How to Reset Windows Terminal to Default Settings in Windows 11

Resetting Windows Terminal to its default settings can help resolve customization issues, fix bugs, or restore the app’s original configuration for a smoother experience. Whether you’ve changed themes, profiles, or other settings and want to start fresh, this guide provides clear, step-by-step instructions to accomplish a full reset. Before proceeding, ensure you have saved any important custom configurations or profiles if you plan to reuse them later, as resetting will erase all personalized settings. No additional tools or software are needed—just your Windows 11 device and some basic familiarity with File Explorer and Settings.

What You’ll Need

• A Windows 11 PC with Windows Terminal installed
• Administrator access (recommended for some steps)
• Basic knowledge of navigating File Explorer and Windows Settings

Step-by-Step

1. Close Windows Terminal if it is currently open. This ensures that the reset process can modify its configuration files without conflict.
2. Open File Explorer by clicking the folder icon on the taskbar or pressing Windows key + E.
3. Navigate to the Windows Terminal settings folder. You can do this by entering the following path in the address bar:

    %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState

4. Locate the file named settings.json. This file stores all your custom configurations for Windows Terminal.
5. Delete settings.json. You can right-click it and select Delete, or select it and press the Delete key. Confirm the deletion if prompted.
6. Optional: To fully reset Windows Terminal, you can also clear the application data. Open the Run dialog by pressing Windows key + R, then enter:

    %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe

   and delete the entire folder if you want to remove all user data and profiles.

7. Reopen Windows Terminal. It will generate a new default settings.json file with the original default configuration.
8. If your terminal does not automatically display the default profile, you can manually reset the profiles by editing the new settings.json or by resetting Windows Terminal via the Windows Settings app:
9. Open Windows Settings (Windows key + I), go to Apps, then find Windows Terminal, select it, and click Advanced options.
10. Click on Reset to restore Windows Terminal to its default state. Note that this will reset app data and preferences.

Common Mistakes

• Deleting the wrong files or folders—always ensure you delete only the settings.json or the specific configuration folders.
• Forgetting to close Windows Terminal before modifying configuration files, which can cause files to be locked or changes not to save properly.
• Not backing up custom profiles or settings if you want to restore them later. Consider copying your settings.json before deleting it.
• Trying to reset using unsupported methods or third-party tools that may corrupt app data.

Tips

• Always back up your current settings.json before deleting it, in case you want to restore your custom configurations later.
• Use Windows Terminal’s built-in import/export features if available, for easier backup and restore.
• Keep your Windows Terminal updated to ensure compatibility with the latest features and bug fixes.
• If resetting doesn’t resolve issues, consider reinstalling Windows Terminal from the Microsoft Store.

Troubleshooting

If resetting Windows Terminal doesn’t work as expected, or if you encounter errors, try these steps:

• Ensure you have closed Windows Terminal completely before deleting configuration files.
• Run Windows Terminal as an administrator to ensure you have the necessary permissions.
• Clear the app cache by deleting the Windows Terminal folder in %LOCALAPPDATA%\
  

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  How to Reset Windows Terminal to Default Settings in Windows 11