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Sick of staring at the same dull terminal? Learn Termux color customization, take control of your dev environment, and code in a space that actually inspires you.

I still remember the first time I launched Termux on my Android device. The stark black-and-white interface felt like a throwback to the early days of computing. While the functionality was impressive, the aesthetics left much to be desired.

Determined to make my terminal not just functional but also visually appealing, I embarked on a journey of Termux color customization. Through tweaking .termux properties and experimenting with color schemes, I transformed my terminal into a personalized workspace that reflects my style and enhances readability.

If you’re ready to break free from the default and make your terminal truly yours, read on to discover how.

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Table of Contents

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• Understanding the .termux Directory
• Creating or Editing colors.properties
  • Steps to Create or Edit colors.properties
  • Define Your Colors
  • Save Your Changes
  • Restart Termux
• Experimenting with Color Schemes
• Sharing and Finding Color Schemes
• Understanding and Applying Color Codes
  • Text Colors
  • Background Colors
  • Troubleshooting Custom Colors
• "Your Terminal, Your Canvas"

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Understanding the .termux Directory

The .termux directory is the key to unlocking advanced Termux color customization. By creating or modifying files in this directory, you can control various aspects of Termux’s appearance, including its color scheme. For customizing colors, we’ll focus on the colors.properties file.

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Creating or Editing colors.properties

To begin your journey into Termux color customization, you’ll need to create or edit the colors.properties file within the .termux directory. This file allows you to define custom color schemes that will be applied across your Termux environment.

Steps to Create or Edit colors.properties

Open the Terminal: Fire up Termux and make sure your package lists are updated:

pkg update && pkg upgrade

Navigate to the .termux Directory: Move to the .termux directory, creating it if it doesn’t exist:

mkdir -p ~/.termux cd ~/.termux

Create or Open colors.properties: Use a text editor like nano to create or edit the colors.properties file:

nano colors.properties

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Define Your Colors

In the colors.properties file, you’ll define the colors used in the terminal. The format is simple—each line consists of a key (representing a specific terminal element) and a color value in hexadecimal format.

background=#1e1e1e 
foreground=#d4d4d4 
color0=#1e1e1e 
color1=#f44747 
color2=#608b4e 
color3=#d7ba7d 
color4=#569cd6 
color5=#c586c0 
color6=#4ec9b0 
color7=#d4d4d4 

• Explanation of Colors:
  • background: The terminal’s background color.
  • foreground: The color of the text.
  • color0 – color7: These define the standard colors used in the terminal for things like prompts, outputs, and error messages.

Save Your Changes

After defining your colors, save the file and exit the editor. In nano, you can do this by pressing CTRL + X, then Y to confirm, and Enter to save.

Restart Termux

To apply your new color scheme, simply exit and restart Termux. You should now see your terminal in your newly defined colors.

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Experimenting with Color Schemes

One of the best aspects of Termux color customization is the ability to experiment with different color schemes. Whether you prefer a high-contrast look or a soft, muted palette, the .termux properties file gives you the flexibility to make your terminal truly your own.

Here are a few ideas to get you started:

• Monochrome: Keep it simple with shades of gray or a black-and-white theme.
• High Contrast: Use bold, bright colors to make text pop, perfect for readability in bright environments.
• Solarized: Emulate the popular Solarized color scheme, which is known for being easy on the eyes.

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Sharing and Finding Color Schemes

The Termux community is a great resource for discovering new ideas for Termux color customization. Many users share their favorite color schemes online, providing inspiration for your own terminal setup. You can find inspiration on forums, GitHub repositories, or even create your own repository of favorite schemes. Sharing your configuration is as easy as copying and pasting your colors.properties content.

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Understanding and Applying Color Codes

Termux utilizes ANSI color codes to define text and background colors. Here’s a quick reference:​

Text Colors

• 30: Black
• 31: Red
• 32: Green
• 33: Yellow
• 34: Blue
• 35: Magenta
• 36: Cyan
• 37: White

Background Colors

• 40: Black
• 41: Red
• 42: Green
• 43: Yellow
• 44: Blue
• 45: Magenta
• 46: Cyan
• 47: White​

To apply these, edit the colors.properties file in the .termux directory, assigning your desired colors to elements like background, foreground, color0 through color15.​

Troubleshooting Custom Colors

If you encounter any issues during your Termux color customization, double-check your colors.properties file for typos or incorrect color codes. Troubleshooting is straightforward, and you can always revert to the default settings by deleting the file or temporarily renaming it.

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“Your Terminal, Your Canvas”

In this guide, we’ve explored the steps to achieve effective Termux color customization, turning a plain terminal into a vibrant, personalized workspace. By understanding and modifying the .termux properties, you can tailor your terminal to suit your preferences, enhancing both aesthetics and productivity.​

If you’ve found this guide helpful and want to stay updated with more tips and tutorials on customizing your development environment, consider subscribing to my newsletter. Join a community of developers who are taking control of their tools and creating setups that inspire.​

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