SetConsoleTitle function

Article
08/03/2021

Important

This document describes console platform functionality that is no longer a part of our ecosystem roadmap. We do not recommend using this content in new products, but we will continue to support existing usages for the indefinite future. Our preferred modern solution focuses on virtual terminal sequences for maximum compatibility in cross-platform scenarios. You can find more information about this design decision in our classic console vs. virtual terminal document.

Sets the title for the current console window.

Syntax

BOOL WINAPI SetConsoleTitle(
  _In_ LPCTSTR lpConsoleTitle
);

Parameters

lpConsoleTitle [in]
The string to be displayed in the title bar of the console window. The total size must be less than 64K.

Return value

If the function succeeds, the return value is nonzero.

If the function fails, the return value is zero. To get extended error information, call GetLastError.

Remarks

When the process terminates, the system restores the original console title.

This function uses either Unicode characters or 8-bit characters from the console's current code page. The console's code page defaults initially to the system's OEM code page. To change the console's code page, use the SetConsoleCP or SetConsoleOutputCP functions. Legacy consumers may also use the chcp or mode con cp select= commands, but it is not recommended for new development.

Tip

This API has a virtual terminal equivalent in the window title sequences. Virtual terminal sequences are recommended for all new and ongoing development.

Examples

The following example shows how to retrieve and modify the console title.

#include <windows.h>
#include <tchar.h>
#include <conio.h>
#include <strsafe.h>

int main( void )
{
   TCHAR szOldTitle[MAX_PATH];
   TCHAR szNewTitle[MAX_PATH];

   // Save current console title.

   if( GetConsoleTitle(szOldTitle, MAX_PATH) )
   {
      // Build new console title string.

      StringCchPrintf(szNewTitle, MAX_PATH, TEXT("TEST: %s"), szOldTitle);

      // Set console title to new title
      if( !SetConsoleTitle(szNewTitle) )
      {
         _tprintf(TEXT("SetConsoleTitle failed (%d)\n"), GetLastError());
         return 1;
      }
      else
      {
         _tprintf(TEXT("SetConsoleTitle succeeded.\n"));
      }
   }
   return 0;
}

Requirements


Minimum supported client	Windows 2000 Professional [desktop apps only]
Minimum supported server	Windows 2000 Server [desktop apps only]
Header	ConsoleApi2.h (via WinCon.h, include Windows.h)
Library	Kernel32.lib
DLL	Kernel32.dll
Unicode and ANSI names	SetConsoleTitleW (Unicode) and SetConsoleTitleA (ANSI)

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