 10 build 21390, you can now select Windows Console Host (default) or Windows Terminal Preview v1.9.1445.0 or higher as the default terminal application (emulator).

This means that any command line application (ex: PowerShell, command prompt, etc...) will launch inside your selected terminal emulator by default.

If you select Windows Terminal Preview, then when you open any command line application (ex: PowerShell, command prompt, WSL, etc...), it will open inside Windows Terminal Preview by default.

If you select Windows Console Host, then when you open any command line application (ex: PowerShell, command prompt, WSL, etc...), it will open in its own PowerShell, command prompt, WSL, etc... console window.

This tutorial will show you how to change the default terminal application to Windows Console Host or Windows Terminal Preview for your account in Windows 10.

It is required to have Windows Terminal Preview v1.9.1445.0 or higher installed.

Microsoft is still working on improving this experience and any feedback you have would be greatly appreciated on GitHub. Currently known bugs are filed with the Area-DefApp label.

Contents

• Option One: Change Default Terminal Application in Console Properties
• Option Two: Change Default Terminal Application in Windows Terminal Preview Settings

OPTION ONE

Change Default Terminal Application in Console Properties

This option will not be available if the default terminal application is currently set to Windows Terminal Preview. In this situation, you will need to use Option Two instead.

1 Open a command prompt, elevated command prompt, PowerShell, elevated PowerShell, WSL, or WSL2 console window.

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 screenshots below)

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

4 Select Windows Console Host (default) or Windows Terminal Preview for what you want in the Default Terminal Application drop menu.

5 Click/tap on OK.

OPTION TWO

Change Default Terminal Application in Windows Terminal Preview Settings

1 Open the Windows Terminal Preview app.

2 Click/tap on the down arrow button on the top bar, and click/tap on Settings Ctrl + , (comma). (see screenshot below)

3 Click/tap on Startup in the left pane. (see screenshot below)

4 Select Windows Console Host (default) or Windows Terminal Preview for what you want in the Default Terminal Application drop menu.

5 Click/tap on Save at the bottom right.

6 You can now close the Settings tab or Windows Terminal Preview if you like.

That's it,
Shawn Brink

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