Windows 10 Tip: How To Make Command Prompt Console Transparent

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The Command Prompt console we know in previous Windows doesn’t support transparency. And technically, it still doesn’t support in Windows 10 because it still uses the same original graphics and rendering models (the original GDI) implemented in the console a long time ago. But, Windows 10 found a workaround that makes the entire window transparency, a nice compromise but works quite nicely.

Open Command Prompt, right-click the top board and choose Properties.

Command Prompt context menu to Properties - Windows 10 Tip: How To Make Command Prompt Console Transparent

Make sure the option “Use legacy console” at the bottom of the dialog window unchecked, which unlocks a bunch of new features that are only available in Windows 10, including the transparency.

Windows 10 Command Prompt Properties legacy unchecked - Windows 10 Tip: How To Make Command Prompt Console Transparent

Once that’s settled, you can adjust the transparency level via the Colors tab in the Command Prompt properties dialog or adjust on the fly using the following keyboard shortcuts.

Transparency CombinationsDescription
CTRL + SHIFT + Plus (+)Increase transparency.
CTRL + SHIFT + Minus (-)Decrease transparency.
CTRL + SHIFT + (Mouse) SCROLL UPIncrease transparency.
CTRL + SHIFT + (Mouse) SCROLL DOWNDecrease transparency.

 

Windows 10 Transparent Command Prompt 600x369 - Windows 10 Tip: How To Make Command Prompt Console Transparent

Note that to prevent “where did my console go” puzzling people, there is a minimum opacity level of a window set to 30% in Colors tab in Command Prompt properties dialog.

Windows 10 Command Prompt Properties colors tab - Windows 10 Tip: How To Make Command Prompt Console Transparent

This also applies to PowerShell console window as well, hold down Ctrl + Shift key and then move your mouse wheel to adjust the background color transparency.

PowerShell Window Transparent mode - Windows 10 Tip: How To Make Command Prompt Console Transparent

3 COMMENTS

  1. Hi Kent
    I notice that the title bar on the AMD Radeon graphics console is transparent in Windows 10 so there should be a way to make all title bars transparent. How can I do this?

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