WezTerm
Also called wez term, wezterm-gui
GPU-accelerated terminal emulator. The process is wezterm-gui.exe. It is not Windows Terminal.
What you need to know
WezTerm is a GPU terminal. It is not Windows Terminal.
wezterm-gui.exe is Wez Furlong's emulator. Windows Terminal is Microsoft. MobaXterm is the SSH-plus-X bundle.
- What is it?
- GPU terminal emulator
- Still current?
- Yes, see Current status
- Official download?
- Use the vendor link in this article
What is WezTerm?
wezterm-gui.exe draws the terminal with the GPU. The shell inside is still pwsh, cmd, or wsl. WindowsTerminal.exe is a different emulator.
If you have never used it
If you want a fast GPU terminal with Lua config, WezTerm is Wez Furlong's emulator. Install it from wezfurlong.org/wezterm. Windows Terminal is Microsoft's inbox-adjacent tab host. MobaXterm is SSH plus X11, not this GPU emulator.
What is it used for?
wezterm-gui.exe. Windows Terminal uses a different renderer and settings UI.
wezterm.lua. settings.json is the Windows Terminal file. They do not share config.
Optional. MobaXterm still owns the bundled X server story.
Who is it for?
- People who want a GPU terminal
- Users with a wezterm.lua they were handed
- Anyone comparing this with Windows Terminal
Current status
WezTerm (2019) is a current gpu terminal emulator from Wez Furlong. The vendor still points Windows users at https://wezfurlong.org/wezterm/.
How old is it?
WezTerm launched in 2019. Windows Terminal (2019) is the Microsoft sibling people confuse by job, not by codebase. WezTerm is not a Windows optional feature.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per the vendor |
|---|---|
| RAM | Enough for Windows plus this app. Heavy projects want more. |
Resource profile
- CPU demand
- Follows what you open inside the app
- RAM demand
- Follows documents, tabs, or libraries
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| wezterm-gui.exe | Main Windows executable |
|---|---|
| wezterm.exe | CLI |
Startup components
WezTerm can register as a default terminal. That is optional. It does not need Startup Apps.
File locations
| Typical install | C:\Program Files\WezTerm\ |
|---|
File formats
Common problems
Edited Windows Terminal JSON and nothing changed
WezTerm reads wezterm.lua. Wrong emulator config.
Expected an X server
Install MobaXterm or VcXsrv. WezTerm is a terminal, not Mobatek's X pack.
Getting unstuck
Install from wezfurlong.org/wezterm
GitHub releases are official. Skip random "WezTerm Pro" zips.
Open the debug overlay if the GPU backend fails
Wez documents fallback renderers. That is not a Windows Terminal profile bug.
Launch wsl.exe inside WezTerm if you want Linux
WezTerm is the window. WSL is still the distro. See the WSL article.
Alternatives
Windows Terminal is the Microsoft default on many PCs. MobaXterm adds X11. PuTTY is SSH-only.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Download | wezfurlong.org/wezterm/ Official installer or vendor page |
|---|---|
| Help | wezfurlong.org/wezterm/ Vendor support |
| Official site | wezfurlong.org/wezterm/ Start here, not a random exe host |
Related hardware
A working GPU driver helps the renderer. Integrated graphics is usually enough. This is not a game.
Technical details
Technical details
Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- WezTerm official site · Vendor product page
- WezTerm help · Vendor support
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
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