When you open the command prompt window, it has a default size, black background color, and a white Consolas font. If you’d like to change the default settings, follow the instructions below.

How to change font size and type

  • Press the Windows key, type CMD, and then press Enter.
  • Right-click the solid-colored portion at the top of the window.
  • From the drop-down menu that appears, select Properties.

See the MS-DOS color command if you’re looking for help on changing colors in MS-DOS using a command.

  • How to change font size and type

  • How to change window layout

  • How to change font and background colors.

  • At the top of the window that appears, click the Font tab.

  • You can change the font size and type in the two sections shown in the red rectangles below.

  • When you’re finished, click the button.

How to change window layout

  • At the top of the window that appears, click the Layout tab.
  • In this window, you may change the default window size, where the CDM window opens on the screen, and then screen buffer size.

How to change font and background colors

  • At the top of the window that appears, click the Colors tab.
  • Under this tab, you may select either Screen Text or Screen Background, and then adjust the color settings and opacity.
  • How to change the prompt.
  • How to use the Windows command line (DOS).
  • MS-DOS and Windows command line help and support.
  • See our MS-DOS commands page for a full listing of MS-DOS and Windows command line commands.