Windows Terminal Preview is an early-access terminal application for running multiple command-line environments in configurable tabs and panes while evaluating upcoming Terminal features before they reach the stable channel.
Windows Terminal Preview provides early access to upcoming Terminal capabilities while offering a unified interface for command-line environments. Users can open different shells through profiles, arrange sessions in tabs and panes, switch between active commands, and customize how each environment looks and behaves. The settings interface covers common preferences, while the settings.json file provides detailed control for users who want a reproducible configuration. A command palette exposes available actions without requiring every shortcut to be memorized. This combination makes the application useful for developers, administrators, and command-line users who want modern session management and are comfortable evaluating features that may still change before stable release.
Windows Terminal Preview can operate alongside the stable Terminal application, allowing users to evaluate new behavior without replacing their regular command-line workspace. Profiles can define different commands, starting directories, names, icons, color schemes, fonts, and other session-specific preferences. Custom actions and keybindings let users tailor navigation, pane management, text handling, and profile launching to their habits. Startup actions can also open a predefined arrangement of tabs and panes when no conflicting command-line arguments are supplied. Developers who need a broader environment for editing, building, testing, and debugging applications can review Visual Studio Professional 2022. The preview channel is best treated as an evaluation workspace because features may be adjusted during development.
The main benefit of Windows Terminal Preview is the ability to test upcoming command-line features while retaining a productive terminal workflow. Tabs keep separate shell sessions organized within one window, and panes make it possible to monitor or operate several commands simultaneously. Profiles preserve distinct settings for different shells, projects, or administrative tasks, reducing repeated setup whenever a new session begins. The command palette makes actions discoverable, while custom keybindings help experienced users execute frequent operations quickly. Appearance controls can distinguish profiles through colors, icons, fonts, backgrounds, and cursor styles, making active contexts easier to recognize. Startup actions support repeatable workspace arrangements, and configurable copy, paste, selection, and interaction behavior can match individual preferences. Because the preview edition can remain separate from the stable application, users can explore developing capabilities without giving up a familiar fallback. This makes it practical for early adopters, tool evaluators, and users who provide feedback on command-line experiences.
Key capabilities and highlights.
Windows Terminal Preview exposes developing Terminal features and fixes before they are promoted to the stable channel. Users can evaluate workflow changes early, identify unexpected behavior, and provide feedback while continuing to keep the stable application available separately.
Tabs let users keep several command-line sessions inside one terminal window and switch between them as needed. Each tab can launch a selected profile, helping separate projects, shells, remote sessions, or administrative tasks without opening numerous windows.
Pane controls divide a tab into multiple command-line regions that can run independently. Users can resize panes, move focus between them, close individual sessions, and create practical layouts for monitoring output while executing related commands elsewhere.
Profiles define how individual command-line environments launch, appear, and respond during use. Users can configure names, commands, starting directories, icons, color schemes, fonts, backgrounds, and other supported behaviors, creating recognizable workspaces for different tools, projects, and administrative responsibilities.
The command palette presents available Terminal actions in a searchable interface, making commands easier to discover and execute. It is useful when users cannot remember a keyboard shortcut or want quick access to profile, pane, tab, and window operations.
Custom actions allow users to define Terminal operations and connect them with preferred keyboard shortcuts. These configurations can streamline frequent tasks such as opening profiles, splitting panes, moving focus, resizing layouts, copying text, or closing sessions.
Startup actions can launch a predefined sequence of tabs and panes when the application opens without conflicting command-line arguments. This helps users recreate recurring workspaces automatically instead of rebuilding the same session arrangement for every task.
Windows Terminal Preview supports extensive visual customization through profile settings, color schemes, themes, fonts, cursor options, transparency effects, icons, and background images. These controls help users distinguish environments and create a terminal interface suited to their preferences.
Browse historical releases and previous builds.
Common questions about Windows Terminal Preview.
It is used to run and organize command-line environments while providing early access to Terminal features and fixes that are still being evaluated before stable release.
Yes. The preview and stable applications can remain available separately, allowing users to test developing features while keeping their established terminal environment as a fallback.
Yes. It uses profiles to launch available command-line environments. Each profile can have its own command, starting directory, appearance, icon, name, and supported interaction settings.
Startup actions can create a predefined arrangement of tabs and panes when the application starts without conflicting command-line arguments. Users must configure the desired action sequence beforehand.
It can perform regular terminal tasks, but it contains features that may still change or encounter regressions. Users who require maximum predictability should keep the stable edition available for essential work.
Windows Terminal Preview is an early-access terminal application for running multiple command-line environments in configurable tabs and panes while evaluating upcoming Terminal features before they reach the stable channel.
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