This guide explains how to open the Windows Terminal on Windows 10 or 11, including options for downloading it if needed, various launch methods, and a comparison with PowerShell and Command Prompt.
Before proceeding, Windows 10 users need to download and install Windows Terminal from the Microsoft Store or Microsoft’s GitHub releases page, as it’s not preinstalled. Windows 11 users can skip this step since Terminal comes built-in.
To quickly access Windows Terminal, users can follow several methods, adapting based on their Windows version and preferred approach. For Windows 10 users, the process begins with downloading and installing Windows Terminal.
To download and install Windows Terminal on Windows 10, users can search for and open the Microsoft Store app from the Start menu, then search for “Windows Terminal” and click the Get or Install button to download it. Alternatively, they can visit Microsoft’s GitHub, download the latest .msixbundle file, and double-click it to install.
Windows 11 users can skip the installation process since Terminal is already available. To launch Windows Terminal, users can utilize the Start menu by clicking the Start button or pressing the Windows key, then typing “Terminal” into the search bar.
If Terminal doesn’t appear, users can type “Command Prompt” or “PowerShell” instead and select one of those. For admin privileges, users can right-click the Terminal result and choose Run as administrator.
Another method to launch Windows Terminal is by using the Power User menu. Users can right-click the Start button in the taskbar’s lower-left corner or press Win + X to open the Power User menu, then locate “Windows Terminal” in the list.
On Windows 11, users can click Terminal for standard access or Terminal (Admin) for elevated privileges. On Windows 10, this option won’t show Terminal; instead, users can select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin) as alternatives.
Users can also launch Windows Terminal using the Run dialog box by pressing Win + R, typing “wt,” and pressing Enter or clicking OK. For alternatives, users can type “cmd” to open Command Prompt or “powershell” to open Windows PowerShell.
Understanding the differences between Terminal, PowerShell, and Command Prompt is essential. Command Prompt is a legacy shell for basic command-line tasks, while Windows PowerShell is a more advanced shell with scripting capabilities and integration with .NET.
Windows Terminal acts as a host or emulator for these shells, defaulting to PowerShell but allowing users to switch profiles by clicking the dropdown arrow next to the new tab button and selecting options like Command Prompt, PowerShell, or even Azure Cloud Shell or WSL bash if installed.
Customizing the Windows Terminal experience is possible by editing its settings.json file; users can press Ctrl + , to open settings and tweak themes, tab layouts, or default shell for faster workflows.
Switching to Windows Terminal streamlines command-line work by providing a modern, multi-tab interface that supports multiple shells in one place, reducing the need to juggle separate windows for PowerShell or Command Prompt.
Understanding the differences between Terminal, PowerShell, and Command Prompt empowers users to pick the right tool for the job, preventing frustration from mismatched features and boosting productivity in Windows environments.
