On Windows 11, it’s possible to make the Windows Terminal app the default experience to open and run Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Linux commands instead of the legacy Windows Console Host.
This guide will teach you the steps to set the modern Windows Terminal app the default experience on Windows 11.
Configure Windows Terminal as the new default app on Windows 11
To make the Windows Terminal app the new default command-line experience, use these steps:
- Open Windows Terminal.
- Click the menu button next to the new tab option and select the Settings option.
- Click on Startup.
- Under the “Startup” section, use the “Default terminal application” drop-down menu and select the Windows Terminal option.
- (Optional) Use the “Default profile” drop-down menu and select the Command Prompt option if you want to open the app directly into Command Prompt instead of PowerShell.
- Click the Save button.
Once you complete the steps, the next time you try to open Command Prompt, PowerShell, or a Windows Subsystem for Linux distro, the experience will open with the Windows Terminal app.
Open Windows Terminal.
Click the menu button next to the new tab option and select the Settings option.
Click on Startup.
Under the “Startup” section, use the “Default terminal application” drop-down menu and select the Windows Terminal option.
(Optional) Use the “Default profile” drop-down menu and select the Command Prompt option if you want to open the app directly into Command Prompt instead of PowerShell.
Click the Save button.
It’s worth noting that while you can change the default command-line experience manually, Microsoft plans to make the Windows Terminal the new system default sometime in 2022.
