Set Up Windows Terminal Quake Mode and Default Profiles in Windows 10/11

Set Up Windows Terminal Quake Mode and Default Profiles in Windows 10/11​

Difficulty: Beginner | Time Required: 10 minutes
Windows Terminal is one of the most useful tools you can add to your Windows setup, especially if you use Command Prompt, PowerShell, or WSL. Two of its most practical features are Quake Mode and default profiles.
Quake Mode gives you a drop-down terminal that slides from the top of the screen with a keyboard shortcut, making it quick to open and hide whenever you need it. Default profiles let you choose which shell opens automatically, so you can stop landing in the wrong environment every time you start Terminal.
This guide walks you through both features step by step on Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Prerequisites​

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• Windows Terminal installed
• A Microsoft account or another way to install apps if using the Microsoft Store
• One or more terminal profiles available, such as:
  • Windows PowerShell
  • Command Prompt
  • PowerShell 7
  • WSL / Ubuntu
  • Azure Cloud Shell, if configured

Note: Windows Terminal is available for both Windows 10 and Windows 11.
On Windows 11, support for setting Windows Terminal as the default terminal application is built in.
On Windows 10, this feature requires version 22H2 with the May 23, 2023 update (KB5026435) or later.

---

Step 1: Install or update Windows Terminal​

If you already use Windows Terminal, you can skip to Step 2.

1. Open the Microsoft Store.
2. Search for Windows Terminal.
3. Click Install or Update.
4. Launch Windows Terminal from the Start menu.

Tip: If you like testing newer features, you can also install Windows Terminal Preview. For most users, though, the regular version is the best choice.

---

Step 2: Open the Windows Terminal settings​

You can configure most of what you need through the graphical settings screen.

1. Open Windows Terminal.
2. Click the down arrow on the tab bar.
3. Select Settings.

You’ll see categories such as Startup, Interaction, Appearance, and your available Profiles.

Note: Advanced users can also edit the settings.json file directly by holding Shift while opening Settings.

---

Step 3: Set your default profile​

The default profile is the shell that opens when you launch Windows Terminal or create a standard new tab.

1. In Settings, select Startup.
2. Find Default profile.
3. Open the drop-down list.
4. Choose the profile you want, such as:
   • PowerShell
   • Command Prompt
   • Ubuntu
   • PowerShell 7

For example:

• Choose PowerShell if you mostly manage Windows and run admin commands.
• Choose Command Prompt if you prefer classic command-line behavior.
• Choose Ubuntu or another WSL distro if you mostly work in Linux tools.

Why this matters​

Once set, this profile opens when you:

• Start Windows Terminal
• Press Ctrl + Shift + T
• Click the + button for a new tab
• Run wt new-tab without specifying a profile

Tip: If you frequently switch between shells, leave your most-used one as the default and open others from the drop-down arrow beside the + tab button.

---

Step 4: Optionally set Windows Terminal as the default terminal application​

This is separate from the default profile. It tells Windows to use Windows Terminal instead of the older Console Host where supported.

1. In Settings, stay in or return to Startup.
2. Find Default terminal application.
3. Select Windows Terminal.

What this does​

When supported, command-line apps will open inside Windows Terminal instead of the legacy console window.

Important:

• This works on Windows 11.
• On Windows 10, you need 22H2 plus KB5026435 or later.
• If the option is missing, update Windows and Windows Terminal first.

---

Step 5: Launch Quake Mode​

Quake Mode is a special terminal window that drops down from the top of the screen.

1. Press Win + ` (Windows key plus the backtick/grave key).
   • On most keyboards, this is the key above Tab or to the left of 1.
2. A terminal window should slide down from the top of the screen.
3. Press Win + ` again to hide it.

That’s it — Quake Mode is built in and usually works immediately.

What makes Quake Mode useful?​

• Fast access from anywhere
• No need to hunt for an open terminal window
• Great for quick commands, Git work, PowerShell tasks, and WSL sessions
• Easy to hide when you’re done

Tip: Think of Quake Mode as a “hotkey terminal drawer” for Windows.

---

Step 6: Make Quake Mode use your preferred shell​

Quake Mode uses Windows Terminal, so the tab it opens will normally follow your default profile.
If you want Quake Mode to open directly into Ubuntu, PowerShell 7, or Command Prompt, simply change your default profile in Settings > Startup as shown earlier.
For example:

• Set Ubuntu as default if you want Quake Mode to open in Linux
• Set PowerShell 7 as default if you do cross-platform scripting
• Set Command Prompt as default if you want classic Windows tools

---

Step 7: Customize a profile for better startup behavior​

You can improve your default profile by adjusting where it opens and how it looks.

1. In Settings, click the profile you want under Profiles.
2. Review useful options such as:
   • Name
   • Starting directory
   • Icon
   • Tab title
3. Make your changes and click Save.

Example ideas​

• Set Starting directory to your projects folder:
  • C:\Users\YourName\Documents\Projects
• Set a custom tab title like:
  • Dev Shell
• Add an icon to make profiles easier to spot in the tab list

Note: If you use WSL, the starting directory can point to your Linux home folder through the WSL path.

---

Step 8: Test your setup​

Now verify everything works as expected.

1. Close Windows Terminal completely.
2. Reopen it from the Start menu.
3. Confirm that your selected default profile opens.
4. Press Win + ` to open Quake Mode.
5. Check that Quake Mode also opens with the shell you want.
6. Press Win + ` again to hide it.

If both behaviors look correct, you’re done.

---

Tips and troubleshooting notes​

Quake Mode shortcut doesn’t work​

Try these checks:

• Make sure Windows Terminal is installed
• Check whether another app is intercepting Win + `
• Restart Windows Terminal and try again
• Update Windows Terminal from the Microsoft Store

The wrong shell opens​

Go back to:
Settings > Startup > Default profile
Then select the correct one and save.

I don’t see “Default terminal application”​

This usually means one of the following:

• You’re on an older build of Windows 10
• Windows Terminal needs updating
• The feature isn’t available yet on your system

On Windows 10, confirm you’re running 22H2 and have the relevant cumulative updates installed.

Want more control?​

You can edit the settings.json file directly for advanced customization, including:

• defaultProfile
• startupActions
• launchMode
• startingDirectory

This is useful if you prefer precise manual configuration.

Warning: If you edit JSON manually, be careful with commas, quotation marks, and backslashes. A formatting mistake can prevent settings from loading correctly.

Useful keyboard shortcuts​

Here are a few worth remembering:

• Win + ` — Open or hide Quake Mode
• Ctrl + Shift + T — Open a new tab
• Ctrl + Shift + P — Open Command Palette

---

Conclusion​

Setting up Quake Mode and default profiles makes Windows Terminal much faster and more comfortable to use. Instead of opening the wrong shell or searching for a terminal window, you can launch exactly what you need with a quick keyboard shortcut and start working immediately.
For beginners, this is one of the easiest ways to make Windows feel more efficient — especially if you use command-line tools even occasionally.
Key Takeaways:

• Quake Mode gives you instant access to a drop-down terminal with Win + `
• Your default profile controls which shell opens first in Windows Terminal
• You can choose PowerShell, Command Prompt, WSL, or another installed profile
• On supported Windows versions, you can also set Windows Terminal as the system’s default terminal app
• A few minutes of setup can make command-line work much faster and more convenient

---

This tutorial was generated to help WindowsForum.com users get the most out of their Windows experience.