How to Reset the Windows Terminal Settings to Their Defaults in Windows 11
Reading Time: 3 minutesWant to return the Windows Terminal to its defaults? Here’s how to do that on Windows 11.
Windows Terminal is the next-generation command line platform in Windows 11. It provides an improved user experience with modern command line tools that enable you to access multiple command lines in a single window. The tool is essential for developers and administrators alike, but sometimes your terminal settings need to be reset to default.
In this article, we will explain how to reset your Windows Terminal settings back to their original state.
Why Would You Reset Your Windows Terminal?
Windows Terminal is an amazing tool for power users and developers. It allows you to access a variety of tools, all in one place, with custom settings and themes that make it easy to work from anywhere. But over time, your Windows Terminal may become cluttered with old settings or themes that have become redundant or are no longer relevant.
It also helps clear out any potentially harmful malware or corrupt files that might be lurking in the background of your system, hindering your productivity. By doing so, you will ensure that your computer works as fast and as smoothly as possible – giving you the most optimal experience when using this powerful tool.
Let’s now move to the below sections and see how it can be reset.
How to Reset Windows Terminal Settings by Clearing JSON Files
In order to reset the settings back to the original defaults, you will need to delete the settings.json file. Here’s how to do it.
- Right click on Start and select Terminal from the menu list.
- Next, click the down-arrow icon and select Settings.
- From the left pane of the Settings page, click Open JSON file.
- If you’re asked which app to use to open the file, then double-click on Notepad.
- On the next page, select all the contents and Delete them.
- Now press Ctrl + S on your keyboard to save it.
Next time you open the app, a new configuration with all the default settings will be created automatically.
How to Reset Windows Terminal Settings Using Command Prompt
The Command Prompt is a command line tool that can help you accomplish a number of tasks on your computer. It lets you run programs, manage files, and even troubleshoot problems with the operating system. We covered a lot of its functionality in our beginner’s guide to the Command Prompt, but for now, we’ll just explore resetting the Windows Terminal settings.
To reset Windows Terminal Settings back to their defaults, follow these steps:
- Open the Command Prompt. For this, use the Taskbar search or type ‘cmd’ in the Run dialog.
- In the Command Prompt window, copy and paste the following command:
del /f /s /q /a '%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\settings.json'
- Now press the Enter key to delete the settings.json file.
- You can now exit the command prompt.
How to Reset Windows Terminal Settings Using Windows PowerShell
Windows PowerShell is another command line application that you can use to restore Windows Terminal Settings to their default state. To figure out how, follow these steps:
- Open Windows PowerShell. You can do this by pressing Win + R, typing ‘PowerShell’, and then pressing Enter. You can also one of the other ways to open PowerShell on Windows.
- In the PowerShell window, copy and paste the following command:
Remove-Item -Path '$env:LOCALAPPDATA\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\settings.json' -Force
- Press Enter to execute the command.
How to Reset Windows Terminal Settings From File Explorer
If you don’t prefer the command line process, you can use Windows File Explorer to reset the settings. In this way, the Terminal will be reset to its default settings, and you can continue using it. Here’s how to do it:
- Open Windows File Explorer. For this, right-click Start and choose File Explorer, or press Win + E on your keyboard.
- Copy and paste the following path into the address bar:
%LocalAppData%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState
- On the next page, right-click on settings.json and select Delete from the context menu.
Once you perform the above steps, Settings.json will automatically be created with the default settings.
Resetting the Windows Terminal, Made Easy
After reading this post, you now know some useful tips that will help you reset the terminal to default settings in Windows 11. Try them out and find out which one works best for you.