How to Restore Console Default Personalization Settings in Windows

   Information

Avid users of the Command Prompt would know how easy it is to get carried away with the personalization settings the Command Prompt has to offer, and quickly lose track of which settings were altered. Accordingly, many users may choose not to alter these settings as to avoid supplanting the defaults. When need comes, resetting these modifications to their defaults isn�t so intuitive.

This tutorial shows you how you can restore the settings for your favourite command host, on Windows 7, Windows 8.1, or Windows 10.

   Note

Windows will store a command host - personalization settings in a number of places depending on how the host was invoked. The three possible locations for where Windows will store a host�s configurations are: in the registry key �HKCU\Console�, in a subway of Console, or in a shortcut file.

Conditions that determine where a Command Prompt - personalization settings are to be stored:

1. If changes are made to the Default�s pane, personalization configurations are written to the registry key "HKCU\Console".
2. If the Command Prompt window is associated with a shortcut file (.lnk) and the Properties pane is used to set personalization configurations, configurations are written to the shortcut file itself.
3. If the Command Prompt window was started as a new process and the Properties pane is used to set personalization configurations, personalization configurations are written to a subkey of "HKCU\Console".

CONTENTS:

• Option One: Replace your custom Console Shortcut
• Option Two: Restore Console Default Personalization Configurations in the Registry
• Option Three: Restore Windows Default Console Shortcuts

OPTION ONE

Replace your custom Console Shortcut

   Note

To remove personal configurations from a Command Prompt shortcut you should create a new shortcut of C:\Windows\System32\cmd.exe.

For a more in depth walkthrough of this method, follow Option Two of the tutorial Elevated Command Prompt Shortcut where each of the step here corresponds with a step there.

1. Right click in a folder or on your desktop to open the context menu and select New > Shortcut.

2. Type either cmd or powershell depending on your preference then hit enter.

3. Enter any name you would like to use for your shortcut, then select Finish.

OPTION TWO

Restore Console Default Personalization Configurations in the Registry

   Note

This option will restore all command hosts� personalization configurations. This includes PowerShell consoles.

Personalization configurations sourced from shortcuts will not be affected. Use Option One for this.

1. Click on one of the Download buttons below to download the required .reg file appropriate for your machine.

Console_Defaults_win7-win8.reg


Download



Console_Defaults_win10.reg


Download

2. Double click on the downloaded .reg file to merge it with the registry.

3. When prompted, click on Run, Yes, Yes, then OK.

4. You may delete the downloaded .reg file when done.

OPTION THREE

Restore Windows Default Console Shortcuts

   Note

If you have accidentally deleted or have changed the personalization settings for the default Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell shortcuts on your machine, use this option to restore them.

1. Download the file appropriate for your Windows platform.

A. Default Console Shortcuts for Windows 7

ConsoleShortcuts-win7.zip


Download

B. Default Console Shortcuts for Windows 8.1

ConsoleShortcuts-win8.1.zip


Download

C. Default Console Shortcuts for Windows 10

ConsoleShortcuts-win10.zip


Download

2. Execute the contained batch file, or place the default shortcuts back manually.

That's all. Got a question, query, suggestion, or recommendation? Let me know in the section below right away.

Enjoy,
Pyprohly

Related Tutorials

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• How to Personalize the Command Prompt Window