How to change the cmd.exe font?

Possible Duplicate:
How to change the Windows console font?

Firstly: I have tried the options dialog for it (the one that Windows shows) and I don't want that.
The default windows option dialog for it only allows two fonts: "Raster"(Fixedsys) and Lucida Console. However, I want to use Consolas (which is a really chic font). I've tried messing with the registry options for the current user "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console" but it doesn't seem to work. Help appreciated.

aviraldg

Posted 2009-10-14T15:04:54.497

Reputation: 2 059

2Wow. It is ridiculous you have to hack the registry to use a different font. – wfaulk – 2009-10-14T15:18:03.783

3wfaulk: Most Windows users will probably consider it ridiculous to have to hack ~/.foorc to use a different font, too. – user1686 – 2009-10-14T17:03:52.260

3@wfaulk: Most Windows users won't even be able to figure out why the file "doesn't have a name" – aviraldg – 2009-10-14T17:34:08.267

Duplicate, with an important warning in a referenced blog, at "How to change the Windows console font?" at http://superuser.com/questions/5035/how-to-change-the-windows-console-font/5079#5079

– Arjan – 2009-10-18T11:54:11.870

Answers

I think you're changing the wrong key. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Console\TrueTypeFont\

Right click in the blank white space in the right pane and select New -> String Value.

Edit the value to these settings:

Name: 00
Data: Consolas

Open command prompt and you should be able to switch to Consolas font in the properties. A reboot is essential for it to appear properly. I'd also recommend to turn on cleartype to make it look smoother. Consolas looks best with cleartype on.

John T

Posted 2009-10-14T15:04:54.497

Reputation: 149 037

@wfaulk, you only need to open a new console for it show up in the font list of the Properties dialog, but you need to reboot for it actually take effect, otherwise changing the font to the newly added one doesn’t actually change the font. – Synetech – 2012-03-26T04:59:54.483

That shows the font, yes, but then consolas starts looking like Lucida Console. (:?) – aviraldg – 2009-10-14T15:19:26.417

Some sources claim you have to reboot before it will work properly. – wfaulk – 2009-10-14T15:19:51.720

yep you need to reboot, answer updated. – John T – 2009-10-14T15:25:21.100

Note that the "name needs to be incrimented with “0″ for each additional font." So if I wanted to add a second font, the name would be "000". - http://blog.wolffmyren.com/2009/02/26/necessary-criteria-for-fonts-to-be-available-in-a-command-window/

– jumpnett – 2012-12-18T20:58:17.907

Not really an 'answer' per se, but Console2 is a delicious wrapper to cmd that allows much greater choice over how it looks. It's also tabbed, and supports transparency (if that's your thing) I could also give you an ahk script to make it whoosh down like the console from [insert most FPS titles here], if that'd sweeten the deal ;)

Phoshi

Posted 2009-10-14T15:04:54.497

Reputation: 22 001

Why the downvote, voter? I can't get better if nobody tells me how :'( – Phoshi – 2009-10-14T17:02:28.347

3It wasn't mine, but, "If somebody wanted the answer to a different question surely they'd go into a different question?" ;-) – Arjan – 2009-10-18T11:52:29.397

Ah, but it DOES let you change the font, and much better than the official shell :P – Phoshi – 2009-10-18T12:28:29.297

I had to use Console in order to get this 'feature'. It is basically a cmd.exe replacement for Windows. Besides configuring advanced fonts and colours, it has a pile of other features you might be interested in.

Matthew Ruston

Posted 2009-10-14T15:04:54.497

Reputation: 1 149

Scott Hanselman describes essentially the same solution as John T's here:

Using Consolas as the Windows Console Font

user14068

Posted 2009-10-14T15:04:54.497

Reputation: 384

It would be better to provide instructions than just a link. – wfaulk – 2009-10-14T15:16:14.410

3It's against the SU-creed to just post links. What happens if/when that site dies? Your answer dies with it! Post instructions (with a link as reference, if you like), so it'll be accessible to anybody reading it. – Phoshi – 2009-10-14T15:22:20.157