How to Set Default Profile in Windows Terminal
Windows Terminal is an app that brings all your command-line tools—like PowerShell, Command Prompt, and Ubuntu—into one window with tabs so you can switch between them fast. By default, the app opens PowerShell when you launch it, but you can change this starting shell to match your daily workflow.
Changing your default profile takes just a few clicks in the settings menu, saving you time every time you open the app.
Open Windows Terminal, click the down arrow, select Settings, then choose Startup. Select your preferred shell from the “Default profile” dropdown and click Save. This sets the shell that automatically opens when you launch Windows Terminal.
Why change your default profile?
You might prefer Command Prompt or a specific Linux distribution for your tasks. Setting a custom default profile saves you time. It ensures your favorite environment opens every time you launch the app.
What happens when you are done?
This does not change your existing tabs. It only affects new sessions you create.
Method 1Using the Settings UI
You can set your default profile in Windows Terminal using the Settings UI by opening the app, clicking the down arrow at the top of the window, and choosing Settings. From there, pick your preferred profile from the default profile drop-down menu on the startup page and click Save to apply the change.
- Open Windows Terminal from your Start menu .
windows 11 open terminal app - Click the down arrow in the top tab bar.
- Select Settings or press Ctrl + , on your keyboard.
windows terminal settings context menu - In the left sidebar, click Startup.
- Find the Default profile dropdown menu.
windows terminal default profile - Select your preferred shell from the list.
- Click Save at the bottom right.
Method 2Using the settings.json File
You can set your default profile in Windows Terminal by editing the settings.json configuration file directly. Open the file in a text editor like Notepad, find the defaultProfile line, and replace its current ID string with the unique GUID of the profile you want to open by default.
Back up your `settings.json` file before making changes. You can find the `settings.json` file at `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\settings.json`.
- Open Settings in Windows Terminal.
- Click Open JSON file at the bottom left.
- Look for the defaultProfile line.
- Replace the existing GUID with the GUID of your desired profile.
"defaultProfile": "{00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000}"You can find the GUID for each profile listed under the profiles section in the same file.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
If your default profile in Windows Terminal isn't changing, the most common reason is an incorrect save or a syntax error in the settings.json file.
Summary
Customizing your Windows Terminal startup settings improves your productivity. Whether you use the simple Settings UI or the advanced settings.json file, you can control exactly how your terminal environment behaves. For more advanced configuration, visit the official Microsoft Learn documentation.
Was this guide helpful?
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.
[…] can make to the Terminal app in Windows. You can change the language, adjust the launch size, set the default profile, change the startup behavior, open the admin window, open Terminal automatically at […]
[…] app in Windows allows many customizations. You can change the language, adjust the launch size, set the default profile, change the startup behavior, open the admin window, open Terminal automatically at […]
[…] How to Set Default Profile […]
[…] Linux (WSL). You can customize many settings in the app, such as language, adjust the launch size, set the default profile, change the startup behavior, open the admin window, open Terminal automatically at startup, add […]