title	description	author	ms.author	ms.date	ms.topic	ms.localizationpriority
Windows Terminal Actions	Learn how to create custom actions for Windows Terminal.	cinnamon-msft	cinnamon	05/25/2021	how-to	high

Custom actions in Windows Terminal

Important

As of Windows Terminal version 1.4, the keybindings array has been renamed to actions inside the settings.json file. Support for the keybindings array still exists for backward compatibility, however the terminal will not automatically rename keybindings to actions inside your settings.json file.

You can create custom actions inside Windows Terminal that give you control of how you interact with the terminal. These actions will automatically be added to the command palette.

Action formats

Actions can be structured in the following formats:

Commands without arguments

{ "command": "commandName", "keys": "modifiers+key" }

For example, this default setting uses the shortcut key alt+f4 to close the terminal window:

{ "command": "closeWindow", "keys": "alt+f4" }

Commands with arguments

{ "command": { "action": "commandName", "argument": "value" }, "keys": "modifiers+key" }

For example, this default setting uses the shortcut key ctrl+shift+1 to open a new tab in the terminal based on whichever profile is listed first in your dropdown menu (typically this will open the PowerShell profile):

{ "command": { "action": "newTab", "index": 0 }, "keys": "ctrl+shift+1" }

Action properties

Actions can be constructed using the following properties.

Command

This is the command executed when the associated keys are pressed.

Property name: command

Necessity: Required

Accepts: String

Keys

This defines the key combinations used to call the command. Keys can have any number of modifiers with one key. Accepted modifiers and keys are listed below.

If the action does not have keys, it will appear in the command palette but cannot be invoked with the keyboard.

Property name: keys

Necessity: Optional

Accepts: String or array[string]

Action

This adds additional functionality to certain commands.

Property name: action

Necessity: Optional

Accepts: String

Name

This sets the name that will appear in the command palette. If one isn't provided, the terminal will attempt to automatically generate a name.

Property name: name

Necessity: Optional

Accepts: String

Icon

This sets the icon that displays within the command palette.

Property name: icon

Necessity: Optional

Accepts: File location as a string, or an emoji

Accepted modifiers and keys

Modifiers

ctrl+, shift+, alt+, win+

Note

While the Windows key is supported as a modifier, the system reserves most win+<key> key bindings. If the OS has reserved that key binding, the terminal will never receive that binding.

Modifier keys

Type	Keys
Function and alphanumeric keys	`f1-f24`, `a-z`, `0-9`
Symbols	`, `plus`, `-`, `=`, `[`, `]`, `\`, `;`, `'`, `,`, `.`, `/`
Arrow keys	`down`, `left`, `right`, `up`, `pagedown`, `pageup`, `pgdn`, `pgup`, `end`, `home`
Action keys	`tab`, `enter`, `esc`, `escape`, `space`, `backspace`, `delete`, `insert`, `app`, `menu`
Numpad keys	`numpad_0-numpad_9`, `numpad0-numpad9`, `numpad_add`, `numpad_plus`, `numpad_decimal`, `numpad_period`, `numpad_divide`, `numpad_minus`, `numpad_subtract`, `numpad_multiply`

Note: = and plus are equivalents. The latter must not be confused with numpad_plus.

Application-level commands

Close window

:::row::: :::column span=""::: This closes the current window and all tabs within it. If confirmCloseAllTabs is set to true, a confirmation dialog will appear to ensure you'd like to close all your tabs. More information on this setting can be found on the Appearance page.

Command name: closeWindow

Default binding:

{ "command": "closeWindow", "keys": "alt+f4" }

:::column-end::: :::column span="":::

:::column-end::: :::row-end:::

Find

This opens the search dialog box. More information on search can be found on the Search page.

Command name: find

Default binding:

{ "command": "find", "keys": "ctrl+shift+f" }

Find next/previous search match

This lets you navigate through your search matches.

Command name: findMatch

Default bindings:

{ "command": { "action": "findMatch", "direction": "next" } },
{ "command": { "action": "findMatch", "direction": "prev" } }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`direction`	Required	`"next"`, `"prev"`	The direction to navigate through search results.

Open the dropdown

This opens the dropdown menu.

Command name: openNewTabDropdown

Default binding:

{ "command": "openNewTabDropdown", "keys": "ctrl+shift+space" }

Open settings files

This opens either the settings UI, custom settings file (settings.json), or default settings file (defaults.json), depending on the target field. Without the target field, the custom settings file will be opened.

Command name: openSettings

Default bindings:

{ "command": { "action": "openSettings", "target": "settingsUI" }, "keys": "ctrl+," },
{ "command": { "action": "openSettings", "target": "settingsFile" }, "keys": "ctrl+shift+," },
{ "command": { "action": "openSettings", "target": "defaultsFile" }, "keys": "ctrl+alt+," },

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`target`	Optional	`"settingsFile"`, `"defaultsFile"`, `"settingsUI"`, `"allFiles"`	The settings file to open.

Toggle full screen

This allows you to switch between full screen and default window sizes.

Command name: toggleFullscreen

Default bindings:

{ "command": "toggleFullscreen", "keys": "alt+enter" },
{ "command": "toggleFullscreen", "keys": "f11" }

Toggle focus mode

This allows you to enter "focus mode", which hides the tabs and title bar.

Command name: toggleFocusMode

Default binding:

{ "command": "toggleFocusMode" }

Toggle always on top mode

This allows you toggle the "always on top" state of the window. When in "always on top" mode, the window will appear on top of all other non-topmost windows.

Command name: toggleAlwaysOnTop

Default binding:

{ "command": "toggleAlwaysOnTop" }

Send input

Send arbitrary text input to the shell. As an example the input "text\n" will write "text" followed by a newline to the shell.

ANSI escape sequences may be used, but escape codes like \x1b must be written as \u001b. For instance "\u001b[A" will behave as if the up arrow button had been pressed.

Command name: sendInput

Default binding:

This command is not currently bound in the default settings.

{ "command": { "action": "sendInput", "input": "\u001b[A" }, "keys": "" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`input`	Required	String	The text input to feed into the shell.

Tab management commands

Close tab

This closes the tab at a given index. If no index is provided, use the focused tab's index.

Command name: closeTab

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`index`	Optional	Integer	Position of the tab to close.

Close all other tabs

This closes all tabs except for the one at an index. If no index is provided, use the focused tab's index.

Command name: closeOtherTabs

Default binding:

{ "command": "closeOtherTabs" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`index`	Optional	Integer	Position of the tab to be kept open.

Close tabs after index

This closes the tabs following the tab at an index. If no index is provided, use the focused tab's index.

Command name: closeTabsAfter

Default binding:

{ "command": "closeTabsAfter" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`index`	Optional	Integer	Position of the last tab to be kept open.

Duplicate tab

This makes a copy of the current tab and opens it.

Command name: duplicateTab

Default binding:

{ "command": "duplicateTab", "keys": "ctrl+shift+d" }

New tab

This creates a new tab. Without any arguments, this will open the default profile in a new tab. If an action is not specified, the default profile's equivalent setting will be used.

Command name: newTab

Default bindings:

{ "command": "newTab", "keys": "ctrl+shift+t" },
{ "command": { "action": "newTab", "index": 0 }, "keys": "ctrl+shift+1" },
{ "command": { "action": "newTab", "index": 1 }, "keys": "ctrl+shift+2" },
{ "command": { "action": "newTab", "index": 2 }, "keys": "ctrl+shift+3" },
{ "command": { "action": "newTab", "index": 3 }, "keys": "ctrl+shift+4" },
{ "command": { "action": "newTab", "index": 4 }, "keys": "ctrl+shift+5" },
{ "command": { "action": "newTab", "index": 5 }, "keys": "ctrl+shift+6" },
{ "command": { "action": "newTab", "index": 6 }, "keys": "ctrl+shift+7" },
{ "command": { "action": "newTab", "index": 7 }, "keys": "ctrl+shift+8" },
{ "command": { "action": "newTab", "index": 8 }, "keys": "ctrl+shift+9" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`commandline`	Optional	Executable file name as a string	Executable run within the tab.
`startingDirectory`	Optional	Folder location as a string	Directory in which the tab will open.
`tabTitle`	Optional	String	Title of the new tab.
`index`	Optional	Integer	Profile that will open based on its position in the dropdown (starting at 0).
`profile`	Optional	Profile's name or GUID as a string	Profile that will open based on its GUID or name.
`colorScheme`	Optional	The name of a color scheme as a string	The scheme to use instead of the profile's set `colorScheme`
`suppressApplicationTitle`	Optional	`true`, `false`	When set to `false`, applications can change the tab title by sending title change messages. When set to `true`, these messages are suppressed. If not provided, the behavior is inherited from the profile's settings.

Open next tab

This opens the tab to the right of the current one.

Command name: nextTab

Default binding:

{ "command": "nextTab", "keys": "ctrl+tab" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`tabSwitcherMode`	Optional	`"mru"`, `"inOrder"`, `"disabled"`	Move to the next tab using `"tabSwitcherMode"`. If no mode is provided, use the globally defined one.

Open previous tab

This opens the tab to the left of the current one.

Command name: prevTab

Default binding:

{ "command": "prevTab", "keys": "ctrl+shift+tab" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`tabSwitcherMode`	Optional	`"mru"`, `"inOrder"`, `"disabled"`	Move to the previous tab using `"tabSwitcherMode"`. If no mode is provided, use the globally defined one.

Tab search

:::row::: :::column span=""::: This opens the tab search box.

Command name: tabSearch

Default binding:

This command is not currently bound in the default settings.

{"command": "tabSearch", "keys": ""}

:::column-end::: :::column span="":::

:::column-end::: :::row-end:::

Open a specific tab

This opens a specific tab depending on the index.

Command name: switchToTab

Default bindings:

{ "command": { "action": "switchToTab", "index": 0 }, "keys": "ctrl+alt+1" },
{ "command": { "action": "switchToTab", "index": 1 }, "keys": "ctrl+alt+2" },
{ "command": { "action": "switchToTab", "index": 2 }, "keys": "ctrl+alt+3" },
{ "command": { "action": "switchToTab", "index": 3 }, "keys": "ctrl+alt+4" },
{ "command": { "action": "switchToTab", "index": 4 }, "keys": "ctrl+alt+5" },
{ "command": { "action": "switchToTab", "index": 5 }, "keys": "ctrl+alt+6" },
{ "command": { "action": "switchToTab", "index": 6 }, "keys": "ctrl+alt+7" },
{ "command": { "action": "switchToTab", "index": 7 }, "keys": "ctrl+alt+8" },
{ "command": { "action": "switchToTab", "index": 8 }, "keys": "ctrl+alt+9" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`index`	Required	Integer	Tab that will open based on its position in the tab bar (starting at 0).

Rename tab

This command can be used to rename a tab to a specific string.

Command name: renameTab

Default binding:

This command is not currently bound in the default settings.

// Rename a tab to "Foo"
{ "command": { "action": "renameTab", "title": "Foo" }, "keys": "" }

// Reset the tab's name
{ "command": { "action": "renameTab", "title": null }, "keys": "" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`title`	Optional	String	The new title to use for this tab. If omitted, this command will revert the tab title back to its original value.

Open tab rename text box

This command changes the tab title into a text field that lets you edit the title for the current tab. Clearing the text field will reset the tab title back to the default for the current shell instance.

Command name: openTabRenamer

Default binding:

{ "command": "openTabRenamer" }

Change tab color

This command can be used to change the color of a tab to a specific value.

Command name: setTabColor

Default binding:

This command is not currently bound in the default settings.

// Change the tab's color to a bright magenta
{ "command": { "action": "setTabColor", "color": "#ff00ff" }, "keys": "" }

// Reset the tab's color
{ "command": { "action": "setTabColor", "color": null }, "keys": "" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`color`	Optional	String, in hex format: `"#rgb"` or `"#rrggbb"`	The new color to use for this tab. If omitted, this command will revert the tab's color back to its original value.

Open tab color picker

This command can be used to open the color picker for the active tab. The color picker can be used to set a color for the tab at runtime.

Command name: openTabColorPicker

Default binding:

{ "command": "openTabColorPicker" }

Move tab

This command moves the tab "backward" and "forward", which is equivalent to "left" and "right" in left-to-right UI.

Command name: moveTab

Default binding:

// Move tab backward (left in LTR)
{ "command": { "action": "moveTab", "direction": "backward" } }

// Move tab forward (right in LTR)
{ "command": { "action": "moveTab", "direction": "forward" } }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`direction`	Required	`"backward"`, `"forward"`	Direction in which the tab will move.

Window management commands

New window

This creates a new window. Without any arguments, this will open the default profile in a new window (regardless of the setting of windowingBehavior). If an action is not specified, the default profile's equivalent setting will be used.

Command name: newWindow

Default bindings:

{ "command": "newWindow", "keys": "ctrl+shift+n" },

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`commandline`	Optional	Executable file name as a string	Executable run within the tab.
`startingDirectory`	Optional	Folder location as a string	Directory in which the window will open.
`tabTitle`	Optional	String	Title of the window tab.
`index`	Optional	Integer	Profile that will open based on its position in the dropdown (starting at 0).
`profile`	Optional	Profile's name or GUID as a string	Profile that will open based on its GUID or name.
`suppressApplicationTitle`	Optional	`true`, `false`	When set to `false` allows applications to change tab title by sending title change messages. When set to true `true` suppresses these messages. If not provided, the behavior is inheritted from profile settings.

Rename window

This command can be used to rename a window to a specific string.

Command name: renameWindow

Default binding:

This command is not currently bound in the default settings.

// Rename a window to "Foo"
{ "command": { "action": "renameWindow", "name": "Foo" }, "keys": "" }

// Reset the window's name
{ "command": { "action": "renameWindow", "name": null }, "keys": "" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`name`	Optional	String	The new name to use for this window. If omitted, this command will revert the window name back to its original value.

Open window rename dialog

This command changes displays a popup window that lets you edit the name for the current window. Clearing the text field will reset the window name.

Command name: openWindowRenamer

Default binding:

{ "command": "openWindowRenamer" }

Identify window

This pops up an overlay on the focused window that displays the window's name and index.

Command name: identifyWindow

Default binding:

{"command": "identifyWindow", "keys": "" },

Identify windows

This pops up an overlay on all windows that displays each window's name and index.

Command name: identifyWindows

Default binding:

This command is not currently bound in the default settings.

{"command": "identifyWindows" },

Open window rename dialog (Preview)

This command changes displays a popup window that lets you edit the name for the current window. Clearing the text field will reset the window name.

Command name: openWindowRenamer

Default binding:

{ "command": "openWindowRenamer" }

Important

This feature is only available in Windows Terminal Preview.

Identify window (Preview)

This pops up an overlay on the focused window that displays the window's name and index.

Command name: identifyWindow

Default binding:

{"command": "identifyWindow", "keys": "" },

Important

This feature is only available in Windows Terminal Preview.

Identify windows (Preview)

This pops up an overlay on all windows that displays each window's name and index.

Command name: identifyWindows

Default binding:

This command is not currently bound in the default settings.

{"command": "identifyWindows" },

Important

This feature is only available in Windows Terminal Preview.

Pane management commands

Close pane

This closes the active pane. If there aren't any split panes, this will close the current tab. If there is only one tab open, this will close the window.

Command name: closePane

Default binding:

{ "command": "closePane", "keys": "ctrl+shift+w" }

Move pane focus

This changes focus to a different pane depending on the direction. Setting the direction to "previous" will move focus to the most recently used pane.

Command name: moveFocus

Default bindings:

{ "command": { "action": "moveFocus", "direction": "down" }, "keys": "alt+down" },
{ "command": { "action": "moveFocus", "direction": "left" }, "keys": "alt+left" },
{ "command": { "action": "moveFocus", "direction": "right" }, "keys": "alt+right" },
{ "command": { "action": "moveFocus", "direction": "up" }, "keys": "alt+up" },
{ "command": { "action": "moveFocus", "direction": "previous" }, "keys": "ctrl+alt+left" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`direction`	Required	`"left"`, `"right"`, `"up"`, `"down"`, `"previous"`	Direction in which the focus will move.

Zoom a pane

:::row::: :::column span=""::: This expands the focused pane to fill the entire contents of the window.

Command name: togglePaneZoom

Default binding:

{ "command": "togglePaneZoom" }

:::column-end::: :::column span="":::

:::column-end::: :::row-end:::

Resize a pane

This changes the size of the active pane.

Command name: resizePane

Default bindings:

{ "command": { "action": "resizePane", "direction": "down" }, "keys": "alt+shift+down" },
{ "command": { "action": "resizePane", "direction": "left" }, "keys": "alt+shift+left" },
{ "command": { "action": "resizePane", "direction": "right" }, "keys": "alt+shift+right" },
{ "command": { "action": "resizePane", "direction": "up" }, "keys": "alt+shift+up" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`direction`	Required	`"left"`, `"right"`, `"up"`, `"down"`	Direction in which the pane will be resized.

Mark a pane as read-only

You can mark a pane as read-only, which will prevent input from going into the text buffer. If you attempt to close or input text into a read-only pane, the terminal will display a popup warning instead.

Command name: toggleReadOnlyMode

Default bindings:

{ "command": "toggleReadOnlyMode" }

Split a pane

This halves the size of the active pane and opens another. Without any arguments, this will open the default profile in the new pane. If an action is not specified, the default profile's equivalent setting will be used.

Command name: splitPane

Default bindings:

// In settings.json
{ "command": { "action": "splitPane", "split": "auto", "splitMode": "duplicate" }, "keys": "alt+shift+d" },

// In defaults.json
{ "command": { "action": "splitPane", "split": "horizontal" }, "keys": "alt+shift+-" },
{ "command": { "action": "splitPane", "split": "vertical" }, "keys": "alt+shift+plus" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`split`	Required	`"vertical"`, `"horizontal"`, `"auto"`	How the pane will split. `"auto"` will split in the direction that provides the most surface area.
`commandline`	Optional	Executable file name as a string	Executable run within the pane.
`startingDirectory`	Optional	Folder location as a string	Directory in which the pane will open.
`tabTitle`	Optional	String	Title of the tab when the new pane is focused.
`index`	Optional	Integer	Profile that will open based on its position in the dropdown (starting at 0).
`profile`	Optional	Profile's name or GUID as a string	Profile that will open based on its GUID or name.
`colorScheme`	Optional	The name of a color scheme as a string	The scheme to use instead of the profile's set `colorScheme`
`suppressApplicationTitle`	Optional	`true`, `false`	When set to `false`, applications can change the tab title by sending title change messages. When set to `true`, these messages are suppressed. If not provided, the behavior is inherited from the profile's settings.
`splitMode`	Optional	`"duplicate"`	Controls how the pane splits. Only accepts `"duplicate"`, which will duplicate the focused pane's profile into a new pane.
`size`	Optional	Float	Specify how large the new pane should be, as a fraction of the current pane's size. `1.0` would be "all of the current pane", and `0.0` is "None of the parent". Defaults to `0.5`.

Important

The "colorScheme" and "suppressApplicationTitle" parameters are only available in Windows Terminal Preview.

Clipboard integration commands

Copy

This copies the selected terminal content to your clipboard.

Command name: copy

Default bindings:

// In settings.json
{ "command": { "action": "copy", "singleLine": false }, "keys": "ctrl+c" },

// In defaults.json
{ "command": { "action": "copy", "singleLine": false }, "keys": "ctrl+shift+c" },
{ "command": { "action": "copy", "singleLine": false }, "keys": "ctrl+insert" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`singleLine`	Optional	`true`, `false`	When `true`, the copied content will be copied as a single line. When `false`, newlines persist from the selected text.
`copyFormatting`	Optional	`true`, `false`, `"all"`, `"none"`, `"html"`, `"rtf"`	When `true`, the color and font formatting of the selected text is also copied to your clipboard. When `false`, only plain text is copied to your clipboard. You can also specify which formats you would like to copy. When `null`, the global `"copyFormatting"` behavior is inherited.

Paste

This inserts the content that was copied onto the clipboard.

Command name: paste

Default bindings:

// In settings.json
{ "command": "paste", "keys": "ctrl+v" },

// In defaults.json
{ "command": "paste", "keys": "ctrl+shift+v" },
{ "command": "paste", "keys": "shift+insert" }

Scrollback commands

Scroll up

This scrolls the screen up by the number of rows defined by "rowsToScroll". If "rowsToScroll" is not provided, it will scroll up the amount defined by the system default, which is the same amount as mouse scrolling.

Command name: scrollUp

Default binding:

{ "command": "scrollUp", "keys": "ctrl+shift+up" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`rowsToScroll`	Optional	Integer	The number of rows to scroll.

Scroll down

This scrolls the screen down by the number of rows defined by "rowsToScroll". If "rowsToScroll" is not provided, it will scroll down the amount defined by the system default, which is the same amount as mouse scrolling.

Command name: scrollDown

Default binding:

{ "command": "scrollDown", "keys": "ctrl+shift+down" }

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`rowsToScroll`	Optional	Integer	The number of rows to scroll.

Scroll up a whole page

This scrolls the screen up by a whole page, which is the height of the window.

Command name: scrollUpPage

Default binding:

{ "command": "scrollUpPage", "keys": "ctrl+shift+pgup" }

Scroll down a whole page

This scrolls the screen down by a whole page, which is the height of the window.

Command name: scrollDownPage

Default binding:

{ "command": "scrollDownPage", "keys": "ctrl+shift+pgdn" }

Scroll to the earliest history

This scrolls the screen up to the top of the input buffer.

Command name: scrollToTop

Default binding:

{ "command": "scrollToTop", "keys": "ctrl+shift+home" }

Scroll to the latest history

This scrolls the screen down to the bottom of the input buffer.

Command name: scrollToBottom

Default binding:

{ "command": "scrollToBottom", "keys": "ctrl+shift+end" }

Visual adjustment commands

Adjust font size

This changes the text size by a specified point amount.

Command name: adjustFontSize

Default bindings:

{ "command": { "action": "adjustFontSize", "delta": 1 }, "keys": "ctrl+=" },
{ "command": { "action": "adjustFontSize", "delta": -1 }, "keys": "ctrl+-" },
{ "command": { "action": "adjustFontSize", "delta": 1 }, "keys": "ctrl+numpad_plus" },
{ "command": { "action": "adjustFontSize", "delta": -1 }, "keys": "ctrl+numpad_minus" },

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`delta`	Required	Integer	Amount of size change per command invocation.

Reset font size

This resets the text size to the default value.

Command name: resetFontSize

Default binding:

{ "command": "resetFontSize", "keys": "ctrl+0" }

Toggle pixel shader effects

This toggles any pixel shader effects enabled in the terminal. If the user specified a valid shader with experimental.pixelShaderPath, this action will toggle that shader on/off. This will also toggle the "retro terminal effect", which is enabled with the profile setting experimental.retroTerminalEffect.

Command name: toggleShaderEffects

Default binding:

{ "command": "toggleShaderEffects" }

Caution

The toggleRetroEffect action is no longer available in versions 1.6 and later. It is recommended that you use toggleShaderEffects instead.

Set the color scheme

Changes the active color scheme.

Command name: setColorScheme

Actions

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`colorScheme`	Required	String	The `name` of the color scheme to apply.

Example binding:

{ "command": { "action": "setColorScheme", "colorScheme": "Campbell" }, "keys": "" }

Global commands

Global summon (Preview)

This is a special action that works globally in the OS, rather than only in the context of the terminal window. When pressed, this action will summon the terminal window. Which window is summoned, where the window is summoned to, and how the window behaves when summoning it, is controlled by the properties on this action.

Notes

Any keys bound to globalSummon actions in the terminal will not work in other applications while the terminal is running - they will always focus the terminal window.
If another running application already registered for the given keys using the RegisterHotKey API, the terminal will be unable to listen for those key strokes.
Elevated and unelevated instances of the terminal will not be able to both register for the same keys. The same applies to both Preview and Stable versions of the terminal - the first one to be launched will always win.
These key strokes will only work when an instance of the terminal is already running. To launch the terminal automatically on login, see startOnUserLogin.

Command name: globalSummon

Default binding:

This command is not currently bound in the default settings.

{ "keys": "", "command": { "action": "globalSummon" } }

Arguments

Name	Necessity	Accepts	Description
`desktop`	Optional	`any`, `toCurrent`, `onCurrent`	This controls how the terminal should interact with virtual desktops. `"any"`: Leave the window on whichever desktop it's already on - will switch to that desktop as the window is activated. `"toCurrent"` (default): Move the window to the current virtual desktop. `"onCurrent"`: Only summon the window if it's already on the current virtual desktop.
`monitor`	Optional	`any`, `toCurrent`, `toMouse`	This controls the monitor that the window will be summoned from/to. `"any"`: Summon the most recently used window, regardless of which monitor it's currently on. `"toCurrent"`: Summon the most recently used window to the monitor with the current foreground window. `"toMouse"` (default): Summon the most recently used window to the monitor where the mouse cursor is.
`name`	Optional	String	When omitted (default), use `monitor` and `desktop` to find the appropriate most-recently-used window to summon. When provided, summon the window whose name or ID matches the given `name` value. If no such window exists, then create a new window with that name.
`dropdownDuration`	Optional	Integer	Defaults to `0`. When provided with a positive number, "slide" the window in from the top of the screen using an animation that lasts `dropdownDuration` milliseconds. `200` is a reasonable value for this setting.
`toggleVisibility`	Optional	`true`, `false`	Defaults to `true`. When `true`, pressing the assigned keys for this action will dismiss (minimize) the window when the window is currently the foreground window. When `false`, pressing the assigned keys will only ever bring the window to the foreground.

When name is provided with monitor or desktop, name behaves in the following ways:

desktop
- "any": Go to the desktop the given window is already on.
- "toCurrent": If the window is on another virtual desktop, then move it to the currently active one.
- "onCurrent": If the window is on another virtual desktop, then move it to the currently active one.
monitor
- "any": Leave the window on the monitor it is already on.
- "toCurrent": If the window is on another monitor, then move it to the monitor with the current foreground window.
- "toMouse": If the window is on another monitor, then move it to the monitor with the mouse cursor on it.

The desktop and monitor properties can be combined in the following ways:

	`"desktop"`
`"monitor"`	`"any"` Leave where it is	`"toCurrent"` Move to current desktop	`"onCurrent"` On current desktop only
`"any"` Summon the MRU window	Go to the desktop the window is on (leave position alone)	Move the window to this desktop (leave position alone)	If there isn't one on this desktop: Create a new one in the default position Else: Activate the one on this desktop (don't move it)
`"toCurrent"` Summon the MRU window TO the monitor with the foreground window	Go to the desktop the window is on, move to the monitor with the foreground window	Move the window to this desktop, move to the monitor with the foreground window	If there isn't one on this desktop: Create a new one Else: Activate the one on this desktop, move to the monitor with the foreground window
`"toMouse"` Summon the MRU window TO the monitor with the mouse	Go to the desktop the window is on, move to the monitor with the mouse	Move the window to this desktop, move to the monitor with the mouse	If there isn't one on this desktop: Create a new one Else: Activate the one on this desktop, move to the monitor with the mouse

Examples

// Summon the most recently used (MRU) window, to the current virtual desktop,
// to the monitor the mouse cursor is on, without an animation. If the window is
// already in the foreground, then minimize it.
{ "keys": "ctrl+1", "command": { "action": "globalSummon" } },

// Summon the MRU window, by going to the virtual desktop the window is
// currently on. Move the window to the monitor the mouse is on.
{ "keys": "ctrl+2", "command": { "action": "globalSummon", "desktop": "any" } },

// Summon the MRU window to the current desktop, leaving the position of the window untouched.
{ "keys": "ctrl+3", "command": { "action": "globalSummon", "monitor": "any" } },

// Summon the MRU window, by going to the virtual desktop the window is
// currently on, leaving the position of the window untouched.
{ "keys": "ctrl+4", "command": { "action": "globalSummon", "desktop": "any", "monitor": "any" } },

// Summon the MRU window with a dropdown duration of 200ms.
{ "keys": "ctrl+5", "command": { "action": "globalSummon", "dropdownDuration": 200 } },

// Summon the MRU window. If the window is already in the foreground, do nothing.
{ "keys": "ctrl+6", "command": { "action": "globalSummon", "toggleVisibility": false } },

// Summon the window named "_quake". If no window with that name exists, then create a new window.
{ "keys": "ctrl+7", "command": { "action": "globalSummon", "name": "_quake" } }

Important

This feature is only available in Windows Terminal Preview.

Open the quake mode window (Preview)

:::row::: :::column span=""::: This action is a special variation of the globalSummon action. It specifically summons the quake window. It is a shorthand for the following globalSummon action:

{ "keys": "win+`", "command": { "action": "globalSummon", "name": "_quake", "dropdownDuration": 200, "toggleVisibility": true, "monitor": "toCursor", "desktop": "toCurrent" } }

If you'd like to change the behavior of the quakeMode action, we recommended creating a new globalSummon entry in actions with the settings you prefer.

Command name: quakeMode

Default binding:

{ "keys": "win+`", "command": { "action": "quakeMode" } }

:::column-end::: :::column span="":::

:::column-end::: :::row-end:::

Important

This feature is only available in Windows Terminal Preview.

Unbind keys

This unbinds the associated keys from any command.

Command name: unbound

Files

actions.md

Latest commit

History

actions.md

File metadata and controls

Custom actions in Windows Terminal

Action formats

Commands without arguments

Commands with arguments

Action properties

Command

Keys

Action

Name

Icon

Accepted modifiers and keys

Modifiers

Modifier keys

Application-level commands

Close window

Find

Find next/previous search match

Actions

Open the dropdown

Open settings files

Actions

Toggle full screen

Toggle focus mode

Toggle always on top mode

Send input

Actions

Tab management commands

Close tab

Actions

Close all other tabs

Actions

Close tabs after index

Actions

Duplicate tab

New tab

Actions

Open next tab

Actions

Open previous tab

Actions

Tab search

Open a specific tab

Actions

Rename tab

Actions

Open tab rename text box

Change tab color

Actions

Open tab color picker

Move tab

Actions

Window management commands

New window

Actions

Rename window

Actions

Open window rename dialog

Identify window

Identify windows

Open window rename dialog (Preview)

Identify window (Preview)

Identify windows (Preview)

Pane management commands

Close pane

Move pane focus

Actions

Zoom a pane

Resize a pane

Actions

Mark a pane as read-only

Split a pane

Actions

Clipboard integration commands

Copy