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How to Turn On or Off the Warning When Closing Multiple Tabs in Windows Terminal

Richard
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Richard
Feb 15, 2026 Updated Jul 12, 2026 2 min read
How to Enable or Disable Warning When Closing Multiple Tabs in Windows Terminal
How to Enable or Disable Warning When Closing Multiple Tabs in Windows Terminal

If you use Windows Terminal to run command lines like Command Prompt, PowerShell, or Linux (via WSL), you might notice a warning message when closing the app with several tabs open. This message asks, “Do you want to close all tabs?”

This guide will show you how to turn that warning on or off easily.

⚡ Quick Answer

Open Windows Terminal settings, navigate to the Interaction tab, and toggle the “Warn when closing more than one tab” option. This setting controls whether a confirmation prompt appears when you attempt to close multiple tabs.

What is Windows Terminal?

Windows Terminal is a modern app that lets you use command-line tools like Command Prompt, PowerShell, and Linux Bash on Windows 11. It supports multiple tabs, split views, custom colors, and more.

Why is the Warning Useful?

When you have many tabs open and try to close the terminal, this warning helps you avoid accidentally closing everything and losing your work.


How to Turn the Warning On or Off Using Windows Terminal Settings

  1. Open Windows Terminal:

    Click the Start button, type Terminal, and click the Windows Terminal app to open it.
  2. Go to Settings:

    In the Windows Terminal window, click the down arrow next to the tabs at the top, then click Settings or press Ctrl + ,.
  3. Find the Interaction Tab:

    In the Settings window, select the Interaction tab on the left side.
  4. Toggle the Warning:

    Look for the option “Warn when closing more than one tab” and switch it On to get the warning, or Off to disable it .
  5. Save Changes:

    Click Save at the bottom to apply your changes.
Open Windows Terminal app
windows 11 open terminal app

Windows Terminal Settings button
Windows Terminal Settings button updated

Toggle warn when closing multiple tabs
Windows Terminal warn when closing more than one tab


How to Turn the Warning On or Off Using the JSON File

If you prefer, you can also change this setting by editing Windows Terminal’s configuration file (a JSON file):

  1. Open Windows Terminal.
  2. Go to Settings as explained above.
  3. At the bottom left of the Settings window, click Open JSON file.
  4. Look for the line that says "confirmCloseAllTabs":true or "confirmCloseAllTabs":false.
  5. To enable the warning, make sure it says:
    💻Code
    "confirmCloseAllTabs": true,
  6. To disable the warning, change it to:
    💻Code
    "confirmCloseAllTabs": false,
  7. Save the file and close it.
Open JSON file in Windows Terminal
Windows Terminal open json file

Edit JSON configuration file
Windows Terminal open json file configuration section


What the Warning Looks Like

When enabled, if you try to close Windows Terminal with multiple tabs open, you will see a warning like this:

Windows Terminal warning window
Windows Terminal with warning window


Summary

  • Windows Terminal lets you run multiple command-line tabs at once.
  • You can turn on or off a warning message that appears when closing the app with many tabs open.
  • This setting can be changed easily through the app’s Settings or by editing the JSON file.
  • The warning helps prevent accidentally closing all your tabs and losing your work.

For more details, check the official Microsoft documentation:
Windows Terminal Docs

That’s it! Now you know how to control the close warning in Windows Terminal.

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Tags: #Windows 11
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Richard

About the Author

Richard

Tech Writer, IT Professional

Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.

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