Windows Terminal

Set up a beautiful, modern terminal for WSL

Windows Terminal is Microsoft's modern terminal application. It supports tabs, themes, and multiple profiles (PowerShell, Command Prompt, WSL, etc.). It's the best way to interact with your Ubuntu environment.

Install Windows Terminal

Windows Terminal should already be installed on Windows 11. On Windows 10, you may need to install it from the Microsoft Store:

  1. Open the Microsoft Store
  2. Search for "Windows Terminal"
  3. Click Install

Open Settings

Open Windows Terminal, then access settings:

  • Click the dropdown arrow next to the tabs, then click Settings
  • Or press Ctrl+,

Set Ubuntu as Default

Make Ubuntu your default profile so it opens automatically:

  1. In Settings, go to Startup
  2. Find "Default profile"
  3. Select "Ubuntu-24.04" from the dropdown
  4. Click Save

Set Your Nerd Font

Now set the Nerd Font you installed earlier:

  1. In Settings, go to Profiles > Defaults
  2. Scroll down to Appearance
  3. Click "Font face" and select "JetBrainsMono Nerd Font"
  4. Set Font size to 12-14 (your preference)
  5. Click Save
Setting font for all profiles

Setting the font in "Defaults" applies it to all profiles. You can also set it per-profile if you want different fonts for PowerShell vs Ubuntu.

Some additional settings that improve the experience:

Appearance Settings

In Profiles > Defaults > Appearance:

  • Background opacity: 95% (slight transparency looks nice)
  • Acrylic material: On (blurs the background)
  • Cursor shape: Bar or Underscore

Advanced Settings

In Profiles > Ubuntu-24.04 > Advanced:

  • Starting directory: ~ (your Linux home directory)

Choose a Colour Scheme

Windows Terminal includes several built-in colour schemes. You can also add custom ones.

  1. In Settings, go to Colour schemes
  2. Browse the available schemes
  3. Click one to preview it

Popular schemes:

  • One Half Dark - Clean and easy on the eyes
  • Tango Dark - Classic Linux colours
  • Campbell - Traditional PowerShell look

To apply a scheme: go to Profiles > Ubuntu-24.04 > Appearance and select it from the "Colour scheme" dropdown.

Useful Keyboard Shortcuts

Shortcut Action
Ctrl+Shift+T New tab
Ctrl+Shift+W Close tab
Ctrl+Tab Switch tabs
Ctrl+Shift+D Duplicate tab
Alt+Shift+= Split pane vertically
Alt+Shift+- Split pane horizontally
Ctrl+Shift+W Close pane (or tab if no panes)
Ctrl+, Open settings

Note: The = and - keys are the ones on the main keyboard (next to Backspace), not the numpad.