Why I Prefer Windows Terminal Over Command Prompt

The Command Prompt has long served as a straightforward command-line interface for Windows users, allowing for file management, scripting, and resource downloading. However, compared to its Unix counterparts, it has historically fallen short in terms of features, lacking tabbed interfaces and split screens, only presenting users with a single black window at a time.

After years of relying on Command Prompt, I transitioned to PowerShell seeking more capabilities, yet neither tool felt particularly cutting-edge. It wasn’t until the introduction of Windows Terminal in 2019—and its establishment as the default terminal in Windows 11—that I made the switch.

Once I experienced Windows Terminal, I recognized the vast improvements and functionalities I had been missing, including the productivity enhancements that Linux users have utilized for years.

4 Multi-tab and Split Panes

Exceptional Multitasking Capabilities

Windows Terminal displaying PowerShell, Command Prompt, and WSL error output in split panes — Image credit – self captured (Tashreef Shareef) – No Attribution Required

One of the standout features of Windows Terminal is its support for multiple tabs, a functionality absent in the Command Prompt. With Windows Terminal open, you can conveniently open a new tab using Ctrl + Shift + T and navigate through tabs with Ctrl + Tab. Each tab maintains its own dedicated session, allowing you to run a build process in one tab while monitoring logs in another—eliminating the mess of multiple taskbar entries.

Furthermore, the split pane feature enables users to divide a single tab into multiple windows. You can initiate a horizontal split with Shift + Alt + Minus (-) or a vertical split using Shift + Alt + Equals (=).

Additional shortcuts, such as Shift + Alt + Arrow keys for adjusting pane sizes and Alt + Arrow key for shifting focus between panes, enhance workflow efficiency. Should you need to close a pane, simply use Ctrl + Shift + W. In contrast, utilizing Command Prompt necessitated juggling multiple separate windows that often failed to retain their arrangement after restarting.

3 One Terminal, Multiple Shells

Access to All Command-Line Tools Including CMD and PowerShell

Windows Terminal interface showing multiple shell options including Command Prompt, PowerShell, Ubuntu, and Azure Cloud Shell — Image credit – self captured (Tashreef Shareef) – No Attribution Required

A notable benefit of Windows Terminal is its ability to incorporate various command-line tools in a single interface. If you’re accustomed to the classic cmd.exe or PowerShell, you can seamlessly launch these from within Windows Terminal, providing a unified experience for all command-line operations such as Command Prompt, PowerShell, Git Bash, Azure Cloud Shell, and any Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) distributions.

Each command-line interface can have its own profile featuring tailored settings. For instance, you may opt for a unique color scheme and font for PowerShell distinct from those used in Command Prompt. Improved font rendering ensures that PowerShell modules such as PSReadLine and Terminal-Icons are displayed correctly with syntax highlighting and file type icons.

Switching between profiles is simple with shortcuts like Ctrl + Shift + 1, Ctrl + Shift + 2, and more. Alternatively, profiles are accessible through a dropdown menu, allowing you to designate any shell as the default through the Settings interface.

2 Enhanced Customization Options

Personalization with Custom Colors and Themes

Windows Terminal excels in customization, allowing users to modify prompts, choose personalized fonts, adjust text sizes, and apply cohesive themes. While Command Prompt is limited to 16 colors and two font choices, Windows Terminal embraces any monospace font available on your system while offering extensive RGB color customization.

You can easily access Settings via the GUI or by directly editing the settings.json file. This flexibility allows transparency adjustments through an opacity slider, background image additions for profiles, padding alterations for enhanced readability, and easy importation of community-developed themes. Each profile maintains its stylistic individuality.

Personally, I utilize Cascadia Code for PowerShell with a dark theme during coding sessions, then switch to a high-contrast theme with larger fonts when conducting screen shares. These visual distinctions not only improve aesthetics but also facilitate quick identification of profiles, especially with multiple tabs visible.

In contrast, Command Prompt restricts users to a handful of outdated monospace fonts and fails to properly render modern fonts such as Cascadia Code. Moreover, it lacks transparency and acrylic effects, which have become standard since Windows 10 version 1903 and are fully leveraged by Windows Terminal.

1 Native Linux Support

Seamless Integration with Windows Subsystem for Linux

Windows Terminal Actions settings displaying keyboard shortcuts for common pane and tab operations — Image credit – self captured (Tashreef Shareef) – No Attribution Required

Both Windows 10 and 11 facilitate running a Linux environment on Windows through the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL).Windows Terminal allows users to access distributions such as Ubuntu side-by-side with PowerShell, presenting Linux environments as integral to the operating system rather than as secondary add-ons.

Upon installing a WSL distribution, Windows Terminal automatically creates a corresponding profile, enabling users to maintain tabs for Ubuntu, Debian, and Alpine alongside traditional Windows shells. With features like clickable paths and WSL’s effective path translation, transitioning between Linux and Windows file systems becomes effortless.

In the traditional Command Prompt, accessing WSL required typing wsl and losing the Windows context altogether, making it difficult to share paths across environments or maintain visual consistency. Windows Terminal makes the Linux experience feel authentic and integrated.

The Advantages of Making the Switch

After adopting Windows Terminal for over a year, the Command Prompt now feels outdated, akin to using Notepad when richer software like VS Code is readily available. The introduction of tabs alone revolutionizes the user experience, but the superior font rendering, integrated WSL, and simple profile management create an environment that’s decidedly more productive.

Microsoft’s decision to make Windows Terminal the default in Windows 11 is well-founded. While Command Prompt remains available for legacy tasks, Windows Terminal represents the future—a sophisticated setting for executing not just Command Prompt, but also PowerShell, WSL, and an array of other tools. For anyone spending significant time in the command line, transitioning to Windows Terminal is undoubtedly a worthwhile move.

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