microsoft / microsoft/terminal
Windows Terminal startup delay when launched via CreateProcess
- Dominant language
- C++
- Stars
- 105k
- Forks
- 9.6k
- Avg merge
- 3d 17h
- Merged PRs (30d)
- 29
Description
### Windows Terminal version
1.23.20211.0
### Windows build number
10.0.26200.7634
### Other Software
Visual Studio 2026 18.2.0
### Steps to reproduce
- Open Visual Studio and create a new MFC App with the default settings
- Change the implementation of the `OnAppAbout()` function to
```
STARTUPINFOA si;
ZeroMemory(&si, sizeof(si));
si.cb = sizeof(si);
PROCESS_INFORMATION pi;
ZeroMemory(&pi, sizeof(pi));
char CmdLine[] = "cmd.exe";
CreateProcessA(NULL, CmdLine, NULL, NULL, FALSE, 0, NULL, NULL, &si, &pi);
WaitForSingleObject(pi.hProcess, INFINITE);
CloseHandle(pi.hThread);
CloseHandle(pi.hProcess);
```
- Build and run the app
- Click _Help > About MFCApplication..._
- Observe a delay of a few seconds before the terminal appears
- Change _Settings > System > Advanced > Terminal_ setting to _Windows Console Host_
- Click _Help > About MFCApplication...._
- Observe that the terminal appears almost instantly
### Expected Behavior
When launching the new Windows Terminal, the window should open quickly, similar to the legacy one.
### Actual Behavior
When launching the new Windows Terminal, there is a noticeable delay before the window appears.
Contributor guide
Research direction
Start by reproducing the delay with the provided MFC App and CreateProcessA sequence, then compare it with Windows Console Host selected under Settings > System > Advanced > Terminal. No source files, tests, or entry points are named; done means identifying the startup delay and making Windows Terminal appear promptly when launched this way.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- cpp
- Domain
- desktop, operating-systems
- Issue type
- Bug
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100