Microsoft makes classic Command Prompt part of the Terminal open‑source project on Windows 11

• Microsoft integrates improvements from the open-source Windows Terminal project into Windows Console.
• This means that the classic Command Prompt and PowerShell consoles are no longer updated as standalone components.
• The new changes available through the Windows Insider Program, and it’s unclear when they will arrive for everyone.

Microsoft delivers one of the biggest upgrades to the command-line experience in years, bringing a wave of improvements from the open-source Windows Terminal project directly into the legacy Windows Console (conhost.exe).

The update includes performance gains, modern rendering, and long-requested features from the community into a more capable terminal environment across Windows 11.

Windows Console gets modern upgrades from open-source development

The Windows Console has long been the base for PowerShell, Command Prompt, and Windows Subsystem for Linux. Now, the company is aligning it more closely with the Windows Terminal open-source project on GitHub by integrating enhancements directly into the system experience.

One of the biggest changes is the introduction of an optional Atlas/Direct3D rendering path, designed to improve visual performance and consistency.

Faster performance and better reliability

Performance improvements stand out in this release. Microsoft notes that scrolling operations can be up to ten times faster in certain scenarios, a major upgrade for developers and power users handling large outputs.

Clipboard reliability has also been significantly improved. A longstanding issue where pasted characters could be lost due to code page limitations has now been resolved. Additional clipboard enhancements include support for OSC 52, which allows terminal applications to interact directly with clipboard data.

New features bring the console closer to modern terminal

At the same time, the Windows Console is gaining features that were previously limited to more advanced terminal environments. The Find experience has been upgraded with support for regular expressions, making it easier to search through complex command output.

The console can now also render inline images using Sixel, which means tools like Windows Package Manager (winget) can display app icons and richer visual elements directly in the terminal.

As part of this update, the text rendering has also improved, with support for bold fonts in the original engine. In contrast, longstanding issues with rectangular text selection have been addressed to restore expected behavior. Together, these changes bring the classic console much closer to the capabilities users typically associate with modern terminal apps like Windows Terminal, without requiring a full switch.

Accessibility and usability improvements

Microsoft is also addressing accessibility with a rewrite of legacy MSAA integration and improvements to interface Automation support. This results in better compatibility with screen readers and assistive technologies.

The update also introduces redesigned pop-up dialogs inside the console, including improvements to the F7 command history and line editing windows (F2 and F4). These changes enhance usability while ensuring better interoperability with modern terminal tools.

Better behavior across PowerShell, WSL, and more

Snap-on-input behavior has been refined and is now enabled by default only when virtual terminal (VT) processing is active. This results in more predictable behavior, especially when working across environments like PowerShell and WSL.

Other fixes include improved handling of “Alt + Numpad” input for clipboard text, avoiding character corruption in certain code pages such as 936.

A step toward unifying the Windows terminal experience

In summary, the classic Command Prompt is no longer updated as a standalone component. Instead, Microsoft is now integrating improvements directly from the open‑source Windows Terminal project on GitHub.

By bringing these enhancements into the Windows Console, the company is narrowing the gap between legacy and modern command-line environments. Although the Windows Terminal remains the flagship experience, these updates ensure that even traditional console sessions benefit from ongoing improvements.

Microsoft is currently testing this merge through the optional path in the Canary Channel with the release of build 29558, and it’s unclear when it will arrive for everyone.