The Windows Terminal is quietly becoming the best terminal on any OS

At a glance:

• Windows Terminal evolves beyond legacy shells with tabbed panes, granular theming, and JSON-level tweaks that rival Linux terminals.
• Deep WSL integration enables running Linux distros, Docker containers, and GPU-passthrough AI workloads inside the same window.
• Multi-profile support spans PowerShell, Command Prompt, Azure Cloud Shell, and WSL distros with per-profile appearance, behavior, and credential controls.

A native terminal finally catching up

Windows Terminal arrives as a deliberate departure from the bleak, minimally modifiable shells that long defined the Windows command-line experience. Where earlier generations of Windows 10 and its successors offered only PowerShell and Command Prompt, the modern app embraces conveniences long common in Linux terminals such as GNOME Terminal. Microsoft recognized that Windows users deserved parity in flexibility and reliability, and built an iteration that feels at home alongside cross-platform alternatives while remaining tightly integrated with the OS.

The shift is most visible in everyday ergonomics. Windows Terminal supports tabbed workflows so different command-line tools can coexist in one window, eliminating the juggling of separate instances that once fragmented CLI work. It allows duplicating the current session into another pane within the same tab and selecting the orientation for that pane. Users can launch tools with or without admin privileges in new tabs, set defaults for window size, configure warnings for risky actions, and adjust rendering parameters. A Command Palette—distinct from the one in Microsoft PowerToys—provides a floating search bar for tab and window actions, listing shortcuts while remaining searchable for power users who prefer lookup over memorization.

Customization that respects individuality

Appearance and theming reflect the same depth. Windows Terminal sheds the idea that terminals must be immutable and instead offers theme switching, visibility toggles, visual effects, and color-scheme manipulation at both global and per-profile levels. These capabilities encourage users to mold the environment to their needs rather than adapt workflows to a rigid UI. The settings surface is granular without being overwhelming, pairing general controls with targeted appearance options and sensible defaults that invite experimentation.

Profile management extends this personalization across the ecosystem of shells available on a modern Windows system. Users can create profiles dedicated to PowerShell, Command Prompt, Azure Cloud Shell, and WSL distros, then fine-tune each profile independently. Options include launching with admin rights, choosing a starting directory beyond the user profile folder, editing titles to disambiguate multiple instances of the same tool, and assigning distinct icons. Appearance settings per profile allow different backgrounds and color schemes, while formatting, fonts, window behavior, cursor type, and emulation parameters can be tuned to taste. Advanced settings expose further controls, and many users enable right-click context menus to streamline daily tasks.

WSL as a first-class citizen

WSL integration has become central to how power users leverage Windows Terminal for cross-platform work. Because WSL can run Linux environments natively, switching profiles allows seamless transitions into Ubuntu or other distros to manage services, containers, and development tools without leaving the current window. GPU passthrough through WSL lowers the friction of running AI tasks locally; for example, one can operate a Paperless-ngx server with an LLM inside an Ubuntu virtual machine, then pivot to managing Docker containers or adjusting system parameters as if the boundary between Windows and Linux had blurred.

WSLg extends this cohesion by enabling Linux GUI apps to run alongside CLI sessions, preserving window management and theming consistency. The result is a workflow in which Windows Terminal acts as a unified control plane for heterogeneous environments, reducing context switches and keeping focus on outcomes rather than mechanics. For teams and individuals who rely on both ecosystems, this integration narrows the gap that once made Windows feel like a second-class citizen in cross-platform development.

JSON editing for advanced control

For most users, the graphical settings panel suffices, but Windows Terminal reserves an important escape hatch in the form of JSON configuration. When the UI cannot expose a niche behavior—custom actions, advanced profile logic, or appearance tweaks beyond the surface—editing the JSON file unlocks precision without requiring third-party tools. The file can be copied and reused across multiple Windows 11 systems, letting users replicate a curated environment without rebuilding it from scratch.

This portability is practical today, though it hints at a broader desire for account-level synchronization. A native sync feature would let preferences follow users across machines automatically, eliminating manual file replacement and reducing drift between environments. Until then, the JSON workflow remains a reliable, scriptable path to consistency, especially for power users who treat their terminal configuration as code.

Why it earns daily use

Windows Terminal has quietly become the default tool for many workflows, yet its strengths are still understated. The combination of core reliability, rich customization, and the ability to run multiple tools without breaking cadence makes it hard to justify reaching for third-party alternatives. By converging deep OS integration, thoughtful ergonomics, and extensibility through both GUI and JSON, it sets a modern baseline for what a native terminal can be—on Windows or elsewhere.