Windows Terminal
windowsterminal.exe is safe. Windows Terminal is Microsoft's official terminal app that hosts multiple shells (PowerShell, cmd, WSL) in a tabbed interface.
windowsterminal.exe is the executable for Windows Terminal, Microsoft's modern, tabbed terminal app. It hosts multiple shells (PowerShell, Command Prompt, and WSL) within a single window using tabs and panes, supports themes and keyboard shortcuts, and manages UI and shell sessions under one process.
Windows Terminal uses the ConPTY subsystem to spawn and connect to hosted shells. Each tab runs its own shell instance, enabling isolation and parallel I/O, while the main UI process handles rendering and input routing via DirectX for smooth performance.
Quick Fact: Windows Terminal replaced legacy console host by providing a modern, tabbed interface with multiple shells in a single app.
Yes, windowsterminal.exe is safe when it's the legitimate file from Microsoft downloaded via official channels (Microsoft Store or Windows Update).
The real windowsterminal.exe is NOT a virus. However, malware can masquerade with similar names. Use path verification and digital signatures.
C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\wt.exe or C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_8wekyb3d8bbwe\WindowsTerminal.exe. Any wt.exe elsewhere is suspicious.Red Flags: If windowsterminal.exe is located in unusual folders (Temp, AppData\Roaming, or System32), runs when Windows starts without your action, has no valid digital signature, or uses excessive resources constantly, scan your system with antivirus software. Be wary of similarly-named files like "wtx.exe" or "wt32.exe".
windowsterminal.exe runs when you launch Windows Terminal or when a shell profile or startup task is configured to run a shell automatically within the terminal.
Reasons it's running:
Yes, you can disable Windows Terminal. It's safe to close it when not in use, and you can uninstall it or disable startup behavior if you prefer another terminal.
If windowsterminal.exe is consuming excessive resources:
Quick Fixes:
1. Open Windows Terminal Task Manager to identify heavy shells and close them
2. Update Windows Terminal to the latest version
3. Reset settings: rename %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages\Microsoft.WindowsTerminal_*/LocalState\settings.json
4. Close unnecessary tabs and panes to reduce UI load
5. Run a malware scan if unusual activity persists
No, the legitimate windowsterminal.exe from Microsoft is not a virus. Verify it is located in C:\Users\%USERNAME%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\wt.exe or in the WindowsApps folder and signed by Microsoft.
High CPU is usually caused by heavy shells, large scripts, or many open tabs. Use Windows Terminal Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+W) to identify the culprit and close or optimize it.
You can uninstall Windows Terminal via Settings → Apps or by using PowerShell. Note that you may lose quick access to your shells; consider using another terminal before removal.
Yes. Disable startup in Task Manager, or uninstall Windows Terminal if you do not use it. You can also simply avoid launching it and use alternative terminals.
If configured, Windows Terminal can start at login as part of a startup task or script. Disable the startup entry in Task Manager → Startup to prevent automatic launching.
Close unused tabs, simplify startup scripts, update to the latest version, and consider disabling hardware acceleration if issues persist. Resetting settings can also help in some cases.