Quick Shell is a PowerToys Command Palette extension that lets you save
favorite project directories and launch them in Windows Terminal, PowerShell,
PowerShell 7, or cmd — optionally running a command on open.
After installing, open PowerToys Command Palette and run "Reload Command Palette Extension".
For full Command Palette integration, MSIX install via scripts/deploy.ps1 is recommended.
Publisher’s description
What is Quick Shell?
Quick Shell by Tony Thompson is open-source Windows software in the terminals & cli tools category. It is written in C#.
Installation and requirements
The publisher provides EXE (Inno Setup) installers for 64-bit and ARM64 Windows. It can be installed for the current user only, without administrator rights. It needs Windows 10 2004 or newer. A silent install is possible with the installer’s documented switches.
Updates and version history
The current version is 0.2.4.0, released on July 29, 2026. The version history goes back to June 19, 2026: 3 releases, all linked to the official files.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (tonythethompson/QuickShell) has 4 stars. Similar programs include PowerShell, Oh My Posh and QPDF.
Project description on GitHub: “Quick Shell is a launcher-agnostic developer workspace platform. Organize, discover, and launch projects from your favorite launcher, open them in your preferred terminal, automate startup tasks, customize Git behavior, and get back to coding faster.”
Pros / Cons
Pros
- Open source: the code can be inspected and built by anyone
- Native ARM64 build for Windows on Arm
- Documented silent install
- Installs without administrator rights
In short: Quick Shell is an open-source terminals & cli tool tool for 64-bit and ARM64 PCs. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Is Quick Shell safe to download?
- The file is served by github.com, the publisher’s own domain
- The download link uses HTTPS
- A SHA256 hash is published, so you can verify the file:
C23D2A0702E3B97EACA3F84721BF3A44197847B7B559142380A4DBDEA3A76EA0· Open the VirusTotal report for this hash - The link has not been checked yet
- The source code is public
- ExeAtlas does not host, wrap or modify installers
Related guide: How to check a file’s SHA256 hash on Windows
Recent versions
All 3 versions ›| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.2.4.0Latest | July 29, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)ARM64 EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 0.2.0.0 | July 3, 2026 | — | 64-bit EXE (Inno Setup)ARM64 EXE (Inno Setup) |
| 0.1.2.1 | June 19, 2026 | — | ARM64 EXE (Inno Setup)64-bit EXE (Inno Setup) |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id tonythethompson.QuickShell -eQuickShell-Setup-0.2.4.0-x64.exe /VERYSILENT /SUPPRESSMSGBOXES /NORESTART /SP-Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Tony Thompson
- Category
- Terminals & CLI tools
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/tonythethompson/QuickShell
- Written in
- C#
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10 (Windows 10 2004+)
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64
- Installer
- EXE (Inno Setup)
- Version
- 0.2.4.0
- Released
- July 29, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- June 29, 2026
- Versions listed
- 3
- GitHub stars
- 4
- GitHub forks
- 1
- Website
- github.com
- winget ID
- tonythethompson.QuickShell
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
Alternatives to Quick Shell
See all ›-
PowerShell7.6.9.0PowerShell is a cross-platform task automation solution made up of a command-line shell, a scripting language, and a configuration management framework. PowerShell runs on Windows, Linux, and macOS.Open source689.6K ↓ -
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QPDF12.4.2QPDF is a command-line tool and C++ library that performs content-preserving transformations on PDF files.Open source2.1M ↓ -
Alacritty0.17.0Alacritty is a free and open-source GPU accelerated terminal emulator focused on performance and simplicity.Open source75.9K ↓ -
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PuTTY0.85.0.0A free implementation of SSH and Telnet for Windows and Unix platforms, along with an xterm terminal emulator.Open source5.3M ↓ -
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Frequently asked questions
Is Quick Shell free?
Yes. Quick Shell is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is Quick Shell safe to download?
The download comes from github.com, which belongs to the publisher; ExeAtlas does not host or change the file. Compare its SHA256 hash with the one shown here, or open the VirusTotal report for that hash.
How do I install Quick Shell with winget?
Open PowerShell or Windows Terminal and run the winget command shown on this page. winget downloads the official installer and checks its SHA256 hash before running it.
Can Quick Shell be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Which Windows versions does Quick Shell support?
The installer requires Windows 10 2004 or newer and is available for 64-bit and ARM64.
Does Quick Shell run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of Quick Shell?
The versions page lists all 3 versions with links to their official installer files, back to June 19, 2026.
Can I use Quick Shell without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to Quick Shell?
PowerShell, Oh My Posh, QPDF, Alacritty and yq. The alternatives page compares them.
