Windows Terminal is a multi-tabbed terminal emulator developed by Microsoft for Windows 10 and later as a replacement for Windows Console. It can run any command-line app in a separate tab. It is preconfigured to run Command Prompt, PowerShell, Windows Subsystem for Linux, Azure Cloud Shell Connector, and will add other shell applications automatically after installation. Windows Terminal comes with its own rendering back-end; starting with version 1.11 on Windows 11, command-line apps can run using this newer back-end instead of the old Windows Console.
Since Windows 11 22H2 and Windows Terminal 1.15, Windows Terminal replaces Windows Console as the default terminal application.
Windows Terminal was announced at Microsoft's Build 2019 developer conference in May 2019 as a modern alternative for Windows Console, and Windows Terminal's source code first appeared on GitHub on May 3, 2019. The first preview release was version 0.2, which appeared on July 10, 2019. The first stable version of the project (version 1.0) was on May 19, 2020, at which point, Microsoft started releasing preview versions as the Windows Terminal Preview app, which could be installed side-by-side with the stable version.
What is Windows Terminal?
Windows Terminal is an open-source terminals & cli tool program for Windows from Microsoft Corporation (developed by Microsoft). It is written in C++.
Installation and requirements
Official installers exist for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit as MSIX. It can be installed for the current user only, without administrator rights. It needs Windows 10 2004 or newer. The installer supports unattended (silent) installation.
Updates and version history
The current version is 1.25.2733.0, released on October 2, 2026. 67 versions are listed since March 30, 2021, each with links to its own installer files. That is about 12 releases a year. The last update is less than a month old.
Popularity and file types
The source code on GitHub (microsoft/terminal) has 105,213 stars. Wikipedia has an article about it in 18 of our languages. Similar programs include Oh My Posh, Alacritty and ConEmu.
Project description on GitHub: “The new Windows Terminal and the original Windows console host, all in the same place!”
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
- Frequent updates (about 12 a year)
- Large user base
In short: Windows Terminal is an open-source terminals & cli tool tool for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit PCs. It is actively maintained. Administrators can deploy it unattended.
Screenshots
Is Windows Terminal 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:
CCE6E9CC3C8457FA11CED1D2A7354888C7D6DB83C5ACE5D5891A52C95E3B21DA· 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
Security practices (OpenSSF Scorecard)
Automated checks of the microsoft/terminal repository on GitHub by the Open Source Security Foundation, last run on October 19, 2026.
- Actively maintained10
- Code review10
- No dangerous workflows10
- Security policy10
- Pinned dependencies10
- Licence declared10
- Fuzzing10
- Static code analysis10
- Branch protection8
- Restricted token permissions0
- OpenSSF Best Practices badge0
- No binaries in the repository0
- Signed releases0
The score rates how the project is developed and released, not whether the program is safe to install. scorecard.dev
Recent versions
All 67 versions ›67 versions over 6 years · about 12 a year
| Version | Date | Size | Files |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.25.2733.0Latest | October 2, 2026 | — | 32-bit MSIX64-bit MSIXARM64 MSIX |
| 1.24.12741.0 | October 2, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIX32-bit MSIXARM64 MSIX |
| 1.24.11911.0 | July 16, 2026 | — | 32-bit MSIXARM64 MSIX64-bit MSIX |
| 1.24.11321.0 | May 13, 2026 | — | ARM64 MSIX32-bit MSIX64-bit MSIX |
| 1.24.10921.0 | April 3, 2026 | — | 32-bit MSIX64-bit MSIXARM64 MSIX |
| 1.24.10621.0 | March 5, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIX32-bit MSIXARM64 MSIX |
| 1.23.20211.0 | January 24, 2026 | — | 64-bit MSIXARM64 MSIX32-bit MSIX |
| 1.23.13503.0 | December 17, 2025 | — | 32-bit MSIX64-bit MSIXARM64 MSIX |
Install from the command line
Silent install ›winget install --id Microsoft.WindowsTerminal -eAdd-AppxPackage -Path Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_1.25.2733.0_8wekyb3d8bbwe.msixbundleGet-AppxPackage -Name Microsoft.WindowsTerminal | Remove-AppxPackageProgram files (.exe): wt.exe
Related guide: How to use winget: install and update apps
Information
- Publisher
- Microsoft Corporation
- Developer
- Microsoft
- Category
- Terminals & CLI tools
- Licence
- MIT
- Price
- Free
- Source code
- github.com/microsoft/terminal
- Written in
- C++
- Requires
- Windows 11 / 10 (Windows 10 2004+)
- Architecture
- 64-bit, ARM64, 32-bit
- Installer
- MSIX
- Version
- 1.25.2733.0
- Released
- October 2, 2026
- Added to the catalogue
- March 30, 2021
- Versions listed
- 67
- Updates / year
- 12.2
- GitHub stars
- 105,213
- GitHub forks
- 9,673
- Website
- docs.microsoft.com
- winget ID
- Microsoft.WindowsTerminal
Ratings and reviews
No reviews yet. Be the first to rate it.
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Frequently asked questions
Is Windows Terminal free?
Yes. Windows Terminal is open-source software under the MIT licence.
Is Windows Terminal 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 Windows Terminal 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 Windows Terminal be installed silently?
Yes. The silent install page lists the exact command for each installer.
Which Windows versions does Windows Terminal support?
The installer requires Windows 10 2004 or newer and is available for 64-bit, ARM64 and 32-bit.
Does Windows Terminal run on ARM (Windows on Arm)?
Yes, there is a native ARM64 installer.
Where can I download an older version of Windows Terminal?
The versions page lists all 67 versions with links to their official installer files, back to March 30, 2021.
Can I use Windows Terminal without administrator rights?
Yes, there is a per-user installer that does not need administrator rights.
What are alternatives to Windows Terminal?
Oh My Posh, Alacritty, ConEmu, QPDF and Tabby. The alternatives page compares them.
