How to Change the Default Startup Profile in Windows Terminal

Windows Terminal is the default modern command-line experience in Windows 11, unifying PowerShell, the classic Command Prompt, Azure Cloud Shell, and the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL) into a sleek, tabbed desktop interface. However, whenever you launch Windows Terminal from the Start Menu, Taskbar, or Win+X Quick Link menu, it automatically defaults to opening a standard Windows PowerShell tab.

While PowerShell is powerful for Windows-specific administration, many developers, cloud engineers, and system administrators primarily use Command Prompt (CMD) for legacy utilities or Ubuntu/WSL for Linux-based web development. Constantly clicking the small dropdown arrow to open your preferred shell after launch introduces unnecessary friction. Fortunately, Windows Terminal allows you to reconfigure your default startup profile, starting directory, and administrator launch privileges in seconds. Here is how to customize your default startup profile.

Changing the Default Profile Through Terminal Settings

The graphical Settings interface within Windows Terminal provides the quickest way to switch your primary startup environment:

1. Launch Windows Terminal on your Windows 11 PC.
2. Click the downward-pointing chevron arrow (v) in the tab bar, then select Settings (or press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + ,).
3. In the Settings navigation sidebar on the left, make sure Startup is selected.
4. On the Startup page, locate the setting labelled Default profile.
5. Click the dropdown menu and select your preferred command-line environment:
   • Windows PowerShell: Default object-oriented shell for Windows automation.
   • Command Prompt: Fast, lightweight classic command-line interpreter.
   • Ubuntu / WSL: Linux distributions installed via Windows Subsystem for Linux.
   • Azure Cloud Shell: Direct browser-based cloud terminal access.
6. Click the Save button in the bottom-right corner to commit your changes.

The next time you open Windows Terminal, it will automatically launch into your newly chosen profile without requiring manual tab selection.

Setting a Custom Starting Directory for Your Profile

By default, Windows Terminal opens in your user profile directory (for example, C:\Users\YourUsername). If you store all your development projects or scripts in a specific folder (such as D:\Projects or C:\Code), you can set your profile to open there automatically:

1. Open Settings (Ctrl + ,) in Windows Terminal.
2. In the left-hand sidebar, scroll down to the Profiles section and click on your target profile (e.g., Command Prompt or Ubuntu).
3. Under the General tab, locate the Starting directory field.
4. Untick Use parent process directory if enabled.
5. Click Browse, select your desired folder, and click Save.

Configuring a Profile to Always Launch as Administrator

If you regularly execute system configuration scripts, driver adjustments, or network diagnostics, opening an elevated shell repeatedly can be cumbersome. Windows Terminal allows you to configure individual profiles to run elevated by default:

1. In the Windows Terminal Settings sidebar, select your preferred profile under Profiles.
2. On the General tab, scroll down to locate the toggle labelled Run this profile as Administrator.
3. Switch the toggle to On.
4. Click Save.

Whenever you open this profile in a new tab or launch Terminal with this profile set as default, Windows will prompt for standard User Account Control (UAC) elevation and open an elevated terminal instance immediately.

Advanced Customisation via settings.json

For users who prefer editing configuration files directly, all Windows Terminal preferences are stored in a standard JSON format:

1. In Windows Terminal Settings, click Open JSON file in the lower-left corner of the sidebar (or press Ctrl + Shift + ,).
2. At the top of the file, find the \"defaultProfile\" key.
3. Its value is a unique GUID (Globally Unique Identifier) matching one of the profile blocks listed under the \"profiles\": { \"list\": [...] } array.
4. Copy the GUID string of your preferred profile and paste it into the \"defaultProfile\" field, then save the file.

Customizing your default startup profile ensures Windows Terminal matches your daily workflow, eliminating repetitive tab switching every time you open the console.