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Config reference
Every setting in config.toml. Its key, its values, its default and where to find it in Settings. For how the file works, see the guide.
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[font] Font
The terminal’s font. A profile can set its own, under [profile.<id>.font].
Any monospace font. Nerd Fonts also show prompt icons.
Ctrl+0 returns to this size.
How heavy normal text is. A font without that weight shows its nearest one.
"thin"Thin"extra-light"Extra light"light"Light"normal"defaultNormal"medium"Medium"semibold"Semibold"bold"Bold"extra-bold"Extra bold"black"BlackFonts that have them (Cascadia Code, JetBrains Mono, Fira Code) join => != -> and the like into one shape. Each character keeps its own cell, and the character under the cursor isn't joined.
For characters your font lacks, tried in order before Windows picks one. Separate them with commas.
More room between lines, as a percentage (20%) or in pixels (2). A negative value gives less. Text stays centered.
Zinc draws box lines, blocks and Powerline shapes itself, so they join up in any font.
Thicker or thinner built-in lines, in pixels (1, -1) or as a percentage (20%).
[colors] Colors
The color scheme, and colors that override it. A profile can set its own, under [profile.<id>.colors].
About 650 are included. Add your own to the themes folder next to config.toml.
Programs that use the extended 256 colors (vim and htop themes) get shades made from the scheme's 16, not the standard ones.
When off, shades run from dark to light, which is what programs expect.
The character under a block cursor. If the scheme doesn't set one either, it's the background color.
Behind selected text. If the scheme doesn't set one either, selection inverts the colors.
If the scheme doesn't set one either, the text keeps its color, or inverts with the selection when "Selection" has no color either.
Behind pane titles and tabs. On cards, the border is a step stronger.
"terminal"Same as the terminalHidden tabs get a shade instead, so the shown tab still stands out. Cards have no border."subtle"Subtle"strong"Strong"#rrggbb"Custom colorText that reads poorly against its background turns black or white. 1 turns it off, 4.5 is the usual accessibility level, and 21 makes all text black or white.
Bold text in the first eight colors shows their bright versions, as older terminals did.
For bold text in the default text color.
How bright dim text is (1: as bright as other text).
Behind each match of Find.
Behind the match Find is on.
1: solid. Lower lets the character under a block cursor show in its own color.
Lower lets the window background show behind the text (1: solid). Colored cells stay solid.
[terminal] Terminal
How the terminal behaves. A profile can set its own, under [profile.<id>.terminal].
Until a program picks its own (vim's insert mode often does).
"block"defaultBlock"bar"Bar"underline"Underline"block-hollow"Hollow blockUntil a program says otherwise.
While the shell waits for a command. A program's own cursor still wins. Needs shell integration.
"same"defaultSame as above"bar"BarLike a text box."block"Block"underline"Underline"block-hollow"Hollow blockBetween the window's edge and the text.
Between the window's edge and the text.
Splits the leftover space between both sides. When off, all of it goes to the right and bottom.
Marks prompts and commands in PowerShell, bash and zsh (WSL too), so you can jump between prompts, copy a command's output and see which commands failed.
"auto"defaultOn"off"OffThe bar beside a command's output.
"failures"defaultFailed commands"all"Every command"none"None"success"defaultClose if it succeededA failure stays on screen so you can read why. Any key closes it."always"Always close"never"Keep it openAny key closes it.New tabs read PATH and other variables from Windows as they start, so an installer's changes work without restarting Zinc.
Shells and programs set the tab's title (often the folder or the running command). When off, tabs show the profile's name.
The folder at the prompt, the running command otherwise. A program's own title still wins. Needs shell integration.
How far back you can scroll.
"arrow"defaultArrow"text"I-beamCharacters that end a word when you double-click (space and tab always do). Empty: the ones shown.
At a shell prompt, clicking in the command you're typing moves the cursor there. Needs shell integration.
Shift+F10 or the Menu key opens the menu anywhere.
"menu"defaultMenuCopy, paste, find, the link or command you clicked, split and close."copy-paste"Copy or pasteCopies a selection, or pastes when there's none."paste"PasteWeb links and files shown in the terminal.
"ctrl"defaultCtrl+clickHolding Ctrl underlines the links."alt"Alt+clickHolding Alt underlines the links."click"A clickDragging across a link still selects it. A program using the mouse still gets the click.Unless the program uses the mouse.
Copies text as soon as you select it. The selection stays.
Copies colors and styles too, for documents and email. Apps that take plain text still get plain text.
Ask before pasting text with more than one line.
"auto"defaultAutomaticWhen the program would take each line as Enter and run it. A program that marks pastes (bracketed paste) gets no warning."multiline"AlwaysWhenever a paste has more than one line."never"NeverAsk before pasting more than 5 KB.
Copying with OSC 52, as tmux, neovim and remote shells do.
Anything running, including a remote host, could read it.
"ask"defaultAsk each timeAllow once, for the tab, or not."allow"Allow"deny"DenyWhen a program rings it, e.g. at a failed tab completion.
"attention"defaultTab dotA dot on its tab, and the taskbar button flashes, when you aren't looking at that pane."flash"Flash the paneMarks the tab too."none"NonePlays Windows' default sound too.
Programs that flash the screen instead of beeping (Git Bash does) ring Zinc's bell, as set in "Bell".
Type Japanese, Chinese, Korean and more with Windows' input methods (IME). Turn it off if keys behave oddly.
[shaders] Shaders
Effects drawn over the terminal. A profile can set its own, under [profile.<id>.shaders].
Effects drawn over the terminal, such as CRT screens, glow and cursor trails. They're GLSL files written for Ghostty or Shadertoy, and they run in order.
For animated shaders. The others redraw only when the terminal changes.
truedefaultWhile focusedUnfocused, they pause where they are. The text under them still updates."always"AlwaysEvery terminal with shaders keeps redrawing, focused or not.falseNeverThey hold still, cursor effects included, and are drawn only when the terminal changes.[window] Window
The window, its workspaces and panes. These apply to every profile.
window.appearance
Light or darkWindows, menus and dialogs. The terminal keeps its color scheme. Restart Zinc to apply.
"system"defaultSame as WindowsWindows Settings > Personalization > Colors > Choose your mode."light"Light"dark"Darkwindow.accent
Accent colorSelections, focus lines, switches and buttons. Restart Zinc to apply.
"zinc"defaultZinc green"windows"Windows' accentThe one in Windows Settings > Personalization > Colors.window.backdrop
Window backgroundWhat's behind everything in the window: tabs, sidebar and terminal.
"mica"defaultMicaNot see-through. It takes a tint from your wallpaper, as Windows apps do."acrylic"Acrylic (frosted)The windows behind show, blurred."none"ClearThe windows behind show as they are.window.backdrop-tint
Window tintHow much color an acrylic or clear background carries. Lower is more see-through.
window.backdrop-color
Window tint colorThe color an acrylic or clear background is tinted with.
window.workspace-tabs
WorkspacesTabs along the top, or a list in a sidebar. Applies to windows opened from now on.
"top"defaultAlong the top"left"In a sidebarwindow.sidebar
SidebarOnly when "Workspaces" is "In a sidebar".
"full"defaultFull"rail"Icons only"auto-hide"Auto-hideSlides out when the pointer reaches the window's left edge.window.title-bar
Title barOnly when "Workspaces" is "In a sidebar".
"show"defaultShown"auto-hide"Auto-hideSlides down when the pointer reaches the window's top edge.window.new-workspace-page
Start page for new workspacesChoose a profile, a folder and a name when you open a workspace. Enter starts the default profile.
window.workspace-colors
Colors for new workspacesFor the ones you don't color yourself.
"off"defaultNone"folder"By folderA workspace with a folder gets that folder's color, the same one every time."cycle"One after anotherEach new workspace takes the next color.window.start-in
New tabs and splits startNew tabs in a workspace with its own folder start there. Without "Tabs inside panes", this is for splits only, because a new tab is a new workspace.
"current"defaultWhere you areIn the focused terminal's current folder."profile"In the profile's folderOr in the workspace's folder, when it has one.window.pane-tabs
Tabs inside panesEach pane can hold several tabs.
window.pane-tabs-as
Show pane tabs asOnly with "Tabs inside panes" on.
"tabs"defaultTabsA row of tabs. When they don't fit, they shorten, then show only their icons, then fold into a menu."menu"A menuThe shown tab, then a count ("2 of 5") that opens a menu of every tab. Switch tabs with the menu or with keys.window.pane-headers
Pane headersThe row above a pane. Its tabs, or its title when it has one tab.
"auto"AutomaticOn every pane once a workspace is split, and on any pane with two or more tabs."with-tabs"defaultWith several tabsOn panes with two or more tabs."always"Always"never"Neverwindow.pane-header-buttons
Header buttonsSplit, maximize and more on the right of a pane's header, with a program's progress beside them.
"always"AlwaysOn every pane."focused"Focused paneOn the focused pane, and on the others while the pointer is over their header."hover"On hoverOn a pane while the pointer is over its header. Touch and pen have no hover. The command palette and a pane's right-click menu have every action."hide"defaultHidewindow.pane-gap
Gap between panesAbove 0, panes are rounded cards with space between them. At 0 they meet at a thin divider.
window.pane-gap-edges
Gap at the workspace edgesThe same gap around the outside, split or not, so splitting never moves a pane's outer edges. Only with a "Gap between panes" above 0.
window.pane-focus
Show focus withHow the focused pane stands out from the others.
"ring"RingAn accent-colored outline around the focused pane."tab-accent"defaultTab accentAn accent-colored line along the top of the focused pane."none"NoneOnly the dimming of other panes ("Unfocused panes") marks the focused pane. With "Unfocused panes" at 1, nothing does.window.pane-animations
Pane animationsPanes slide into place when you split, close, maximize or move them. They don't while "Animation effects" is off in Windows Settings.
window.pane-resize-step
Resize stepHow far a resize key moves the divider, as a share of the panes it splits.
window.unfocused-pane-opacity
Unfocused panesHow bright unfocused panes stay (1: not dimmed).
window.unfocused-pane-fill
Dimming colorWhat unfocused panes fade toward.
window.divider-color
Divider colorThe line between split panes, when "Gap between panes" is 0.
window.save-state
Reopen windowsWindows, workspaces, splits and tabs come back in their folders.
"always"defaultReopen them"never"Start freshwindow.quit-after-last-window-closed
When the last window closestrueQuitfalseStay in the trayClick the tray icon to open a window again.window.launch-at-login
When you sign in to Windows"off"defaultDon't start Zinc"tray"Start in the trayNo window opens. The quick terminal's hotkey works, and the tray icon opens your windows."windows"Open my windowsAs they were when you left, or a new one.window.confirm-close
Ask before closingWhen a tab, pane, workspace or window you close still runs a command, or holds two or more tabs. Zinc knows a command is running through shell integration.
window.confirm-quit
Ask before quitting with a running commandWhen you quit Zinc (or restart it for an update) while a command still runs.
window.focus-follows-mouse
Focus follows mouseMoving the pointer into a pane focuses it.
window.low-latency-drawing
Low-latency drawingWhat you type shows up about one screen refresh sooner. Turn it off if a terminal draws wrong or stops drawing, and tell us. Applies to terminals opened from now on.
window.software-rendering
Software renderingDraws with the processor instead of the graphics card, which is slower. Use it for broken graphics drivers, some virtual machines and remote desktop glitches. Applies to terminals opened from now on.
[notify] Notifications
What Zinc does when a command finishes, fails or rings the bell in a pane you aren’t looking at.
notify.command-finished
Long command finishesIn a pane you weren't looking at.
"badge"defaultTab dotA dot on its tab. The taskbar button also flashes if Zinc is in the background."toast"NotificationA dot on its tab, and a Windows notification if Zinc is in the background."toast-always"Always notifyA Windows notification whenever you aren't looking at that pane, even in Zinc."never"NoneNo dot, no notification.notify.command-finished-after
Counts as long afterSeconds, or with a unit: 45s, 2m.
Plays when a long command finishes out of view (a Windows notification has its own).
"off"defaultNone"notification"Windows' notification sound"beep"Windows' default beepnotify.programs
Program notificationsWhen a program asks for one, e.g. a build script finishing (OSC 9 or 777).
Takes the same values as notify.command-finished.
notify.finished-color
FinishedA command finished, or a program sent a notification.
A program rang the bell.
notify.failed-color
FailedA command failed, or a program exited with an error.
[quick-terminal] Quick terminal
The terminal a hotkey brings in from the edge of the screen, wherever you are.
quick-terminal.hotkey
HotkeyShows and hides the quick terminal from anywhere, e.g. win+grave or ctrl+alt+t.
quick-terminal.position
Position"top"Top"bottom"Bottom"left"Left"right"Right"center"defaultCenterquick-terminal.screen
Screen"mouse"defaultWith the pointerOpens on the screen the pointer is on."main"MainAlways opens on the main screen.A percentage or pixels (50%, 600px) along its edge. Empty: 50%, or 70% by 60% at "Center".
quick-terminal.autohide
Hide when it loses focusquick-terminal.animation-duration
AnimationHow long the quick terminal takes to fade in and out. At 0 it appears at once.
[discover] Finding shells
Which shells Zinc looks for on your PC and lists as profiles. Each is on until you turn it off.
discover.wsl
WSL distributionsdiscover.powershell
PowerShell 7 and Windows PowerShelldiscover.cmd
Command Promptdiscover.git-bash
Git Bashdiscover.msys2
MSYS2discover.visual-studio
Visual Studio developer shellsdiscover.ssh
SSH hostsFrom ~/.ssh/config.
[cli] Command line
What zn, Zinc’s command-line tool, may do, and where it runs.
cli.remote-control
Remote controlLets zn, Zinc's command-line tool, open, arrange and close tabs, type into them and read them. Any program running as you could use it.
cli.path
Use zn in other terminalsAdds zn to your PATH, so other terminals find it too (Zinc's own terminals always do). Shells started from now on see it.
[updates] Updates
How Zinc keeps itself up to date.
updates.check
Check for updates automaticallyOnce a day. New versions download in the background, and you choose when to restart. Only for Zinc installed with its installer.
[debug] Troubleshooting
A log of what Zinc does, for bug reports.
debug.logging
Debug logKeeps a record of what Zinc does, to send with a bug report. Turn it on, make the problem happen, then copy the log.
A few things have no place in Settings: include at the top, [profile.<id>] sections and [keys]. The guide covers profiles and the file itself.
colors.palette Palette colors by number (palette.1 = "#AC4242") are set in config.toml.
shaders.folders Folders of shaders to choose from. Add and remove them on the shaders page (the library's … menu).