Set zsh as default. In facts, you can’t (not the “offi.

Set zsh as default zsh_profile) when I ssh to the machine. Discover seamless ways to switch from bash to zsh and enhance your command line experience. What should I do to make the Oh My ZSH configuration as the default zsh for all users including root? Apr 28, 2024 · Set Zsh as the default shell, and use Oh My Zsh for customization. enable = true; automatically sets zsh as the user's shell, overriding whatever the default is (bash likely). Dec 1, 2021 · This article explains how to change the default shell in Linux. Verify which system shell is the The replacement command for starting WSL is now wsl. Fails every time: May 26, 2022 · Setting up MSYS2 with ZSH on Windows 11 If you want to code in Windows 11 but prefer the familiarity of a Unix environment. json by pressing ⌘ + , (comma) on Mac or Ctrl + , (comma) on Windows. Jan 8, 2023 · Set ZSH as the Default Shell On Windows Open a terminal running ZSH (e. One popular framework for managing Zsh configuration is Oh-My-Zsh, which provides a collection of useful plugins and themes. external. Sep 8, 2014 · Everything works fine, but when I become a root user, it changes to the default zsh theme. and now i want to make it the default shell instead of Bash. In this post, I'll show you how to setup Zsh as your default shell. I am using manjaro i3. Aug 4, 2025 · Key Takeaways ZSH provides significant productivity improvements over default shells through auto-completion, syntax highlighting, and plugin support Installation is straightforward across all major operating systems using package managers Setting ZSH as your default shell requires the chsh command and a session restart The . Sep 22, 2020 · I've started setting up ZSH for VSCode. If not, install it with brew. Dec 29, 2018 · Open a new Terminal window or open a new window with the specific profile you set zsh for, you’ll now have zsh as your default This change to zsh as the default shell will persist between quitting and relaunching Terminal, though any currently active shells or terminal windows would need to refresh or manually enter zsh. I'd like it to be my default shell environment but for some reason whenever I restart Hyper I have to run the zsh command to get to Oh My Zsh. The Zsh FAQ offers more reasons to use Zsh. Windows 11, with its improved integration of Linux capabilities through the Windows Subsystem Sep 7, 2021 · Install ZSH using Homebrew and set as default shell in Linux/WSL zsh. Then to have the default shell as zsh, I tried chsh -s ~/local path/zsh pointing to my local zsh. vscode Create a settings. zshrc configuration file controls all ZSH behavior and customization Jun 2, 2025 · This blog walks you through setting up Zsh on a Linux system, step-by-step — including how to install it, configure it, and set it as your default shell. You can change the shell that new Terminal windows and tabs open with. Oct 23, 2016 · Can I set zsh as default shell while being logged in as root? I did chsh -s /bin/zsh and used my root password for authentication, but failed. shell. How to install Zsh on the Ubuntu 22. So, time to switch to zsh and ditch that warning message 😄. 04” is published by Denis Hsieh in Denis Brain. nix file. zshrc. Any help? Oh-my-zsh is now installed on the system, and the Z shell has been configured for using the oh-my-zsh framework with default configuration. The following result is on Ubuntu. zshrc is actually no ~/. dscl showed /bin/zsh was set. In here, select option 2 (press 2 on your keyboard) for the default settings. I have tried this code: sudo chsh -s $(which zsh) I've also tried: sudo chsh -s /bin/zsh Also tried these co See full list on linuxhandbook. Learn three methods to change the default shell to Zsh, an alternative and user-friendly shell in Linux-based systems. Click Add a new profile. And how to change the default shell to ZSH on arch Linux. How to Use Zsh Aug 24, 2023 · Zsh (Z Shell) is a feature-rich and powerful shell program for Unix-like operating systems with lots of interactive features and support for plugins and themes. Feb 6, 2025 · The Z Shell (Zsh) is an interactive Unix shell that can be used as a command interpreter for shell scripting. by C May 23, 2018 · This article shows you some of the unique features of the Z Shell, or zsh, and how to configure it as the default for running system commands in a terminal. Jun 24, 2022 · Based in Munich, our engineers & laboratory helps you to develop your product from the first idea to certification & production. This seems to happen for a lot of Jan 4, 2023 · Set Alacritty as your default terminal emulator: You can set Alacritty as your default terminal emulator by going to your system’s settings and selecting it as the default application for handling terminal-related file types (e. 📦 Step 1: Add the Remi Repository Nov 3, 2021 · Switching from Bash to Zsh? Getting your terminal on board can be tricky. I tried resetting Terminal->Preferences to /bin/zsh. The theme requires some special fonts and rich colour scale. osxExec": "iTerm. For example, if you gnome terminal, you can set a shell in the settings there. zshrc in the ~ path. bashrc, . Add the location of zsh in there as the command. We might also want to set zsh as our default shell. But I haven’t exactly shown how to make it the default… Zsh is a powerful shell that operates as both an interactive shell and as a scripting language interpreter. fish. From NixOS Wiki page, we know w need to add below to /etc/nixos/configuration. sudo apt install zsh (see below for more examples) From source, following the instructions from the Zsh FAQ. In my home. sh, . bash_profile etc file. Install MSYS2 Run MSYS2 inside Windows Terminal (or Preview) - optional Install oh-my-zsh Set zsh as your default MSYS2 shell Expose packages installed in MSYS2 to Windows Aug 24, 2015 · I want to change MSYS2's default shell from bash to zsh. Install zsh Make sure zsh is available on your system. To try zsh, I installed the zsh locally and also have the . 04, update the system repository, and install Zsh along with its dependencies using the “sudo apt install zsh” command. I tried using: chsh -s /bin/zsh. And how to change the default shell to ZSH on Kali Linux. Everything runs fine with I open a terminal and execute "zsh" but when I try to add it to /etc/shells. Then setting Zsh as the default shell is an impactful upgrade. app" I want to run zsh so i need to change the default linux bash shell "terminal. zsh. Jul 16, 2025 · To set a command shell as the default for all users, use the defaultUserShell option. In the past, I did what you are doing pop_os 22. Jan 7, 2024 · Set ZSH as your default shell. Aug 20, 2018 · 2018-08-20 I prefer zsh over bash as my everyday shell. When I switch to terminal (e. Jun 29, 2023 · Change Visual Studio Code terminal’s default to zsh and current file directory Open settings. conf didn't help me, so I decided to create an etc/passwd file after all, and that indeed solved my problem, letting me set zsh as my default shell in Cygwin. Zsh is a powerful shell that operates as both an interactive shell and as a scripting language interpreter. Jun 1, 2019 · Change your shell to zsh on a remote server — with or without root access Regular work on remote servers comes hand in hand with working with terminals, mostly with bash as the default shell … May 5, 2019 · When launching an attached container in "VS Code Remote Development", has anyone found a way to change the container's shell when launching the vscode integrated terminal. I installed zsh on my Mac. Editing /etc/passwd does nothing. Errors with nice background processing After switching to ZSH, each time I opened a new shell I would be greated with a not-so-friendly list of errors. 72 How do I set the shell that is used when a user SSHs to a server. This page explains how to use the default shell and various ways to change the default shell in Alpine Linux. Zsh, or Z Shell, is a popular Unix shell with features like auto-completion, advanced scripting capabilities, and customization options. 1 Like stephaneklein (Stéphane Klein) January 22, 2022, 12:35pm 5 dalto: Nov 7, 2021 · Initially had bash as default shell prompt and the ~ had . $~ brew install zsh $~ which zsh /usr/local/bin/zsh #output 🔗 2. I've been using bash for years because it's been the default. . 04 system, allowing you to leverage its powerful features for an improved command-line experience. Mar 12, 2014 · However, editing /etc/nsswitch. md Install ZSH via HomeBrew Aug 14, 2022 · When the installation is done, you can set zsh as your default shell using the command chsh. After entering the password, it got changed and was able to run and test things. Can you tell me how I configure it? Jun 25, 2017 · A few months ago, I wrote an article to show how to get Zsh in WSL on Windows 10. bash, etc. Alternatively, you can change the default shell graphically in System Settings under Users & Groups by Ctrl-Clicking your profile picture and selecting "Advanced Jul 14, 2022 · Part 1 – Install ZSH on WSL2 First things first – installing ZSH on WSL2 and making ZSH the default shell. Oct 27, 2020 · ZSH stands for Z Shell which is a shell program for Unix-like operating systems. ZSH is an extended version of Bourne Shell which incorporates some features of BASH, KSH, TSH. To make Zsh your default shell, take the following actions: 1. I took a look at the batch scripts in Jun 22, 2025 · Before diving into the ZSH setup, let's make sure you have WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux) with Ubuntu installed on your system. Maximize your performance with Z Shell, the best interactive login shell, customization options. Change the default shell in Terminal on Mac The default shell is zsh. Note that this snippet is specific to csh; if your login shell is not (t)csh, this code in ~/. I would like it to be the default every time I open the terminal, but that doesn’t happen. zsh -l starts zsh as a login shell. May 16, 2025 · Want a cool looking Linux terminal? Try Zsh. exe to C:\Windows\System32\wsl. Dec 19, 2023 · The following guide will demonstrate how to install ZSH in Linux (aka zshell) and also showcase the steps on how to set zsh as a default shell on login. login won't do anything for you. [Checks who that was. In this extensive guide, I‘ll explain in detail how to install Zsh, set it as the default shell, customize it to your needs, and troubleshoot any issues. Use the chsh, usermod, or /etc/passwd commands to make Zsh the default shell in Ubuntu. Run the following command: chsh -s /bin/zsh Enter your password and your default shell will be changed to zsh. Mar 26, 2017 · I've installed oh-my-zsh and have changed theme and customized it for the root user. The default shell used by Alpine Linux is the BusyBox variant of the ash shell. But I haven’t exactly shown how to make it the default shell. Install Windows Terminal from the MS store. ). ZSH also called the Z shell, is an extended version of the Bourne Shell (sh), with plenty of new features, and support for plugins and themes. Sep 11, 2020 · Issue description programs. This guide simplifies the transition while spotlighting zsh's powerful features. May 5, 2012 · I am trying to set ZSH as my default shell, however it keeps reverting back to bash. Now, your Git Bash will open a ZSH terminal. So the default ~/. It seems to be ignored. I'd like to make it the default shell, but I cannot run a command such as $ chsh -s $(which zsh) because I don't have admin Mar 24, 2023 · Arch Linux sudo pacman -S zsh Fedora sudo dnf install zsh Set up zsh as default shell Once Zsh is installed, you can set zsh as your default shell. nix file which has the enable = true flag. I dont want to have to pass a bunch of parameters with ssh either, can't I set the default shell? Jan 22, 2022 · I just checked, nothing in . Master basic Zsh setup quickly. Jul 25, 2023 · How to install and use Zsh on Ubuntu We'll walk you through the steps of installation, show you how to set Zsh as your default shell, and introduce some of its powerful features. So when you open a new terminal you're faced with bas Jan 26, 2023 · We may also find some useful information from NixOS Wiki. 04. sudo apt update sudo apt install zsh -y And make ZSH the default shell. OTOH programs. Nov 28, 2023 · Learn how to configure and install Zsh Ubuntu 20. Default to Zsh as the Shell Zsh is not setup or set as the default shell after installation. I'm sourcing a zsh. Oct 11, 2019 · I have configured my account to use zsh as default shell -with one of the helpful Oh-my-zsh themes. Covers setup, plugins, customization, and fixes. But as you tagged the question with oh-my-zsh I would assume that you want to restore the default oh-my-zsh configuration. as your shell. exe, and since the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, you can use the "normal" Linux chsh to set the default shell for your user. While being compatible with the POSIX sh (not by default, only if issuing emulate sh), it offers advantages such as improved tab completion and globbing. For example, to set Zsh as the default user shell for all users (including root): May 15, 2024 · In this guide, we will walk you through the installation and configuration of ZSH and Oh My ZSH on Windows. Before making the switch, it's crucial to understand the implications of changing the default shell and ensure that you have tested Zsh to your satisfaction. But I seem to be running into the following error: Jun 8, 2017 · To change the default terminal for your project in Visual Studio Code: Create a folder by name of . Jun 11, 2014 · I am using my school's computers and would like to use zsh instead of bash. It worked for a small bit, but then it changed to Git Bash (my previous default shell). Follow step by step instructions to get started using ZSH on Mac OS X. bash_profile (if bash is the current shell), or an equivalent rc file for the current login shell. Verify installation by running zsh --version. For example, to set Zsh as the default user shell for all users: How to set zsh as default shell without using chsh Zsh is a powerful and customizable shell that is often preferred over the default shell on Linux and macOS. , the Ubuntu app) Run the following command to set ZSH as the default shell: echo "/usr/bin/zsh" | sudo tee -a /etc/shells Mar 19, 2024 · Once installed, you can set Zsh as your default shell using the chsh command. As for why the snippet was written that way, you'd have to ask the person who wrote it. It seems to run something Apr 15, 2017 · Bash comes pre-installed on most terminals, but its not the best shell out there. com Apr 1, 2020 · How to set ZSH as the default shell in your terminal. Tagged with windows, productivity, tutorial, development. I tried changing the shell back to ZSH, but it didn't display in the Dec 23, 2024 · Now that Zsh is set as the default shell, you can install Oh My Zsh to enhance your shell experience with additional features and customization options. Click on the small settings Dec 11, 2015 · “How to set Oh My Zsh as a default shell in Ubuntu14. Jun 2, 2023 · I would have thought that the better way, instead of fooling around with MSYS shell, is to add zsh to your windows terminal setup, then you can choose from a number of shells, whether cmd, powershell, zsh, wsl or whatever. exe. NOTE: This used to require modifications to the shortcut to access WSL but in newer versions of WSL you can use the following. Dec 12, 2023 · Tried another shell and liked it so much that you want to use it all the time by making it the default shell? Here's how you can change the default shell in Linux. How can I make these mods available for all users for which I will set zsh as default shell? Jun 22, 2021 · I wrote an article to show how to get Zsh in WSL on Windows 10. Hi all, Just started trying out NixOS and really struggling getting something to work. ] Oh. Jul 15, 2017 · 92 zsh itself does not have a default user configuration. It did change the default shell but when I launch a new terminal, it still the 'bash' shell instead of the 'zsh' shell. Verify WSL and Ubuntu Installation Open your terminal (Command Prompt or PowerShell) and run the following command to check if WSL is installed: Hi all, I would want to change my default shell from 'bash' to 'zsh'. For example I can't stand BASH and need to use ZSH, how do I make it so ZSH is loaded along with my profile (. Aug 16, 2024 · Understanding how to set the default shell to start a tmux session on startup improves efficiency and simplifies our work process. Well, if you just do exec /usr/local/bin Hi Guys, Having some problems trying to set my default shell to zsh using :- chsh -s $ (which zsh) Installed and checked that /usr/bin/zsh exists Checked /etc/shells to make sure its in there and path is correct Ran the shell manually (it works) Is there another way I am missing in Pop_os to change the shell permanently? Thanks, Mar 14, 2022 · If you don't have permission to install zsh system wide, a quick fix is to append exec ~/bin/zsh -l to ~/. Now start using zsh by modifying the configuration file located at ~/. Jan 5, 2024 · In this article, we are going to learn about how to install ZSH on Kali Linux. g. Sep 8, 2012 · Would like to set Zsh to default. After setting zsh as your default shell, you should log out and then login again to your terminal to use the new zsh shell. Changing the default shell For all users To set a command shell as the default for all users, use the defaultUserShell option. Users often prefer Zsh over the default shells for its versatility and ease of use. You would also need to set the shells for all other users, which isn’t really what you want home-manager to do. ~/. Install Zsh on Ubuntu, set it as default, and enhance it with Oh My Zsh. Feb 21, 2022 · Hi everyone. If that is set to bash, it won’t matter what your default shell is set to. Dec 4, 2024 · Install Zsh via Homebrew: brew install zsh Configuring the Zsh as a default Shell After installation, set Zsh as your system’s default shell. Jan 18, 2022 · Learn how to install Zsh on Linux, understand shell types, configure startup files, and set Zsh as default. To change your default shell from Zsh to Bash, simply run the "chsh -s /bin/bash" command in Terminal and reopen it. How would I accomplish this? Mar 13, 2025 · How to Install Zsh on Windows 11 Zsh, or Z shell, is a highly customizable shell for Unix-like operating systems, which offers features like improved tab completion, better history management, and enhanced globbing. In this article, we’ve examined several methods for configuring tmux to launch automatically with Bash, Fish, and Zsh, ensuring that we always start our terminal sessions with tmux’s great features at our disposal. To set zsh as your default shell, you can indeed use the chsh command, which is both safe and straightforward. Aug 4, 2023 · Learn how to install zsh, get the most out of the Oh My Zsh framework, configure plugins, and learn a variety of productivity-enhancing zsh techniques. ZSH (Z Shell) is a better alternative to the Bash shell, in ZSH we can modify the terminal and make our terminal as colorful as we like. Feb 8, 2025 · Learn how to install, configure, and optimize zsh (Z Shell) on Ubuntu and Manjaro. Zsh benefits include command-line completion, shared history, improved globbing, intelligent tab completion, spelling correction, and a rich set of plugins and themes. This guide will show you how to install Zsh on Ubuntu, including installation on Ubuntu WSL (Windows Subsystem for Linux). Install Oh-My-Zsh in Fedora Zsh’s real power lies in its configurability, which can be achieved by customizing various aspects of your Zsh environment, such as themes, plugins, and aliases. Jun 18, 2023 · Is there a limitation to using standalone home manager in stopping ZSH being activated or being added to /etc/shells for use? Yes, unfortunately editing /etc/shells requires root permissions, but standalone home-manager doesn’t have that. Zsh is a powerful, flexible shell that can be used as an alternative to the traditional Bash Apr 9, 2018 · Now the only change you have to make is find your preferred launcher and change the shortcut from bash. Now that zsh is installed, we can run zsh and we should see all the config above are working. linux": "/bin/bash" I just can't seem to find the right path to use for zsh Jan 7, 2024 · Set ZSH as your default shell. Here's a quick guide on how to make it as a default shell for your machine: 🔗 1. Improve your terminal experience with powerful features and customization. Learn how to set up Zsh on Ubuntu Linux with Oh My Zsh. In facts, you can’t (not the “offi Jun 6, 2023 · The first configuration only appears the first time you run the shell, but with the zsh-newuser-install command, you can execute the initial setup again. integrated. But macOS Catalina changes the default shell from bash to zsh and I got tired of the warning message popping up every time I opened Terminal. Jul 20, 2025 · Enhance your Linux terminal with Zsh and Oh My Zsh! Learn to install, configure, and customize on Debian/Ubuntu with popular themes and plugins. Go into settings. Configuration Zsh can be configured with Home Manager Jan 4, 2020 · Recently I decided to switch my default shell to zsh. Open your terminal and run chsh -s $ (which zsh). I have installed zsh. . nix. If you wish, set it as the default Aug 29, 2023 · Apple now uses Zsh as the default shell on macOS, but the old Bash shell is still included and easily switchable. Install and set up zsh as default If necessary, follow these steps to install Zsh: There are two main ways to install Zsh: With the package manager of your choice, e. It's now a symlinked file that I can't seem to edit even with sudo due to the symlink. json file in this folder: Write the settings you want For example, if you are a Windows user and want to set "Command Prompt" as the default terminal you can write: Mar 15, 2023 · Once ZSH is installed and set as the default shell, you can access it by opening the Git Bash. I've tried chsh - not available in MSYS2. Installation See Command Shell. In this tutorial, you will learn to install and configure the Z Shell on Ubuntu. I’m running home-manager on Ubuntu. Using this you can set Bash, sh, Zsh, Csh, Fish, etc. zhrc and when I run zsh , I am well under zsh . Aug 8, 2020 · Hi everyone! Is it possible to use home-manager to control my default user shell? Something like chsh, but made Nix-y? I wasn’t able to find anything searching on google or looking through the home-manager docs. Setup oh-my-zsh (optional) Aug 7, 2021 · Examining the default shell in System Preferences->Users by control-clicking on my user showed /bin/zsh was set. zshrc, in your terminal program. For example, to set zsh as default shell: Jan 6, 2024 · In this article, we are going to learn about how to install ZSH on arch Linux. Unfortunately, zsh is not the default shell on macOS. To install Oh My Zsh, run the following command in your terminal: If you want to execute zsh instead of bash, just replace /usr/local/bin/bash by the path to the zsh executable. enable = true; does not. 04 setup install & set zsh as the default shell sudo apt install zsh zsh --version chsh -s $(which zsh) Apr 27, 2014 · When tmux opens, I would like it to use zsh instead of bash by default. Let’s add these config and run sudo nixos-rebuild switch. Is this normal? To install Zsh on Ubuntu 24. chsh -s $(which zsh) Code language: JavaScript (javascript) Now restart Windows Terminal, you’ll be greeted by ugly ZSH config text. exec COMMAND replaces the current process with COMMAND, so you'll only have to type exit (or press ctrl+d) once. bash_profile is executed when bash In the example it sets the default terminal to be the iTerm app: "terminal. By the end, you‘ll be empowered to take full advantage of the many perks and superpowers Zsh provides! Why Zsh is Worth Aug 25, 2020 · 4 I'm using Hyper as my terminal application and I just installed Oh My Zsh via curl. Not in . However, changing the default shell can be tricky, as it requires using the chsh command. dado vmvl beshs rqxl cchwie auve qraid lmx dudls hdms dwno jdgfm tzyrwsb cobm weqb