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Possible Duplicate:
How to change the Windows console font?

Firstly: I have tried the options dialog for it (the one that Windows shows) and I don't want that.
The default windows option dialog for it only allows two fonts: "Raster"(Fixedsys) and Lucida Console. However, I want to use Consolas (which is a really chic font). I've tried messing with the registry options for the current user "HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Console" but it doesn't seem to work. Help appreciated.

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  • 2
    Wow. It is ridiculous you have to hack the registry to use a different font.
    – wfaulk
    Oct 14, 2009 at 15:18
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    wfaulk: Most Windows users will probably consider it ridiculous to have to hack ~/.foorc to use a different font, too.
    – u1686_grawity
    Oct 14, 2009 at 17:03
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    @wfaulk: Most Windows users won't even be able to figure out why the file "doesn't have a name"
    – aviraldg
    Oct 14, 2009 at 17:34
  • Duplicate, with an important warning in a referenced blog, at "How to change the Windows console font?" at superuser.com/questions/5035/…
    – Arjan
    Oct 18, 2009 at 11:54

4 Answers 4

Reset to default
16

I think you're changing the wrong key. Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Console\TrueTypeFont\

Right click in the blank white space in the right pane and select New -> String Value.

Edit the value to these settings:

Name: 00
Data: Consolas

Open command prompt and you should be able to switch to Consolas font in the properties. A reboot is essential for it to appear properly. I'd also recommend to turn on cleartype to make it look smoother. Consolas looks best with cleartype on.

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  • That shows the font, yes, but then consolas starts looking like Lucida Console. (:?)
    – aviraldg
    Oct 14, 2009 at 15:19
  • Some sources claim you have to reboot before it will work properly.
    – wfaulk
    Oct 14, 2009 at 15:19
  • yep you need to reboot, answer updated.
    – user1931
    Oct 14, 2009 at 15:25
  • @wfaulk, you only need to open a new console for it show up in the font list of the Properties dialog, but you need to reboot for it actually take effect, otherwise changing the font to the newly added one doesn’t actually change the font.
    – Synetech
    Mar 26, 2012 at 4:59
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    Note that the "name needs to be incrimented with “0″ for each additional font." So if I wanted to add a second font, the name would be "000". - blog.wolffmyren.com/2009/02/26/…
    – jumpnett
    Dec 18, 2012 at 20:58
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Not really an 'answer' per se, but Console2 is a delicious wrapper to cmd that allows much greater choice over how it looks. It's also tabbed, and supports transparency (if that's your thing) I could also give you an ahk script to make it whoosh down like the console from [insert most FPS titles here], if that'd sweeten the deal ;)

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  • Why the downvote, voter? I can't get better if nobody tells me how :'(
    – Phoshi
    Oct 14, 2009 at 17:02
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    It wasn't mine, but, "If somebody wanted the answer to a different question surely they'd go into a different question?" ;-)
    – Arjan
    Oct 18, 2009 at 11:52
  • Ah, but it DOES let you change the font, and much better than the official shell :P
    – Phoshi
    Oct 18, 2009 at 12:28
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I had to use Console in order to get this 'feature'. It is basically a cmd.exe replacement for Windows. Besides configuring advanced fonts and colours, it has a pile of other features you might be interested in.

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0

Scott Hanselman describes essentially the same solution as John T's here:

Using Consolas as the Windows Console Font

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  • 1
    It would be better to provide instructions than just a link.
    – wfaulk
    Oct 14, 2009 at 15:16
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    It's against the SU-creed to just post links. What happens if/when that site dies? Your answer dies with it! Post instructions (with a link as reference, if you like), so it'll be accessible to anybody reading it.
    – Phoshi
    Oct 14, 2009 at 15:22

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