Last Updated on December 24, 2022 by Mathew Diekhake

Windows Terminal is Microsoft’s new command-line app. It allows for multiple tabs, and from each tab you also have the option of opening either the Windows PowerShell, Command Prompt, Azure Cloud Shell, or the plain PowerShell. Additionally, it is also preconfigured to run SSH and WSL. Windows Terminal can run any command-line app which includes all Windows terminal emulators.

The Windows Terminal app, otherwise known as the new Windows PowerShell, is the long-awaited app many Windows enthusiasts had been waiting for thanks to its ability to do far more than the typical command line which had become outdated. Interestingly, the Windows Terminal was initially available as a separate app that needed to be downloaded from the Microsoft Store; however, if you were to go to the Microsoft Store to download it now you would be prompted that it is already on your computer. You haven’t got memory issues; as stated above in recent Windows 10 updates you would now find the app on your computer as an Inbox app.

Social media sites do a good job of offering people the option to use a Dark Mode should they so choose to deviate from the standard “light” mode you get with websites. This has become increasingly popular over recent years due to the rise of devices that run on batteries since the lighter colors demand more power from the device itself. If you really wanted you could also install extensions to make all websites you visit go dark, though we don’t recommend doing that because most websites haven’t been optimized for a Dark Mode unless they offer it themselves. Microsft also offers a general Dark Mode for its Windows 10 operating system. You might think the Windows Terminal app would be configured to follow whatever you choose for the general OS, but it has done a great job in offering as much customization to users as possible and one of the extra things you can do is choose a Light or Dark Mode purely for the Windows Terminal app itself, independently from the rest of the OS.

The following tutorial demonstrates how to chosoe between a light and dark theme for the Windows terminal application when using a version of the Windows 10 oeprating system.

How to Set Dark/Light Theme in Windows Terminal in Windows 10

You can choose between setting the light or dark theme for the Windows Terminal application from the Windows Terminal settings. Here is how you can do that:

1. Open the Windows Terminal app. (Click to enlarge the screenshot below.)

Windows 10 Search: Windows Terminal app

2. Next to the tabs, click on the down-facing arrow to bring up the Windows Terminal menu and then click on the Settings link. (Click to enlarge the screenshot below.)

Windows Terminal app: Settings

3. Click on Appearance in the left menu.

4. From the right side of the same window,  under the Theme heading, select either the Use Windows theme, Light or Dark toggle to turn it on or off, or use the default selection made by the app itself.

5. After selecting to use the light or dark theme, click on the Save button at the bottom of the Settings page. (Click to enlarge the screenshot below.)

You can close the Windows Terminal settings and continue using the computer.

In conclusion, that is how to chosoe between a light and dark theme for the Windows terminal app in Windows 10.

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