Windows 11 comes with the modern Windows Terminal, which lets you use multiple shells like Command Prompt, PowerShell, Azure Cloud Shell, WSL distros, and even custom terminals—all through separate profiles.
Over time, you may end up with unused, duplicate, or broken profiles (for example, after uninstalling WSL distros or custom tools). In such cases, deleting a terminal profile helps keep Windows Terminal clean and organized.
In this detailed guide, we’ll show you all the correct ways to delete a Terminal profile in Windows 11—both using the graphical interface and by editing the settings file manually.
What Is a Terminal Profile in Windows Terminal?
A Terminal profile defines how a shell launches inside Windows Terminal. Each profile includes settings such as:
- Command line (PowerShell, CMD, WSL, etc.)
- Starting directory
- Icon
- Color scheme
- Font and appearance
Deleting a profile only removes it from Windows Terminal—it does not uninstall PowerShell, WSL, or any underlying app.
How to Delete a Terminal Profile Using Windows Terminal Settings (Recommended)
This is the safest and easiest method.
1. Open Windows Terminal Settings
- Right-click the Start button and select Terminal.
- In Windows Terminal, click the down arrow (˅) in the title bar.
- Select Settings from the menu.
This opens the graphical Settings UI for Windows Terminal.
2. Go to the Profiles Section
- In the left sidebar of Settings, click Profiles.
- You’ll see a list of all available Terminal profiles, including default and custom ones.
3. Select the Profile You Want to Delete
- Click the profile you want to remove (for example, an old WSL distro or custom shell).
- The profile’s settings page will open on the right.
4. Delete the Terminal Profile
- Scroll down to the bottom of the profile settings page.
- Click the Delete profile button.
- Confirm the deletion when prompted.
The profile will be removed immediately from Windows Terminal.
How to Delete a Terminal Profile by Editing settings.json (Advanced)
If the profile does not appear in the UI or refuses to delete, you can remove it manually.
1. Open the JSON Settings File
- Open Windows Terminal.
- Click the down arrow (˅) and select Settings.
- In the bottom-left corner, click Open JSON file.
This opens settings.json in your default text editor.
2. Locate the Profiles Section
- In
settings.json, find the"profiles"section. - Look for
"list"inside it—this contains all profile entries.
Each profile block will have a unique "guid" and "name".
3. Delete the Profile Entry
- Identify the profile you want to remove by its
"name". - Carefully delete the entire profile block, including its opening and closing braces.
- Make sure commas are placed correctly to avoid JSON errors.
4. Save and Restart Windows Terminal
- Save the
settings.jsonfile. - Close Windows Terminal completely.
- Reopen Windows Terminal.
The deleted profile should no longer appear.
Why You Might Not Be Able to Delete a Profile
Some profiles behave differently:
- Default profiles (like Windows PowerShell or Command Prompt) cannot be removed if they’re auto-generated
- WSL profiles may reappear if the distro is still installed
- Azure Cloud Shell profiles may regenerate automatically
To permanently remove such profiles, you must uninstall the related feature or app.
Remove WSL Profiles Permanently (If Applicable)
If the profile belongs to a WSL distribution:
- Open Terminal or Command Prompt.
- Run:
wsl --list - To remove a distro:
wsl --unregister DistroName - Restart Windows Terminal.
The corresponding profile will disappear automatically.
Wrapping Up
Deleting a Terminal profile in Windows 11 is straightforward when done through the Windows Terminal Settings UI, and manual removal through settings.json gives you full control when needed. Whether you’re cleaning up old WSL entries, removing custom shells, or fixing broken profiles, these methods let you keep Windows Terminal tidy and efficient.
If a profile keeps coming back, remember—it’s usually tied to an installed feature, not the Terminal itself.
