How to Customize Command Prompt in Windows 11 and Windows 10

Aseem Kishore
Ā·
3 min read

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Monitor displaying a dark-themed terminal window with commands like 'dir' and 'ls -l', and a left 'Appearance' settings panel showing font size 28 and color swatches.

Command Prompt is hard to read when its text is too small or its colors blend into the background. In Windows 11 and Windows 10, the settings you need depend on the window it opens in.

Fix #1: Change the Command Prompt profile in Windows Terminal

If your Command Prompt window has tabs, itā€™s running inside Windows Terminal. Change that profile to adjust its appearance.

  1. Open Start, search for Windows Terminal, and open it. You should see a window with a tab bar.
  2. Select the arrow beside the new-tab button, then select Settings. The settings page should open.
Windows Terminal tab bar with the new-tab arrow menu open and Settings visible
  1. Under Profiles, select Command Prompt. Its profile settings should appear.
  2. Open Appearance and choose a font face, font size, and color scheme you can read comfortably. The available controls may vary by Terminal version.
Settings > Profiles > Command Prompt > Appearance with font size and color scheme controls visible
  1. Select Save if that button is shown. Open a new Command Prompt tab to check the result.

Windows Terminal hosts cmd.exe; changing this profile wonā€™t change every Command Prompt window launched by another app or shortcut. If youā€™re stuck wondering why a font change didnā€™t appear, check which window actually opened.

Fix #2: Make Command Prompt your default Terminal profile

If youā€™d like Windows Terminal to open Command Prompt when you launch it, set that profile as the default.

  1. Open Windows Terminal and select Settings from the new-tab arrow menu. The settings page should open.
  2. Select Startup. You should see a Default profile setting.
  3. Set Default profile to Command Prompt.
  4. Select Save if that button is shown. A new Terminal window should now open with Command Prompt.

This changes Terminalā€™s starting profile, not the shell used by every Windows app.

Fix #3: Customize a classic Command Prompt window

If Command Prompt opens in a window with a plain title bar and no tabs, use its Properties dialog.

  1. Open Start and search for Command Prompt. The app should appear in the results.
Start search results showing the Command Prompt app
  1. Select Command Prompt. A console window should open.
  2. If Start search isnā€™t working, press Windows + R instead. The Run dialog should appear.
  3. Type cmd and press Enter. Command Prompt should open; continue only if its window has no tabs.
Run dialog with cmd entered in the Open field
  1. Right-click the Command Prompt title bar and select Properties. You should see a dialog with settings tabs.
Classic Command Prompt title bar context menu with Properties highlighted
  1. Open Options to adjust the cursor and text-selection settings you need.
Command Prompt Properties Options tab showing cursor, command history, and editing settings.
  1. Open Font and choose a readable typeface and size. The preview should show your selection.
Classic Command Prompt Properties dialog showing the Font tab, available fonts, and size preview
  1. Open Layout to adjust the window size or screen buffer height. A taller buffer lets you scroll through more command output.
Classic Command Prompt Properties dialog showing the Layout tab and screen buffer height setting
  1. Open Colors and set the screen text and background colors. Check the preview for enough contrast.
Classic Command Prompt Properties dialog showing the Colors tab with screen text and background choices
  1. Select OK. The classic window should display your changes; reopen it if a setting doesnā€™t appear immediately.
A classic Command Prompt window with larger white text on a black background.

The classic console offers fewer font and appearance choices than Windows Terminal. Iā€™d use Terminal for everyday Command Prompt work and keep Properties for a shortcut that opens the classic window.

Standard Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025. Eligible devices enrolled in Extended Security Updates can still receive limited security updates. If your PC is eligible, move to Windows 11.

When the changes donā€™t appear

Open Command Prompt again and check for tabs. Tabs mean you need the Command Prompt profile in Windows Terminal; a plain title bar means you need the classic Properties dialog. A work or school PC may also have settings managed by your organization.

Conclusion

Fix #1 is the best choice for most people: a larger font and clearer color scheme make Command Prompt easier to use in Windows Terminal. If the window still ignores your changes, the breakthrough is usually identifying which app is displaying cmd.exe and changing its settings.