How to open Python files in the new Windows Terminal?

Question

I'm trying out the Windows Terminal app and I want to start using it instead of CMD. The problem is, I cannot set the File Explorer to open Python files with it by default. I tried using the Open button leading to the file path, but I get the following error

wt
The file cannot be accessed by the system.

Try adding to the Registry an equivalent of the following: `reg query "HKCR\Python.File\Shell\Open in Windows Terminal\command"` should return something like `wt.exe new-tab --title "cmd" cmd.exe /k "C:\WINDOWS\py.exe" "%L" %*` for its _default_ value. Maybe `HKCU\SOFTWARE\Classes\Python.File\Shell\Open in Windows Terminal\command` could suffice if you are not a local administrator… — JosefZ, Aug 13 '21 at 22:02

score 0 · Answer 1 · answered Oct 18 '21 at 01:00

With Windows 10, there is no way to change the default terminal from Windows Console Host to Windows Terminal.

However, with Windows 11, it is now possible to change the default terminal application. This currently needs a Windows Terminal Preview version.

You can activate this from either in Windows 11 Settings (Choose the default terminal app to host the user interface for command-line applications) or in Windows Terminal Preview (Settings->Startup->Default Terminal Application)

score 0 · Accepted Answer · answered Apr 19 '22 at 10:43

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You can have this behaviour on double click by changing

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Python.File\Shell\open\command

default value from:

"C:\Windows\py.exe" "%L" %*

to

"C:\Users\USER\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\wt.exe" "python" "%L" %*

(you have to replace "USER" with the username on your windows machine)

answered Apr 19 '22 at 10:43

mcgregger

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This works perfectly. Thanks. Just so everyone knows, I opened the Registry Editor (Win+R and enter "regedit"), changed the location to `"Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Python.File\Shell\open\command"`, and changed the default value to the value above. It worked as a charm. – Charles Moxey Jr Apr 20 '22 at 15:32

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 21 '23 at 07:01

0

You can specify default terminal application in Windows Terminal settings (Startup/Default terminal application):

Set your default terminal application | Microsoft Learn

answered Jun 21 '23 at 07:01

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score 0 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 24 '23 at 15:03

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From regedit-> HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Python.File\Shell\open\command
Change: "C:\Windows\py.exe" "%L" %*
to: "Your_Anaconda_Path\python.exe" "%1"
or: "Your_Python_Path\python.exe" "%1"

answered Jun 24 '23 at 15:03

MasterOne Piece

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How to open Python files in the new Windows Terminal?

4 Answers4