Windows Terminal is included by default in Windows 11.
The Windows Terminal is a modern, fast, efficient, powerful, and productive terminal application for users of command-line tools and shells like Command Prompt, PowerShell, and WSL. Its main features include multiple tabs, panes, Unicode and UTF-8 character support, a GPU accelerated text rendering engine, and custom themes, styles, and configurations.
See also: An overview on Windows Terminal
This tutorial will show you different ways to open Windows Terminal in Windows 11.
Contents
- Option One: Open Windows Terminal from Win+X Quick Link Menu
- Option Two: Open Windows Terminal from Start Menu
- Option Three: Open Windows Terminal from Search
- Option Four: Open Windows Terminal from Run
- Option Five: Open Windows Terminal from Task Manager
- Option Six: Open Windows Terminal from "Open in Windows Terminal" Context Menu
EXAMPLE: Windows Terminal
You can select which shell to open in Windows Terminal.
OPTION ONE
Open Windows Terminal from Win+X Quick Link Menu
Starting with Windows 11 build 22579, Windows Terminal and Windows Terminal (Admin) in the Win+X menu has been replaced by Windows PowerShell and Windows PowerShell (Admin). If you have Windows Terminal installed and would like Windows PowerShell to open in Windows Terminal, set Windows Terminal as your default terminal app.
Starting with Windows 11 build 22593, if Windows Terminal is installed the Win+X menu will include an entry for Terminal, and in cases where Windows Terminal is uninstalled it will display Windows PowerShell.
1 Open the Win+X Quick Link menu. (see screenshot below)
2 Click/tap on Windows Terminal.
OPTION TWO
Open Windows Terminal from Start Menu
Starting with Windows 11 build 22572, Windows Terminal is now called Terminal under Start.
1 Open the Start menu, and click/tap on All apps. (see screenshot below)
2 Perform one of the following actions on how you want to open Windows Terminal: (see screenshot below)
- Click/tap on Windows Terminal.
- Right click or press and hold on Windows Terminal, and click/tap on the shell you want to open in Windows Terminal.
OPTION THREE
Open Windows Terminal from Search
1 Open Windows Search (Win+S). (see screenshot below)
2 Type Windows Terminal into the Search box.
3 Perform one of the following actions on how you want to open Windows Terminal: (see screenshot below)
- Click/tap on Open for Windows Terminal.
- Click/tap on the shell you want to open in Windows Terminal.
OPTION FOUR
Open Windows Terminal from Run
1 Open Run (Win+R). (see screenshot below)
2 Type wt into Run, and click/tap on OK.
OPTION FIVE
Open Windows Terminal from Task Manager
1 Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc).
2 Click/tap on File on the menu bar, and click/tap on Run new task. (see screenshot below)
3 Type wt into the "Create new task" dialog, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)
OPTION SIX
Open Windows Terminal from "Open in Windows Terminal" Context Menu
1 Right click on your Desktop (Win+D) or a folder you want to open in Windows Terminal.
2 Click/tap on Open in Windows Terminal in the context menu. (see screenshot below)
That's it,
Shawn Brink
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