Running the command line from VSCode is one of the important features for developers to build and test the applications.

Visual Studio Code provides Windows Powershell for the command line when the terminal is started.

Sometimes, We want to change the default Windows Powershell terminal.

How to change the default terminal profile in Visual Studio Code

Open the Command Palette with

  • Select Views Menu + Command palette or use the following shortcut commands

    • Windows: hotkeys: Ctrl + Shift + P
    • Mac: shortcuts: ⌘ + Shift +P

  • It opens the command palette and types Terminal: Select in the search box and selects the Terminal: Select Default Profile option.

  • It opens a window as shown below

VSCode list all terminal profiles

Selecting the Terminal: Select Default Profile profile, shows one more window as given below.

VSCode change default terminal

  • It shows a list of all terminals and changes it to the new terminal.
  • Changed to Command Prompt.
  • Here onwards, opening a new terminal uses Command Prompt instead of Powershell

Another way using the terminal window.

  • Go to Terminal Menu > New Terminal
  • It Opens a new terminal at the bottom of the window

Visual Studio Code change default terminal

  • Selecting the Select Default Profile profile, shows one more window as given below.

VSCode change default terminal profile

  • It shows a list of all terminals and changes it to the new terminal.
  • Changed to Command Prompt.
  • Here onwards, opening a new terminal uses Command Prompt instead of Powershell

There are other options to change using the Settings.xml file.