How to Manage Windows Terminal Panes in Windows 11

Windows Terminal is designed to host and manage different command shells, such as PowerShell and Command Prompt. You can expect screen clutter when using these programs due to long code lines and the very nature of the apps. Thankfully, Windows Terminal allows split panes to better manage what’s on your screen.

This guide will walk you through the different methods of terminal pane management to reduce clutter and create a better workspace layout. Read on to learn how to manage multiple shell sessions simultaneously, monitor different tools side-by-side, and customize the user experience.

Different methods to manage Windows terminal panes

Managing Windows Terminal panes includes opening, closing, navigating, and customizing them. Pane management lets you monitor different tools side by side and helps reduce screen clutter.

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Method 1: Opening panes using keyboard shortcuts

To open Windows Terminal panes using the keyboard, follow the steps below:

1. Open Windows Terminal by pressing Win + X.
2. Click on Terminal.
3. Once it’s open, you can split it horizontally (side-by-side) by pressing Alt + Shift + Plus (+) or vertically (top and bottom) by pressing (Alt) + (Shift) + (-).

Each split opens a new pane running the default profile.

⚠️ Note that the + and – keys on the number pad will not work.⚠️

Method 2: Opening panes with Command Palette

This method opens panes using the built-in Command Palette. It’s useful for those who don’t want to memorize multiple shortcuts.

1. Open Windows Terminal by pressing Win + X.
2. Click on Terminal.
3. Press Ctrl + Shift + P to open the Command Palette.
4. Type split in the Command Palette to view different options:
   • Duplicate pane, split: down
   • Duplicate pane, split: right
   • Split pane, split: down
   • Split pane, split: left
   • Split pane, split: right
   • Split pane, split: up

The first two options (duplicate pane, split) duplicate your current pane, while the rest create a new pane running the default profile. The direction (right, left, down, up) after the pane classification indicates where you want the new one created.

Method 3: Opening panes from the dropdown menu

To open a pane using the dropdown menu, follow the steps below:

1. Open Windows Terminal by pressing Win + X.
2. Click on Terminal.
3. To open the menu, click the down arrow button (next to the + symbol) on the top bar.
4. Press and hold the Alt key and click on the profile you want to open (e.g., Windows PowerShell, Command Prompt, Ubuntu, or Azure Cloud Shell)

Applying this method automatically splits the current window into the selected profile’s new pane. The dropdown menu also lets you open different line shells.

Method 4: Opening panes using the new tab button

This method is the easiest way to open panes since you won’t need to memorize commands.

1. Open Windows Terminal by pressing Win + X.
2. Click on Terminal.
3. Press and hold the Alt key and tap the new tab (+) button on the top bar.

Opening panes using the new tab button should auto-split the current window into a new pane.

Method 5: Opening panes with the tab context menu

Lastly, you can open a new pane using the tab context menu. To do so, follow the steps below:

1. Open Windows Terminal by pressing Win + X.
2. Click on Terminal.
3. Right-click the tab you want to split.
4. Press the Split Tab option.

This method duplicates the focused pane in the current tab.

Method 6: Closing panes

To close an active pane without closing the entire tab or Terminal window, follow the steps below:

1. Click inside the pane you want to close.
2. Press Ctrl + Shift + W.

One way to tell what pane is active is to look for the blinking caret symbol (|). This way, you don’t accidentally close important panes.

Method 7: Navigating and resizing panes

This method lets you navigate (if multiple ones are open) and resize (if enabled) the panes using your mouse. To do so, check out the shortcuts below:

Navigating the panes:

Alt + Arrow Key (← ↑ ↓ →)

Resizing the panes:

Alt + Shift + Arrow Key (← ↑ ↓ →)

Method 8: Customizing pane behavior with settings

Lastly, you can customize Windows Terminal bindings using settings.jason (JSON file). You can do so by following the guide below:

1. Open Windows Terminal by pressing Win + X.
2. Click on Terminal.
3. Press the down arrow button (next to the + symbol) on the top bar.
4. Click Settings.
5. Press Open JSON file at the bottom left and open the .json file with Visual Studio Code or Notepad++ (if available).
6. Under actions, define or modify shortcuts like:

{ "command": { "action": "splitPane", "split": "horizontal" }, "keys": "alt+shift+plus" },

{ "command": { "action": "splitPane", "split": "vertical" }, "keys": "alt+shift+minus" },

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

⚠️ Things to look out for

Additional information regarding Windows Terminal pane management

Please note the following information whenever you manage panes. The information below will help ensure you manage panes properly.

Profile override: Panes always open with the default profile unless you override it using a command or shortcut customization.

Session isolation: You can close, open, or resize one pane without affecting the others because each pane operates independently.

JSON validation: Always check your JSON configuration to avoid syntax errors that could prevent you from using Windows Terminal. For better syntax highlighting and validation, use Visual Studio Code or Notepad++. If possible, avoid editing the JSON file with Notepad.

Minimize screen clutter by managing your Windows Terminal panes

Due to the nature of Windows Terminal, it’s easy to accumulate on-screen clutter. The numerous windows and lines of code can quickly fill the screen and confuse users. As such, every user should know how to properly manage panes, whether opening, closing, navigating, resizing, or customizing them.

The easiest way to open a new pane is to press and hold the Alt key and click the new tab button on the top bar. Meanwhile, you can close panes by clicking inside them and pressing Ctrl + Shift + W. Lastly, you can navigate through panes by pressing Alt + an Arrow Key (← ↑ ↓ →).

Related topics

• How to Add and Remove Profiles in the Windows Terminal App in Windows 10
• How to Reset Windows Terminal Settings to Default in Windows 10
• How to Add or Remove “Open in Windows Terminal” Expandable Context Menu in Windows 10