The Ghostty terminal will finally get a feature people have asked for since 2023

Ghostty Finally Scrolls: A Long-Awaited Feature Arrives for the Modern Terminal

Sometimes, developers get so engrossed with making the best app possible that some of the basics get left behind. But users do enjoy things that make their lives easier, and if you skimp on them, they will let you know. Such was the case for users of the Ghostty terminal, which lacked a scroll bar and forced people to either use the scroll wheel or keyboard keys to move around. Well, the developers have finally added a scroll bar to the app, which was one of the most requested features since its pre-release build in 2023.

A Bug Report That Gained Momentum

As spotted by OMG Ubuntu, the story begins back before Ghostty wasn’t even fully released. Someone made a simple request, opening a ticket as bug #111:

GTK: scrollbar for terminal window

helps to quickly get to the top when the output buffer is really long

The bug report got 171 thumbs-ups, which goes to show just how much people really wanted scroll bars. Unfortunately, it would be another few years before the developers cracked their knuckles and got to work on adding one.

From Pull Request to Stable Release

Fast-forward to October 2025, and we finally get an update:

Fixes #111

This builds on the prior work and adds scrollbars to the GTK application. After this PR, both the macOS and GTK applications support scrollbars and #111 can be closed.

This then added the feature to the nightly builds, but not to the stable version. Fortunately, the feature has just been tidied up and confirmed for release with Ghostty stable version 1.3.0, which should be released sometime in mid-March. So, if you’ve been lamenting the lack of a scroll bar and you don’t want to grab the nightly build, you’ll soon be in luck.

The Rise of Feature-Rich Terminals and the Importance of UX

Ghostty isn’t alone in pushing the boundaries of what a terminal can be. It’s a fast, cross-platform terminal emulator that uses platform-native UI and GPU acceleration (ghostty.org). The addition of scrollbars highlights a broader trend: terminal emulators are becoming increasingly sophisticated, offering features like ligatures, undercurl, and image support (Loosed Knowledge Base).

However, these advanced features are only valuable if the core user experience is solid. The Ghostty team’s responsiveness to user feedback on something as fundamental as a scrollbar demonstrates a commitment to usability. This is a lesson for all software developers: don’t neglect the basics in pursuit of innovation.

Understanding Terminal Screen Management

The need for scrollbars is also tied to how modern terminal emulators manage screens. As explained in a Ghostty discussion, terminals often have two screens: a primary screen with scrollback and an alternate screen without. Scrollbars are essential for navigating the scrollback buffer on the primary screen, providing a visual way to access past output.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is Ghostty?
A: Ghostty is a fast, feature-rich, and cross-platform terminal emulator designed for speed and modern features. (GitHub Releases)

Q: When will Ghostty 1.3.0 be released?
A: Ghostty 1.3.0, including scrollbar support, is due for release in mid-March.

Q: Where can I find pre-release builds of Ghostty?
A: Pre-release builds are available for testing on the Ghostty installation documentation.

Q: Is Ghostty only available on Linux and macOS?
A: Ghostty is a cross-platform terminal emulator, available on both Linux and macOS.

Q: What is the significance of bug #111?
A: Bug #111 was the original request for scrollbar support in Ghostty, filed in 2023 and receiving 171 upvotes.

Pro Tip: Explore the latest features and improvements by checking out the Ghostty releases on GitHub.

Want to stay up-to-date on the latest terminal emulator news and features? Read our full review of Ghostty and share your thoughts in the comments below!