How to Change Windows Terminal Startup Behavior in Windows 11

Windows Terminal is a modern app for running command-line tools like Command Prompt, PowerShell, and bash via Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). It is much more powerful than the old Windows command tools. It supports tabs, custom colors, and even your own background images.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have Windows Terminal installed from the Microsoft Store. You do not need administrative rights to change these settings, but some advanced registry modifications mentioned later may require them.

Why change the Windows Terminal startup behavior?

You might want the terminal to look the same every time you open it. Or, you might prefer it to remember the tabs you had open the last time you used it. Changing these settings helps you work faster by automating your workflow.

What happens when you change these settings?

Once you apply these changes, Windows Terminal will follow your new rule every time you launch the app. You can choose to start fresh with a default tab or pick up exactly where you left off.

How to change startup settings via the UI

1. Open the Start menu. Search for Terminal and open the app.

   

2. Click the down arrow button at the top of the window. Select Settings from the menu. You can also press Ctrl + , on your keyboard.

   

3. On the Settings screen, look for the Startup section.
4. Find the option labeled When Terminal starts. You can choose between:
   • Open a tab with the default profile
   • Open windows from a previous session
5. Select your preference and click Save to finish.

   

Understanding the settings.json file

For advanced users, the settings.json file offers deeper control over terminal profile configuration. You can find this file by holding the Alt key while clicking the Settings button in the terminal menu. Warning: Always back up your file before editing to prevent syntax errors that could break your configuration.

{
  "startupActions": "new-tab",
  "launchMode": "maximized",
  "defaultProfile": "{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}"
}

Advanced Launch Parameters

You can customize how the terminal opens using command line arguments. For example, you can set a specific directory for Windows Terminal startup by using the –startingDirectory flag. This is useful for developers who need to jump into project folders immediately.

Troubleshooting Auto-Launch Issues

If the terminal opens automatically when you log in, check your Task Manager. Open Task Manager, go to the Startup apps tab, and disable Windows Terminal if it is listed there. You should also check the Windows Registry at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run to ensure no rogue startup entries exist.

Summary

Windows Terminal is a flexible tool for power users. By default, it opens a new tab, but you can configure it to restore your previous session or launch in specific modes using the JSON schema. For more advanced documentation, visit the official Microsoft Learn documentation.