RPi Defining Default Terminal Size

Back to RPi Guides.

Defining the Default LXTerminal Window Size (Raspbian Wheezy/Debian Wheezy)
=What does it do?=

The LXTerminal app on the Raspbian Wheezy and Debian Wheezy images creates a window that by default is 80 columns by 24 rows in size. This is a small size for modern displays, and is frequently changed. An individual window can be resized by clicking on an edge or corner and doing a "click-drag" operation to the size of your choice. This new size exists for the lifetime of the terminal window but reverts to 80 x 24 for any new windows that are created.

This page shows you how to modify the initial command window size.

=Prerequisites=


 * A booted Raspberry Pi with keyboard, mouse, monitor
 * (No elevated privileges are required for the default LXTerminal)

=Changing the Default for Your Desktop Icon=

If you have an "LXTerminal" desktop icon, edit the file ~/Desktop/lxterminalSEWOSW.desktop with your favorite editor (eg. leafpad, nano). Assume that you want the window to open with size 110 columns by 82 rows. Scroll towards the bottom of the file and change the line

Exec=lxterminal to Exec=lxterminal --geometry=110x82

Activate a new window from the desktop icon. You should see a window open with the new size you specified above.

=Changing the Default for Your LXTerminal menu item=

To change the default for your LXTerminal system menu command, click on the command window icon at the lower left of your screen. Assuming you want to change the window size to 80 columns by 59 rows, click "Accessories" and right click (Note: not left-click) the LXTerminal menu item, and select "Properties". On the "General" tab, change the "Command:" text from "lxterminal" to "lxterminal --geometry=80x59", and click "Ok".

Now, click on the "LXTerminal" menu item and you should see a window open with the new size you specified above.