How to Change Tab Colors in Windows Terminal

Customizing the tab colors in Windows Terminal allows you to personalize your workspace, improve visual organization, and enhance your overall user experience. By changing tab colors, you can distinguish between different profiles, sessions, or projects at a glance, making your workflow more efficient and visually appealing. Whether you want a vibrant look or a subtle color scheme, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring you can easily modify your terminal’s appearance to suit your preferences.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC with Windows Terminal installed
• Basic familiarity with editing JSON configuration files (optional but helpful)
• Access to administrator privileges (if needed for certain customizations)

Step-by-Step

1. Open Windows Terminal Settings: Launch Windows Terminal. To access the settings, click on the downward arrow next to the plus (+) tab or press Ctrl + ,. From the menu, select “Settings.” This will open the settings in your default JSON editor or a visual editor, depending on your version.
2. Locate the Profiles Section: In the settings file, find the “profiles” section. This contains all your terminal profiles like PowerShell, Command Prompt, or any custom profiles you’ve created.
3. Identify the Profile to Customize: Choose the profile you want to change the tab color for. Each profile has a unique “guid” and name. You can identify it by its name, such as “PowerShell” or “Ubuntu.”
4. Add or Modify the “tabColor” Property: In the profile’s JSON object, add or edit the “tabColor” property. This property accepts a color value in hexadecimal format, RGB, or named colors. For example:

   {
     "name": "PowerShell",
     "guid": "xxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx",
     "tabColor": "#FF5733"
   }

   You can choose any color you prefer, such as “#00FF00” for green or “blue” for blue.

5. Save Your Changes: After editing the configuration, save the file. If you are using the JSON editor, it typically auto-saves, or you can press Ctrl + S. If you’re using the visual editor, click the save button.
6. Refresh Windows Terminal: Close and reopen Windows Terminal or click the refresh button in the settings to apply your changes. The tab color for the selected profile should now display your chosen color.
7. Repeat for Other Profiles: To customize additional tabs, repeat steps 3-6 for each profile you wish to modify.

Common Mistakes

• Forgetting to include or correctly format the “tabColor” property within the profile JSON object.
• Using invalid color codes, such as incorrect hexadecimal strings or unsupported color names.
• Not saving the configuration file after making changes, leading to no updates in the terminal.
• Editing the wrong profile or misidentifying profiles when customizing multiple sessions.
• Forgetting to restart or refresh Windows Terminal after editing the configuration, which prevents changes from taking effect.

Tips

• Use color pickers online to find the perfect hex code for your desired color.
• Maintain a consistent color scheme for better visual organization, e.g., assign specific colors to different projects or environments.
• Backup your settings file before making major changes, especially if editing JSON manually.
• If you prefer a more visual approach, consider using the Windows Terminal Settings UI (available in newer versions) to modify colors without editing JSON directly.
• Combine tab colors with custom background or foreground colors for a fully personalized look.

Troubleshooting

If your tab colors do not update as expected, try the following steps:

• Verify the color code: Ensure the “tabColor” value is a valid hexadecimal color code (e.g., “#RRGGBB”), RGB, or named color. Invalid codes will be ignored.
• Check JSON syntax: Use a JSON validator to confirm your configuration file has no syntax errors. Even small mistakes like missing commas or brackets can prevent changes from applying.
• Restart Windows Terminal: Fully close all instances of Windows Terminal and reopen it to ensure settings reload correctly.
• Update Windows Terminal: Make sure you are using the latest version, as older versions may have bugs or limited customization options.
• Use the correct profile: Confirm you are editing the right profile by matching the “guid” or “name” in your configuration.
• Reset to default: If issues persist, revert to default settings and try reapplying your customizations step-by-step.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Can I set different tab colors for different profiles?

Yes, you can assign unique “tabColor” values to each profile, allowing each terminal session to have its own distinct color.

2. What color formats are supported for “tabColor”?

You can use hexadecimal (e.g., “#FF0000”), RGB (e.g., “rgb(255,0,0)”), or named colors like “blue” or “green”.

3. Is it possible to set tab colors dynamically based on the session status?

Currently, Windows Terminal does not support dynamic or conditional coloring based on session status; colors are static and configured manually.

4. How do I revert tab colors to default?

Remove or delete the “tabColor” property from your profile’s JSON configuration and save the file. Restart Windows Terminal to see the default colors restored.

5. Can I change tab colors for all profiles at once?

No, you need to specify the “tabColor” for each profile individually. However, you can copy the same color code across multiple profiles for consistency.

6. Are tab colors supported in all versions of Windows Terminal?

Tab coloring is supported in Windows Terminal versions 1.6 and later. Ensure your application is up to date for full customization features.

By following this comprehensive guide, you can easily personalize your Windows Terminal with vibrant and functional tab colors, making your command-line environment more intuitive and visually appealing. Experiment with different color schemes to find what works best for your workflow, and enjoy a more customized terminal experience.

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