Ghostty terminal is set to introduce scrollbar support, a highly anticipated feature for its users since the tool’s debut in 2024. Previously, users could only scroll through text using mouse wheel momentum or keyboard shortcuts, which, while functional, lacked the visual reference that scrollbars provide when dealing with extensive outputs.
As highlighted in community discussions, users have expressed that a scrollbar isn’t just about speeding up scrolling; it serves as a crucial navigational aid in understanding scroll positions within lengthy command outputs. Thankfully, with the upcoming release of Ghostty version 1.3.0, this feature will be made available, already accessible in development versions for Linux and macOS users.
To enable the scrollbar feature, users will need to adjust their configuration file by adding the line:
scrollbar = systemTwo options will be available: ‘system’, which allows the desktop environment to determine when to display the scrollbar, and ‘never’, which hides it indefinitely. On Ubuntu, users might only see the scrollbar during scrolling actions due to the default overlay scrollbar setting, but they can opt for always-visible scrollbars if preferred.
Additionally, Ghostty 1.3.0 will introduce other enhancements like a ‘jump to terminal’ session search feature, the ability to rename terminal tabs on Linux, and a read-only indicator for relevant tab screens. Ghostty stands out from other terminal emulators by using GTK4 natively on Linux and offering a native Swift frontend on macOS, eliminating reliance on wrappers like Electron.
The project’s founder, Mitchell Hashimoto, shifted Ghostty to a non-profit funding model in late 2025 to maintain its independence and avoid corporate control. This change aims to preserve the terminal’s integrity and purpose, steering clear of commercialization and ensuring it remains accessible to the community.
For more information about Ghostty, you can visit the official Ghostty website.