Migrate to Warp from Windows Terminal
# Migrate to Warp from Windows Terminal Warp on Windows covers everything you use Windows Terminal for today — profiles, PowerShell, color schemes, keybindings — with Agent Mode and blocks on top. This page walks through the migration. ## What transfers automatically Warp doesn't ship a Windows Terminal importer, but it can do most of the work for you agentically. Windows Terminal stores its settings in a single JSON file at: ```powershell %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\settings.json ``` ## Use Warp's agent to migrate your settings (recommended) The fastest way to bring over your Windows Terminal setup is to ask Warp's agent to translate `settings.json` directly. Warp ships a [`settings.toml` file](/terminal/settings/) and a bundled `modify-settings` skill that lets the agent read your existing config and write equivalent values into Warp's settings, including translating your color schemes into a Warp [custom theme](/terminal/appearance/custom-themes/). 1. In Warp, open a new tab and switch to [Agent Mode](/agent-platform/local-agents/overview/) with `Ctrl+I`. 2. Paste a prompt like: > Read my Windows Terminal `settings.json` at `%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\settings.json` and port the active profile and color scheme into my Warp `settings.toml` using the `modify-settings` skill. Create a matching custom theme. Show me a diff before applying. 3. Review the proposed diff and approve. Warp hot-reloads `settings.toml`. If you'd rather configure each setting manually through the Settings UI, the steps below cover the most common cases. ## What to reconfigure manually ### Default shell Warp on Windows supports PowerShell (`pwsh` and `powershell.exe`), Command Prompt (`cmd`), bash, zsh, and fish. Warp auto-detects your login shell; to override, go to **Settings** > **Features** > **Session** and pick a shell from **Startup shell for new sessions**. If you use PowerShell modules or a custom `$PROFILE`, Warp loads them the same way Windows Terminal does. ### Profiles Windows Terminal uses profiles to group shell, theme, starting directory, and font together. Warp doesn't have a single profile concept; instead, match each dimension separately: * **Shell** - **Settings** > **Features** > **Session**. * **Starting directory** - **Settings** > **Features** > **Session** > Working directory. * **Font family, size** - **Settings** > **Appearance** > **Text, fonts, & cursor**. * **Color scheme** - **Settings** > **Appearance** > **Themes**. Translate your Windows Terminal color scheme into a [custom Warp theme](/terminal/appearance/custom-themes/) using the same 16 ANSI color values. * **Reusable layouts** - create a [tab config](/terminal/windows/tab-configs/) for each workflow that used to be a profile. ### Color scheme Windows Terminal's `schemes` array defines foreground, background, cursor, and ANSI colors. To match an existing scheme: 1. Copy the color values from the scheme you use in your `settings.json`. 2. Open **Settings** > **Appearance** > **Themes** in Warp and either pick a preset that matches or [create a custom theme](/terminal/appearance/custom-themes/). ### Keybindings Warp's [default keyboard shortcuts](/getting-started/keyboard-shortcuts/) cover most Windows Terminal bindings. For custom bindings from `settings.json`'s `actions` array, add them in **Settings** > **Keyboard shortcuts**. ### Prompt If you use `oh-my-posh` or a custom PowerShell prompt, it continues to work in Warp. To choose between Warp's native prompt and your existing shell prompt, go to **Settings** > **Appearance** > **Prompt**. See [prompt](/terminal/appearance/prompt/). ## Warp-native equivalents Features Windows Terminal users commonly look for in Warp: | From Windows Terminal | In Warp | | --- | --- | | Profiles | [Tab configs](/terminal/windows/tab-configs/) + [themes](/terminal/appearance/themes/) + per-session shell settings | | Tabs and panes | [Tabs](/terminal/windows/tabs/), [vertical tabs](/terminal/windows/vertical-tabs/), [split panes](/terminal/windows/split-panes/) | | Command palette | [Command Palette](/terminal/command-palette/) (`Ctrl+Shift+P`) | | Oh My Posh prompts | Keep using them; pick [Shell prompt (PS1)](/terminal/appearance/prompt/#custom-prompt) in Warp | | Quake mode | [Global hotkey](/terminal/windows/global-hotkey/) | Beyond Windows Terminal's feature set, Warp adds [Agent Mode](/agent-platform/local-agents/overview/), [blocks](/terminal/blocks/), and [Warp Drive](/knowledge-and-collaboration/warp-drive/). See [Warp for Windows installation](/getting-started/quickstart/installation-and-setup/) if you haven't installed yet.Switching from Windows Terminal and PowerShell to Warp on Windows? Here's how to reconfigure profiles, shells, fonts, and keybindings, and where to find Warp's equivalents for Windows Terminal features.
Warp on Windows covers everything you use Windows Terminal for today — profiles, PowerShell, color schemes, keybindings — with Agent Mode and blocks on top. This page walks through the migration.
What transfers automatically
Section titled “What transfers automatically”Warp doesn’t ship a Windows Terminal importer, but it can do most of the work for you agentically. Windows Terminal stores its settings in a single JSON file at:
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\settings.jsonUse Warp’s agent to migrate your settings (recommended)
Section titled “Use Warp’s agent to migrate your settings (recommended)”The fastest way to bring over your Windows Terminal setup is to ask Warp’s agent to translate settings.json directly. Warp ships a settings.toml file and a bundled modify-settings skill that lets the agent read your existing config and write equivalent values into Warp’s settings, including translating your color schemes into a Warp custom theme.
-
In Warp, open a new tab and switch to Agent Mode with
Ctrl+I. -
Paste a prompt like:
Read my Windows Terminal
settings.jsonat%LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalState\settings.jsonand port the active profile and color scheme into my Warpsettings.tomlusing themodify-settingsskill. Create a matching custom theme. Show me a diff before applying. -
Review the proposed diff and approve. Warp hot-reloads
settings.toml.
If you’d rather configure each setting manually through the Settings UI, the steps below cover the most common cases.
What to reconfigure manually
Section titled “What to reconfigure manually”Default shell
Section titled “Default shell”Warp on Windows supports PowerShell (pwsh and powershell.exe), Command Prompt (cmd), bash, zsh, and fish. Warp auto-detects your login shell; to override, go to Settings > Features > Session and pick a shell from Startup shell for new sessions.
If you use PowerShell modules or a custom $PROFILE, Warp loads them the same way Windows Terminal does.
Profiles
Section titled “Profiles”Windows Terminal uses profiles to group shell, theme, starting directory, and font together. Warp doesn’t have a single profile concept; instead, match each dimension separately:
- Shell - Settings > Features > Session.
- Starting directory - Settings > Features > Session > Working directory.
- Font family, size - Settings > Appearance > Text, fonts, & cursor.
- Color scheme - Settings > Appearance > Themes. Translate your Windows Terminal color scheme into a custom Warp theme using the same 16 ANSI color values.
- Reusable layouts - create a tab config for each workflow that used to be a profile.
Color scheme
Section titled “Color scheme”Windows Terminal’s schemes array defines foreground, background, cursor, and ANSI colors. To match an existing scheme:
- Copy the color values from the scheme you use in your
settings.json. - Open Settings > Appearance > Themes in Warp and either pick a preset that matches or create a custom theme.
Keybindings
Section titled “Keybindings”Warp’s default keyboard shortcuts cover most Windows Terminal bindings. For custom bindings from settings.json’s actions array, add them in Settings > Keyboard shortcuts.
Prompt
Section titled “Prompt”If you use oh-my-posh or a custom PowerShell prompt, it continues to work in Warp. To choose between Warp’s native prompt and your existing shell prompt, go to Settings > Appearance > Prompt. See prompt.
Warp-native equivalents
Section titled “Warp-native equivalents”Features Windows Terminal users commonly look for in Warp:
| From Windows Terminal | In Warp |
|---|---|
| Profiles | Tab configs + themes + per-session shell settings |
| Tabs and panes | Tabs, vertical tabs, split panes |
| Command palette | Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P) |
| Oh My Posh prompts | Keep using them; pick Shell prompt (PS1) in Warp |
| Quake mode | Global hotkey |
Beyond Windows Terminal’s feature set, Warp adds Agent Mode, blocks, and Warp Drive. See Warp for Windows installation if you haven’t installed yet.