How to Change Screen Buffer Size of Console Window in Windows
A console (or "terminal) is an application that provides I/O to character-mode applications.
For example: command prompt, PowerShell, or Linux
The screen buffer size of a console window is expressed in terms of a coordinate grid based on character cells.
- The width is the number of character cells in each row. The larger the width size, the more text will show in the same row before wrapping.
- The height is the number of rows. The larger the height size, the further you can scroll before output data (text) is overwritten.
This tutorial will show you how to change the screen buffer size of a console window (ex: command prompt, PowerShell, Linux) for your account in Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10.
The screen buffer size you set 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.
Contents
- Option One: To Change Screen Buffer Size of Console Window in Properties
- Option Two: To Change Screen Buffer Size of Console Window using "Mode" Command
1 Open a command prompt, elevated command prompt, PowerShell, elevated PowerShell, or Linux console window you want using the shortcut or location you want to apply a custom screen buffer size to.
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)
3 Click/tap on the Layout tab, make any width and height adjustments you want for Screen Buffer Size, and click/tap on OK to apply. (see screenshot below)
The width size you set under Screen Buffer Size will also be applied to the width size under Window Size.
The screen buffer size you set using this option will only be temporary, and only used while the console window is open unless you use Option One above to set it as default.
1 While you have a command prompt, elevated command prompt, PowerShell, or elevated PowerShell console window open, do step 2 (current size) or step 3 (change size) below for what you would like to do.
A) Copy and paste themode con
command into the console window, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)
Lines = height size
Columns = width size
A) Type the command below into the console window, and press Enter. (see screenshots below)
mode con:cols=<Width Size> lines=<Height Size>
Substitute <Width Size> in the command above with the value (ex: "90") you want for the screen buffer width size. The width size you set for Screen Buffer Size will also be applied to the width size for Window Size.
Substitute <Height Size> in the command above with the value (ex: "20") you want for the screen buffer height size.
For example:mode con:cols=90 lines=20
That's it,
Shawn
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