Starting with version 1.6, the Windows Terminal app for Windows 10 introduces a new graphical interface to customize virtually every aspect of the app and profiles.
However, the settings UI is not yet fully integrated, which means that selecting the “Settings” option from the context menu won’t open the experience. Instead, you need to bind the settings UI to a keyboard shortcut in the “settings.json” file.
In this guide, you will learn the steps to enable the new settings graphical interface for the Windows Terminal app.
Enable settings UI on Windows Terminal
To enable the new settings graphical interface, use these steps:
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Open Windows Terminal.
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Click the menu (down-arrow) button next to a tab.
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Click the Settings option.
Quick tip: It is recommended to use the Visual Studio Code to open the settings because it includes the JSON schema, which will make it easier to change the settings. -
Under the “actions” brackets, at the bottom of the page, and above the last line of code, copy and paste the following code:
{ "command": { "action": "openSettings", "target": "settingsUI" }, "keys": "ctrl+shift+," },
Windows Terminal enable settingsUI -
Save the file to apply the changes.
Once you complete the steps, you can open the Windows Terminal settings UI using the “Ctrl + Shift + ,” keyboard shortcut.
Since the settings are still in preview, the app will generate a backup of the settings file in case you need to revert the changes.
If you need to undo the changes, you can find the backup opening the “settings.json” file with the Visual Studio Code app, right-clicking the tab, and selecting the Reveal in File Explorer option.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].