Windows Terminal Portable is a powerful and customizable command-line tool for Windows 11. With portable mode, you can carry your Terminal configurations, themes, and customizations on a USB drive, network share, or cloud storage—ready to use on any Windows 11 machine without needing a full installation. This is perfect for system admins, developers, and power users who frequently switch between computers.
Benefits of Windows Terminal Portable Mode
- Consistent Experience: Maintain the same Terminal setup across multiple devices.
- No Installation Required: Run directly from your USB drive or cloud storage on any compatible system.
- Enhanced Productivity: Access your optimized Terminal environment anywhere.
- Ideal for Shared Computers: Use your personalized Terminal on systems where you can’t install software.
Step-by-Step Guide to Enabling Windows Terminal Portable Mode
1. Get the Windows Terminal Files:
- Visit the Windows Terminal GitHub page: https://github.com/microsoft/terminal/releases
- Under the latest release’s Assets section, download the .zip package (e.g., Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_1.19.10302.0_x64.zip).
2. Extract the Files:
- Open the downloaded .zip file in File Explorer.
- Click Extract All.
- Ensure Show extracted files when complete is checked, then click Extract.
3. Prepare the Portable Folder:
- In the extracted files, locate the terminal folder.
- Copy this entire folder to your USB drive, cloud storage, or another storage location for your Portable Terminal setup.
4. Activate Portable Mode:
- Within the copied terminal folder, create a new text file.
- Rename the file
.portable(ensure file extensions are visible in File Explorer for correct renaming).
5. Launch and Configure:
- Double-click WindowsTerminal.exe within your portable terminal folder.
- If successful, you’ll see Windows Terminal is running in portable mode.
- Customize your settings (Ctrl + ,) and be sure to click Save.
How to Use and Update Your Windows Terminal Portable
- Running: Create a shortcut to WindowsTerminal.exe or launch it directly from your portable folder.
- Saving Settings: Changes are automatically saved within the settings folder in your portable location.
- Updates: Replace the files in the old terminal folder with the files from a newer Windows Terminal release, but keep the existing settings folder to preserve your custom configuration.
Important Notes
- Limitations: Automatic updates, the default terminal setting, and some context menu features won’t function in portable mode.
- File extensions: Ensure you can view file extensions for creating the “.portable” file correctly.
Conclusion
Portable mode makes Windows Terminal an even more versatile tool for anyone who needs a powerful command-line interface on the go. Setting it up is easy, and the convenience is unmatched. If you have feedback or suggestions on improving this guide, please leave a comment below!
