Change Windows Terminal Startup Behavior in Windows 11
Windows Terminal is a built-in Microsoft app that brings tools like Command Prompt, PowerShell, and WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux, a feature that lets you run Linux tools on Windows) into one single window with tabs. Changing the startup behavior in Windows 11 lets you pick exactly what opens when you launch the app, such as a specific PowerShell tab or your previous session.
You can update these startup settings inside the app’s startup menu or by editing the settings .json file. This change saves time every time you open your PC command tools.
- Open a tab with the default profile
- Open windows from a previous session
Configure startup behavior using the steps below.
Open Windows Terminal, go to Settings , and select your desired default profile and startup behavior from the Startup tab. You can also choose to open a specific folder or a new tab when the terminal launches.
What should be shown when Windows Terminal starts in 🪟 Windows 11
Windows Terminal startup behavior can be set to open a fresh tab using your default profile or to automatically restore all open tabs and windows from your previous session. You can change this setting from the app settings menu to control exactly what appears on your screen the moment you launch the program.
- Open a tab with the default profile
- Open windows from a previous session
Configure startup behavior using the steps below.
Press the Windows key, type Terminal, and hit Enter to launch the app.
With the app open, click the down arrow button on the top bar. From the context menu, select Settings, or use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + (comma).
In the Settings pane, under the Startup section, find the 'When Terminal starts' option and change it to one of the following:
- Open a tab with the default profile
- Open windows from a previous session
Select your preferred option and save your changes.
Click Save at the bottom of the window.
Conclusion:
- Windows Terminal in Windows 11 offers advanced features for command-line interfaces, including multiple tabs, panes, Unicode and UTF-8 character support, and customizability.
- Users can select the default behavior when opening the Windows Terminal: opening a tab with the default profile or restoring windows from a previous session.
- To change the start behavior, users can access the Settings pane in Windows Terminal, navigate to the Startup section, and choose their preferred option.
- After selecting, users should save the changes to apply the new start behavior in Windows Terminal.
Tailor how Windows Terminal boots up to keep your workflow smooth without forcing you to manually restore old sessions every time.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
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