Windows Terminal is a modern replacement for the classic PowerShell and Command Prompt consoles, offering features that significantly enhance the command-line experience. Unlike the standard PowerShell console, which was quite limited in both interface and functionality, Windows Terminal provides a more advanced, customizable, and feature-rich environment.
Microsoft introduced Windows Terminal as a terminal emulator in 2019, during the Windows 10 era. It can emulate the behavior and functionality of command-line shells, including Command Prompt and PowerShell, while offering features that make it superior to both.
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Work in multiple tabs
No more juggling multiple windows
One of the most useful upgrades in Windows Terminal is its support for multiple tabs within a single window. In standard PowerShell, you’re limited to one session per window. If you need multiple sessions, you have to juggle several separate windows. Windows Terminal addresses this by allowing you to open new tabs for different sessions within the same window, much like a browser.
For example, you can run multiple instances of Command Prompt alongside PowerShell, Bash, or Azure CLI, all within the same window. This level of flexibility simply isn’t possible with the classic PowerShell console.
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Split panes for side-by-side tasks
See beyond tabs
Beyond tabs, Windows Terminal also introduces split pane functionality, which the standard PowerShell interface lacks. Split panes allow you to view multiple console instances side by side within the same window.
This is especially useful for real-time comparisons and monitoring. For example, a developer might run a build process in one pane while tailing a log file in another. Similarly, a system administrator could run PowerShell in one pane and Bash in another to execute commands simultaneously.
Instead of manually resizing and arranging separate windows, as you would with the classic console, you can split the Terminal screen using a simple keyboard shortcut.
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Multiple profiles
Windows Terminal is a central hub for all command-line tools
Windows Terminal works like a central hub for all your command-line tools. You can set up different profiles for different shells and launch them easily in the same window. Right out of the box, it supports PowerShell, Command Prompt, and any WSL distributions you have installed. So you can open an Ubuntu Bash session, fire up Azure Cloud Shell, or even connect over SSH in new tabs without ever leaving Windows Terminal.
The old PowerShell console, on the other hand, is pretty limited. It mostly sticks to just PowerShell or cmd, with no real way to bring in other environments easily. Switching between setups in Windows Terminal is super simple, and you can even give each profile its own color scheme or icon so you can tell them apart at a glance.
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Better customization and theming options
Take full control over how things look and feel
No one really asked for themes and customization in command-line tools, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth having. Windows Terminal gives you full control over how things look and feel. You can change the color scheme, pick custom fonts, adjust text size using Ctrl plus scroll, and even set background images or transparent acrylic effects.
Standard PowerShell is pretty barebones in comparison. You’re stuck with basic colors and a fixed font. Windows Terminal, on the other hand, makes it easy to create or import clean, polished themes. All the settings are stored in a JSON file, so you can tweak things exactly the way you want, and it’s not just about looks. Customization can help with usability, too. For instance, you can assign a specific color profile to admin sessions to avoid mixing them up with your regular ones.
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You get Unicode support and other handy features
UTF support, Quake mode, and more
Windows Terminal has strong Unicode and UTF-8 support, which means it is much better at handling international text and special symbols. PowerShell also has Unicode and UTF support, but you may run into problems with encoding issues, such as bugs and limitations with specific characters.
Windows Terminal handles Unicode by default, so scripts like Chinese or Arabic, mathematical symbols, and emoji display properly without any extra setup. This is especially helpful if you work with non-English data or use cross-platform tools that output Unicode.
Plus, Windows Terminal introduces several conveniences that the standard PowerShell does not offer. One popular feature is Quake mode. Inspired by the drop-down console in games like Quake, it lets you pull down a terminal window from the top of your screen with a single key press.
It also includes a command palette that allows you to search and run commands from a simple pop-up, similar to what you find in Visual Studio Code. There is also a focus mode that hides the title bar and tabs for a cleaner, distraction-free workspace.
Embrace the command-line
Command-line tools like Command Prompt and PowerShell can help you get more done in less time. For example, these six PowerShell commands are useful for troubleshooting Windows issues, while others can help automate tasks and speed up your workflow.
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