Apps Reset Windows Terminal Settings to Default in Windows 11

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Windows_Terminal_banner.png

This tutorial will show you how to reset all Windows Terminal app settings back to default for your account in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Windows Terminal is a modern host application for the command-line shells you already love, like Command Prompt, PowerShell, and bash (via Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL)). Its main features include multiple tabs, panes, Unicode and UTF-8 character support, a GPU accelerated text rendering engine, and the ability to create your own themes and customize text, colors, backgrounds, and shortcuts.

Settings for the Windows Terminal app are saved to the %LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\settings.json file for the current user.

Sometimes you may want or need to reset Windows Terminal app settings back to default all at once.


Contents

  • Option One: Reset Windows Terminal App and Settings to Default in Settings
  • Option Two: Reset Windows Terminal Settings to Default in Command Prompt
  • Option Three: Reset Windows Terminal Settings to Default in PowerShell
  • Option Four: Reset Windows Terminal Settings to Default in File Explorer


EXAMPLE: Windows Terminal app settings

Windows_Terminal_open_settings.png

Windows_Terminal_settings.png





Option One

Reset Windows Terminal App and Settings to Default in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Apps on the left side, and click/tap on Installed apps on the right side. (see screenshot below)


Reset_Windows_Terminal_Settings-1.png

3 Click/tap on the 3 dots button for the Terminal app, and click/tap on Advanced options. (see screenshot below)

Reset_Windows_Terminal_Settings-2.png

4 Click/tap on Reset. (see screenshot below)

Reset_Windows_Terminal_Settings-3.png

5 You can close Settings if you like.




Option Two

Reset Windows Terminal Settings to Default in Command Prompt


1 Open Windows Terminal, and select Command Prompt.

2 Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

del /f /s /q /a "%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\settings.json"​

3 When the command has successfully deleted the settings.json file, you can close Windows Terminal to apply.

Reset_Windows_Terminal_settings_to_default-command.png





Option Three

Reset Windows Terminal Settings to Default in PowerShell


1 Open Windows Terminal, and select Windows PowerShell.

2 Copy and paste the command below into Windows Terminal, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

Remove-Item -Path "$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\settings.json" -Force​

3 When the command has successfully deleted the settings.json file, you can close Windows Terminal to apply.

Reset_Windows_Terminal_settings_to_default-PowerShell.png





Option Four

Reset Windows Terminal Settings to Default in File Explorer


1 Open File Explorer (Win+E).

2 Copy and paste the path below into the address bar of File Explorer, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)

%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState​

3 Delete the settings.json file.

4 You can now close File Explorer if you like.

Reset_Windows_Terminal_settings_to_default-File_Explorer.png



That's it,
Shawn Brink


Related Tutorials

 
Last edited:
Click to expand...
Looking at option 4.

I changed something and wound up with this:

JSON.webp


I'd like to have the top bar back, so as to recover a way to change settings (e.g., rows, columns) within that window.

I'd be particularly interested in learning which line in settings.json might govern that. Editing in Notepad gives me the ten-row height illustrated here. I'm guessing the problem came in my choice of the "focus" option for launchMode?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 24H2 26100.3476
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Various homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-13500
    Motherboard
    ASUS PRIME H770-PLUS D4
    Memory
    G.Skill DDR4 32GB F4-3200C16-32GVK
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 770
    PSU
    Corsair RM750e ATX
    Cooling
    DeepCool AK500 Zero Dark
You're looking at the legacy Console Host (good old "CMD window").

1. Search for Terminal in the taskbar. Open Terminal again.
2. Follow this tutorial to restore Terminal as the default Console.
www.elevenforum.com

Change Default Profile in Windows Terminal app in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to change the default shell profile to use when you open the Windows Terminal app for your account in Windows 11. Windows Terminal is a modern host application for the command-line shells you already love, like Command Prompt, PowerShell, and bash (via Windows...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Sad to say, the image (above) is what I see when I run Terminal. The cited tutorial does not apply because, per my question, I do not have that top bar on which to click and choose Settings as indicated in the tutorial.

I'd be interested in the json part of my question even if I weren't facing these constraints. I'm especially interested in the json approach because I'm not sure there's a non-radical alternative (e.g., repair install).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 24H2 26100.3476
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Various homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-13500
    Motherboard
    ASUS PRIME H770-PLUS D4
    Memory
    G.Skill DDR4 32GB F4-3200C16-32GVK
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 770
    PSU
    Corsair RM750e ATX
    Cooling
    DeepCool AK500 Zero Dark
raywood said:
Sad to say, the image (above) is what I see when I run Terminal. The cited tutorial does not apply because, per my question, I do not have that top bar on which to click and choose Settings as indicated in the tutorial.
Click to expand...
Change the default terminal app to Windows Terminal at Settings, System, For developers, Terminal:

Change Default Terminal Application in Windows 11
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
Hello @raywood, :alien:

While you have Terminal open, you can press the Ctrl + , (comma) keys to open Terminal settings.

Click on Appearance on the left pane, and post a screenshot showing all your settings on that page to see what may be the issue.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
OK. Here's a screenshot:

1739244329205.webp


A brief tour. At far left, we have the CMD window that opens from the Admin CMD button toward the left end of the taskbar. I've set color, location, and size. Like the windows open at upper right and bottom center, it has a title bar that I can use to move, resize, and close the window.

At upper center, there's the requested Appearance window. No title bar. This, along with two instances of the window shown at upper right, are what open when I right-click on the Settings button on the taskbar and select Command Prompt. As above, I appreciate the title bar and the option to set colors and sizes. Not sure why two instances open. Not sure why the Appearance window opens along with those two instances, nor why the Appearance window lacks a title bar.

I've leaned toward CMD rather than Terminal because my limited knowledge and usage extend to batch files, but not to most of the other reported advantages of Terminal. If I'm not mistaken, there's some syntax inconsistency between the two. I'll probably switch to Terminal eventually. I don't think I need it right now.

To me, the Appearance window is inscrutable. I mean, I can use its settings; I just don't understand its configuration or behavior. But at least the Ctrl-, suggestion gave me access to those settings.

I'm not too sure why I have two different appearances of CMD windows (in this example, blue and green).
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 24H2 26100.3476
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Various homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-13500
    Motherboard
    ASUS PRIME H770-PLUS D4
    Memory
    G.Skill DDR4 32GB F4-3200C16-32GVK
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 770
    PSU
    Corsair RM750e ATX
    Cooling
    DeepCool AK500 Zero Dark
@raywood,

The blue command prompt is what you see when you have "Windows Console Host" set as the default like below.

www.elevenforum.com

Change Default Terminal Application in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you how to change the default terminal application to Let Windows decide, Windows Console Host, or Windows Terminal for your account in Windows 11. A default terminal is the terminal emulator that launches by default when opening a command line application. Starting from...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gbps Download and 35 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Google Chrome
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender and Malwarebytes Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Windows Defender
raywood said:
OK. Here's a screenshot:

To me, the Appearance window is inscrutable. I mean, I can use its settings; I just don't understand its configuration or behavior. But at least the Ctrl-, suggestion gave me access to those settings.
Click to expand...
you didnt have to use the CTRL+, to access the settings.. even your screenshot shows that you have the bar you said you didn't. click the down arrow next to the tab + and you'll see settings in the flyout menu
1739246927529.webp
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
Yes, the title bar appears in that window. It doesn't appear in the window at top center. To close that one, I have to right-click on the Settings button on the taskbar > Close Window.

Incidentally, clicking on that Settings button on the taskbar now opens both of the dark grey Settings windows shown in the screenshot (above), along with one Command Prompt (green) session.

I'll have to review how I created those CMD and Settings buttons on the taskbar. Apparently I did something wrong.

One thing I would like to achieve, if possible: cause my batch files to open in a CMD window at a fixed location. For this purpose, I'm not sure how the two different types of CMD windows shown in the screenshot (above) relate to one another. At present, batch files are opening in the green type of window.
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 24H2 26100.3476
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Various homebuilt
    CPU
    Intel Core i5-13500
    Motherboard
    ASUS PRIME H770-PLUS D4
    Memory
    G.Skill DDR4 32GB F4-3200C16-32GVK
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel UHD Graphics 770
    PSU
    Corsair RM750e ATX
    Cooling
    DeepCool AK500 Zero Dark
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