How To Change Default Window Size in Gnome-Terminal and Terminator

In this article, we will guide you through the process of changing the default window size in Gnome-Terminal and Terminator. Both are popular terminal emulators used in many Linux distributions. The process is quite simple and can be done in a few steps.

Gnome-Terminal

Gnome-Terminal is the default terminal for many Linux distributions that use the GNOME desktop environment. Here’s how you can change its default window size:

Step 1: Open Gnome-Terminal

First, open the Gnome-Terminal by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T or by searching for ‘Terminal’ in the application menu.

Step 2: Access Profile Preferences

Once the terminal is open, navigate to the menu bar at the top of the window. Click on Edit and from the dropdown menu, select Profile Preferences.

Step 3: Change Default Size

In the Profile Preferences window, locate the Text tab. Here, you will find a section labeled Initial terminal size. You can adjust the values for Columns and Rows according to your preference. Columns represent the width of the terminal, while Rows represent the height.

Once you’ve made your adjustments, click Close to save the changes.

Terminator

Terminator is another powerful terminal emulator that allows you to manage multiple terminal windows in grids. Here’s how you can change its default window size:

Step 1: Open Terminator Configuration File

Open the Terminator configuration file by typing the following command into your terminal:

nano ~/.config/terminator/config

This command uses the nano text editor to open the config file located in the .config/terminator/ directory.

Step 2: Locate Layouts Section

In the configuration file, look for the section titled [layouts]. Within this section, locate the sub-section named [[[window0]]] that belongs to the [[default]] section.

Step 3: Add or Modify Size Line

Within the [[[window0]]] sub-section, add or modify the line starting with “size”. The format should be size = width, height, where width and height are the desired dimensions in pixels. For example, size = 900, 600.

Step 4: Save and Close

Press Ctrl + O to save the changes, then Ctrl + X to close the editor.

Please note that the specific options and locations mentioned may vary depending on the version and configuration of your system. If you encounter any issues, refer to the Gnome-Terminal and Terminator documentation for more information.

In conclusion, adjusting the default window size of your terminal can enhance your productivity by fitting more information on the screen. Whether you’re using Gnome-Terminal or Terminator, the process is straightforward and can be done in a few minutes.