How to Change Windows Terminal Themes

Windows Terminal themes change the colors and background style of your command line window. Windows Terminal version 1.10 and later includes several built-in color schemes and lets you build custom looks.

Switching to a dark color scheme cuts down eye strain when you work late at night. You can change these visual styles directly inside the application preferences.

How to change your Terminal theme

You can easily change Windows Terminal theme settings by opening the settings ⚙️ menu through the drop-down arrow at the top of the window, navigating to the appearance tab, and selecting from the available colour schemes or creating a custom look.

1. Open the Windows Terminal app. You can do this by clicking the Start menu ⊞, typing “Terminal,” and selecting the app.

2. Click the down arrow in the top bar of the Terminal window. Select Settings (or press Ctrl + , on your keyboard).

3. On the left side of the screen, click the Appearance tab.

4. On the right side, find the Application Theme box. Use the menu to pick Dark, Light, or Use Windows theme.

5. Click the Save button at the bottom to finish.

You do not need administrator privileges to make these changes.

Summary

• Terminal themes allow you to switch between Light and Dark modes.
• Using a dark theme can help reduce eye strain in low-light rooms.
• Custom themes make it easier to manage multiple open tabs or windows.
• The “Use Windows theme” setting keeps your app consistent with your system settings.