Everything you need to know about Windows Terminal

Windows Terminal has revolutionized the way Windows users interact with their command line tools commands. If you are used to working with the classic symbol of the system or PowerShell, you'll love this new modern, fast, and highly configurable interface that Microsoft has made available.

In this article, we'll take a comprehensive look at every corner of Windows Terminal, detailing all its features, how it integrates with other systems like WSL, and how you can customize it to suit your work style. If the command line environment is part of your daily routine, this article is for you.

What is Windows Terminal?

Windows Terminal is a modern application designed for use with command-line tools in Windows., such as Command Prompt (CMD), PowerShell, and Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). This tool seeks to replace the traditional console by offering a more fluid, visually appealing, and feature-rich experience.

One of its main advantages is that it allows run multiple command-line applications in tabs within a single window, which greatly improves productivity. Each tab can be associated with a different shell, and new windows can be opened or the current one split into panels, making it easier to use multiple environments simultaneously.

Windows Terminal Highlights

The application includes a number of features that make it a much more powerful option than the standard Windows console. Below, we detail the most relevant ones:

• Multi-tab support: You can open as many tabs as you need, each connected to a different shell or tool. This allows you to work, for example, with PowerShell, CMD, and Ubuntu in WSL at the same time, all from a single interface.
• Panel support: Windows can be split into horizontal or vertical panes, each running a different command. Ideal for multitasking tasks such as server administration or application development.
• GPU-accelerated text rendering: By using technologies like DirectWrite and DirectX, text in Windows Terminal is displayed more fluidly, including emojis, glyphs, Unicode characters and Symbols Special.
• Unicode and UTF-8 character support: This means you can view and write texts in different languages, as well as use all kinds of graphic symbols.
• Images and GIFs as background: You can include static images or even GIF animations as your device's background, providing a completely personalized aesthetic.

Profiles and customization

Another of the great advantages of Windows Terminal is that allows you to create individual profiles for each shell or environmentEach of these profiles can have its own background color, font, transparency level, initial behavior, and many other settings. This is especially useful if you want to work with multiple configurations depending on the task.

For example, you can have one profile for PowerShell with dark colors and large fonts, another for Ubuntu with 50% transparency and a green background, and another for CMD with a more retro look. Additionally, you can define which profile you want to open by default when you launch Terminal. For those wondering how to rename many files at once, this customization can be invaluable.

Configurations are stored in a JSON file, allowing you to easily edit parameters such as the profile name, executable path, icon, and more. You can also use external tools or extensions to modify these files more easily.

Keyboard shortcuts and custom actions

Windows Terminal gives you complete freedom to define keyboard shortcuts to your liking.. If you are not satisfied with the default method for copying text (Ctrl + Shift + C) or open a new tab (Ctrl + Shift + T), you can change it to whatever you prefer, for example Ctrl + 1 o Ctrl + 2.

You can also assign custom commands for other actions such as closing windows, switching between tabs, splitting panes, opening specific profiles, and more. All of this configuration is done in the actions section of the configuration file. This way, you can optimize your workflow however you want, speeding up your tasks.

Another powerful aspect is that You can start Windows Terminal from other environments with specific parametersThis way, you can directly open a specific profile, split the window into panes, or set a default working folder.

Collaboration and community

Microsoft has released the source code for Windows Terminal, so Any developer can contribute improvements, report bugs, or suggest new features.The project is available on GitHub in the official Microsoft repository.

Additionally, there's a strong community of users sharing configurations, themes, custom fonts, and solutions to common problems. Tutorials are also being developed to make it easier for new users and developers to collaborate with the project. If you're interested in exploring more about how the software works, consider checking out other posts to expand your knowledge.

Windows Terminal vs Windows Console

One of the points that most concerns veteran users is compatibility. Windows Terminal is not a replacement for the classic Windows console., but rather complements it. Both coexist, and you can continue to use the traditional console in parallel if you wish.

The main difference is that the previous console no longer receives visual or interface improvements for backward compatibility reasons. Therefore, if you want a modern, configurable, and actively supported experience, it makes more sense to use Windows Terminal. This new option is especially recommended for those accustomed to working with multiple command-line applications.

Installation and requirements

Windows Terminal can be easily installed from the Microsoft Store using the command:

winget install Microsoft.WindowsTerminal

You can also opt into the preview version to try out the latest features before they hit the stable channel:

winget install Microsoft.WindowsTerminal.Preview

Both versions are regularly updated and officially supported. You just need a modern version of Windows 10 or later. Windows 11 to enjoy this tool.

Windows Terminal is here to change the user experience with the Windows command line. Thanks to its robust customization capabilities, support for multiple shells and environments, and a modern and adaptable graphical interface, it has quickly become an essential tool for developers, system administrators, and any technical user who wants to take full advantage of the potential of their operating system. It's a serious, attractive, and powerful alternative to the traditional Windows console, with an active and constantly evolving community.