How to Manage Windows Terminal Panes in Windows 11 If you spend a lot of time working in Windows Terminal, you already know how quickly things can get cluttered. Fortunately, Windows Terminal includes split pane management, a feature that lets you run and view multiple command shells side by side within a single window. In this video, we’ll walk through eight practical methods for managing Terminal panes. Before we begin, be sure to subscribe to NinjaOne’s IT video hub for more tech content like this. 7 Ways to Manage Windows 11 Terminal Panes Method 1: Keyboard Shortcuts Let’s start with the fastest way: using keyboard shortcuts. Open Windows Terminal using Win + X, then select Terminal. Once it’s open, press: Alt + Shift + Plus (+) to split panes horizontally Alt + Shift + Minus (-) to split panes vertically Each split launches a new pane running your default profile. Method 2: Command Palette If you prefer using commands over memorizing shortcuts, the Command Palette is your friend. Simply choose the direction that best fits your layout. With Terminal open, press Ctrl + Shift + P. Type “split” to display all split options: Duplicate pane, split: right Split pane, split: down Split pane, split: left Split pane, split: up Options labeled “Duplicate” replicate your current shell, while “Split” starts a fresh session in a new pane. Method 3: The Dropdown Menu The dropdown menu method is great if you work across different profiles or shells. Click the down arrow next to the “+” button on the tab bar. Hold Alt and click the profile you want to open. Windows Terminal will automatically split the screen and open that shell in a new pane. Method 4: The New Tab Button Here’s the easiest method for quick splits and on-the-fly multitasking. Hold Alt, then click the new tab (+) button. This instantly opens a new pane split from your active session. Method 5: The Tab Context Menu If you prefer using your mouse, try the tab context menu. Right-click the tab you want to split. Click Split Tab. This duplicates the current pane in the same tab, which is useful for running parallel tasks in the same shell environment. Method 6: Closing Panes Once your workspace gets too busy, you can close individual panes without shutting down the entire tab or Terminal window. Click inside the pane you want to close. Press Ctrl + Shift + W. To avoid closing the wrong one, look for the blinking caret (|). It marks the active pane. Method 7: Navigating Between Panes When working with several panes, navigating between them efficiently is key. To move between panes, use the Alt + Arrow Keys shortcut. To resize panes, use the Alt + Shift + Arrow Keys shortcut. This allows precise control over layout, making it perfect for side-by-side monitoring of build logs, pings, or scripts. Windows Terminal’s pane management gives IT professionals a powerful way to organize multiple sessions, monitor tools in parallel, and customize workflows, all without opening multiple windows. For more information, including a bonus method for managing panes using JSON configuration files edited in tools like Visual Studio Code or Notepad++, check out our official blog post on how to manage Windows Terminal panes in Windows 11, linked in the description below.