Last updated: November 2026
Use this page to run commands in the open repository or worktree from the GitKraken Desktop in-app terminal. You can open several terminal tabs, use command and flag autocomplete, keep separate terminals for each worktree, run coding agents manually, and change the shell and terminal appearance.
Requirements and limits
- Scope: In-app terminal for the currently open repository or worktree
- Repository context: Commands run in the working directory of the active repository or worktree
- Supported shell note: macOS and Linux use the OS default shell. On Windows, choose PowerShell or Bash in Preferences
- Autocomplete limitation: Conflicting third-party autocomplete tools can disable GitKraken Desktop suggestions
- Settings location: Preferences > In-App Terminal for appearance and autocomplete behavior
- Terminal tabs: Each repository or worktree keeps its own terminal tabs. Starting an agent session in a worktree with an open terminal starts the agent in a separate tab
- Panel behavior: The embedded terminal resizes when surrounding panels change. You can minimize it and keep the terminal panel header visible. The Kill All Terminals trash icon in the panel header ends every terminal for the current repository or worktree
- Focus: The terminal output dims while you work elsewhere in the app. Turn this off with Dim terminal when unfocused in Preferences > In-App Terminal
- Coding agents: You can run supported or unsupported coding agent CLIs manually in the embedded terminal
To get started, open a repository and click the Terminal button in the toolbar, or search for “terminal” using the Command Palette.
Quick Start
To open the terminal: Click the Terminal icon in the toolbar or search for “terminal” in the Command Palette.
To run commands: Type any Git command such as git status, git commit -m "message", or git log --oneline. Autocomplete suggestions appear as you type, including flag suggestions for each command.
To open another terminal: Click the + button in the terminal tab bar, or press Ctrl + Shift + N (Cmd + Option + N on macOS). Select a tab to switch terminals, or close a tab you no longer need. See How terminal tabs work for all terminal tab shortcuts.
To run a coding agent manually: Open the terminal in the worktree you want to use, then start your coding agent CLI there.
To customize terminal appearance: Go to Preferences > In-App Terminal to change font, size, line height, cursor style, whether the terminal dims when unfocused, and autocomplete behavior.
To minimize the terminal panel: Click Minimize Terminal in the terminal panel header. The panel header stays visible so you can expand the terminal again when you need it.
To kill all terminals: Click the Kill All Terminals trash icon in the terminal panel header. GitKraken Desktop ends every terminal tab for the current repository or worktree and closes the panel. If 2 or more terminals are open, GitKraken Desktop asks you to confirm first, because any running processes stop. To end a single terminal, close its tab instead.
To set your default shell:
- macOS/Linux: Set ZSH or Bash as the default shell in your OS settings and restart your machine.
- Windows: Open Preferences > In-App Terminal and select PowerShell or Bash in Default In-App Terminal.
The terminal shares context with the open repository or worktree, so commands run against the correct working directory automatically.
How Git commands and auto-complete work
Run Git commands in the terminal as you would in any shell. Start typing git to see autocomplete suggestions for commands.
Flag suggestions are also supported:
Note: Other autocomplete programs can conflict with the terminal and disable its suggestions. If suggestions do not appear, uninstall or disable those programs.
How to customize terminal preferences
Open Preferences > In-App Terminal to change your terminal settings.
Dim terminal when unfocused is on by default: the terminal output fades while you work elsewhere in GitKraken Desktop and returns to full brightness when you click back into the terminal. The panel header and tabs stay at full brightness. Clear the checkbox to keep the terminal output at full brightness at all times.
How the default terminal works on macOS and Linux
GitKraken Desktop supports ZSH and Bash. To switch shells:
- Set the preferred shell as default in your OS settings.
- Restart your machine to apply changes.
How the default terminal works on Windows
GitKraken Desktop supports PowerShell and Bash. To change the shell:
- Open Preferences > In-App Terminal.
- Set Default In-App Terminal to your desired shell.
How terminal tabs work
The terminal panel supports multiple terminal tabs. Click + in the tab bar to open another terminal, then select a tab to switch to it. Each repository or worktree keeps its own set of terminals.
Each tab is named after the app running in it, such as claude or node, or after the shell when no app is running. Drag a tab to change the order of the tabs. GitKraken Desktop keeps that order for the repository or worktree until you close the app. When you close the last tab, the terminal panel closes.
Use these shortcuts while the terminal panel is open. They are also in the View > Terminal Tabs menu (Window > Terminal Tabs on macOS).
| Action | Windows and Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Open a new terminal tab | Ctrl + Shift + N | Cmd + Option + N |
| Close the current terminal tab | Ctrl + Shift + W | Cmd + Option + W |
| Select the next terminal tab | Ctrl + Page Down | Cmd + Option + Right Arrow |
| Select the previous terminal tab | Ctrl + Page Up | Cmd + Option + Left Arrow |
| Select terminal tab 1 to 9 | Ctrl + Shift + 1 to 9 | Cmd + Option + 1 to 9 |
The next and previous tab shortcuts wrap around: from the last tab, the next tab is the first one.
When you switch worktrees, GitKraken Desktop shows that worktree’s terminal tabs. Each terminal runs in its worktree’s working directory, and long-running commands continue while you switch to another worktree.
When you start a coding agent in a worktree that already has a terminal open, GitKraken Desktop starts the agent in a new tab instead of replacing the existing terminal.
GitKraken Desktop uses the same worktrees in both List view and the Agents view. You can open a worktree from either view and use its terminal tabs.
How to run a coding agent manually in the terminal
Use this workflow when you want to run a coding agent CLI that GitKraken Desktop does not explicitly integrate with, or when you prefer to start the agent yourself.
- Open the repository or worktree you want to use.
- Open the terminal from the toolbar or Command Palette.
- Confirm that the terminal is running in the correct working directory.
- Start your coding agent CLI in the terminal.
- Continue working in GitKraken Desktop while the terminal session stays attached to that worktree.
If you want GitKraken Desktop to create and manage coding agent sessions for explicitly supported agents, see Coding Agents in GitKraken Desktop.
How to drag and drop files into the terminal
Drag a file from your OS file manager or from the Commit Panel into the terminal to insert the file’s full path at the cursor. You can also drag text into the terminal to insert it at the cursor. Use drag and drop to add a path or snippet to a command without retyping it.
Common Git commands to try
Use the terminal to run common Git operations:
git status– View working directory and staging statusgit commit -m "message"– Commit changes with a messagegit log --oneline– View a condensed commit history
