Open the Command Palette and search for "default profile"

The fastest way to change your default terminal in VS Code is through the Command Palette. Press Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows or Linux, or Cmd+Shift+P on Mac. Type "Terminal: Select Default Profile" into the search box and press Enter.

A dropdown menu will appear showing all the terminal shells installed on your computer. Common options include PowerShell, Command Prompt (cmd), Git Bash, or Zsh, depending on what you have installed. Click the one you want to use as your default, and VS Code will remember that choice for all future terminal windows you open in that workspace.

Key Takeaways

  • Use Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P on Windows/Linux, Cmd+Shift+P on Mac) and search for "Terminal: Select Default Profile" to see all available shells.
  • The default terminal you choose applies to new terminal windows opened in VS Code, but does not change your system's default shell.
  • If your preferred shell does not appear in the dropdown, you may need to install it on your computer first.
  • You can also change the default terminal by editing the settings.json file directly if you know the exact shell path on your system.

Locate the setting in VS Code's settings menu

If you prefer using the graphical settings interface instead of the Command Palette, open VS Code and go to File > Preferences > Settings (or press Ctrl+, on Windows/Linux, Cmd+, on Mac). This opens the Settings tab.

In the search box at the top, type "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile" to jump directly to the setting. You will see a dropdown menu showing the available shells on your system. Select the one you want to use as your default. The change takes effect when ready for any new terminal windows you open.

Edit settings.json directly for more control

For users who want to specify an exact shell path or configure additional terminal settings, you can edit the settings.json file directly. Open the Command Palette and search for "Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)". This opens your user settings file in the editor.

Look for the line that starts with "terminal.integrated.defaultProfile" or add it if it does not exist. The value should match the shell name exactly as it appears in your system. For example, on Windows you might use "powershell", "cmd", or "git-bash". On Mac or Linux, you might use "zsh" or "bash". Save the file and your default terminal will change the next time you open a new terminal window.

Install a shell if your preferred terminal is not available

If the terminal you want to use does not appear in the dropdown menu, it is not installed on your computer yet. You will need to install it before VS Code can use it as a default. For example, if you want to use Git Bash but it is not listed, you need to install Git for Windows first.

After you install a new shell, close and reopen VS Code completely. The new shell should then appear in the default profile dropdown. If it still does not show up, you can manually add it to settings.json by specifying the full path to the shell executable on your system.

Understand the difference between VS Code default and system default

Changing the default terminal in VS Code only affects the terminal that opens when you use VS Code's built-in terminal feature. It does not change your operating system's default shell, and it does not affect terminals you open outside of VS Code.

This means you can have PowerShell as your system default on Windows but use Bash as your default in VS Code, or vice versa. Each setting is independent. If you want to change your system-wide default shell, that requires a different process depending on your operating system.

Troubleshoot if your chosen shell does not open

If you select a default terminal but it does not open when you create a new terminal window, the shell path may be incorrect or the shell may not be installed. Open the Command Palette and search for "Terminal: Select Default Profile" again to see the list of shells VS Code actually detects.

If your preferred shell is missing from the list, install it on your system first. If it is listed but still will not open, check the settings.json file to make sure the shell name is spelled correctly and matches the exact name VS Code uses. You can also try restarting VS Code entirely, as sometimes the terminal list does not refresh until you do.

Switch between different terminals without changing the default

You do not have to change your default terminal if you only want to use a different shell occasionally. You can open a new terminal window with a specific shell by using the Command Palette. Search for "Terminal: Create New Terminal (With Profile)" and select the shell you want to use for that single window.

This is useful if you need to run a command in a specific shell but want to keep your default terminal as something else. The temporary terminal window closes when you are done, and your default terminal remains unchanged for the next time you open a new window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the default terminal in VS Code affect my system settings?

No. Changing the default terminal in VS Code only affects the terminal that opens within VS Code itself. Your operating system's default shell and any terminals you open outside VS Code remain unchanged.

What if I do not see my shell in the default profile dropdown?

The shell is not installed on your computer. You need to install it first — for example, install Git for Windows to use Git Bash, or install Zsh on Mac. After installation, close and reopen VS Code, and the shell should appear in the dropdown.

Can I use a different default terminal for different projects?

Yes. You can set a default terminal at the workspace level instead of the user level. Open settings in the current workspace (File > Preferences > Settings, then click the Workspace tab) and change the terminal.integrated.defaultProfile setting. That choice applies only to that project.

How do I know the exact name of my shell for settings.json?

Open the Command Palette and search for "Terminal: Select Default Profile" to see the exact names VS Code recognizes. Use the name from that dropdown when editing settings.json. Common names are "powershell", "cmd", "bash", "zsh", and "git-bash".

What happens if I delete the default profile setting?

VS Code will use its built-in default, which is usually PowerShell on Windows, Zsh on newer Mac systems, and Bash on Linux. You can always set it again using the Command Palette or the settings menu.