PuTTY download for Windows

PuTTY is a free SSH client for Windows that opens a terminal session on a remote computer. It suits server administration, development and device access when you already have an authorised account. Choose a package for your PC, then check the server's identity before entering credentials. The PuTTY introduction explains its remote-login role.

Choose a PuTTY download for Windows

To download PuTTY, start with the team's official release page. It provides Windows installer packages and individual executables. Use a release build for ordinary work; development snapshots are intended for following changes and investigating problems.

Download links can lead to the.earth.li. The official FAQ confirms that this is the project's legitimate file host. Follow the team's links rather than choosing a site solely because its name contains "PuTTY".

PuTTY 64-bit: x64 or ARM64?

Check System type under Settings, System, About in Windows. Choose x64 for a 64-bit Intel or AMD system, or ARM64 for an Arm-based system. These are different architectures even though both are 64-bit. The release page also offers x86 builds for 32-bit compatibility. Read the current package notes if you use an older Windows installation.

Installer or standalone exe?

Choose the MSI installer when you want the packaged suite of PuTTY utilities. Choose the standalone putty.exe when you only need the terminal client and prefer to run an individual executable. Other utilities can be downloaded separately. Check the architecture for each file, including companion tools.

Install PuTTY and prepare your connection details

For the MSI package, run the installer and follow its prompts. For a standalone executable, save the file in a suitable folder and launch it directly. On a managed computer, follow your organisation's software policy.

PuTTY's download verification documentation explains its GPG signatures and Windows Authenticode signatures. Download signatures concern the origin of the program file; SSH host keys identify the server you connect to. They serve different purposes.

Before connecting, obtain the hostname or IP address, SSH port, username and authentication requirements from the server provider or administrator. Installing a client does not create a server account or grant access to a machine.

Open your first SSH session

The getting-started guide describes the basic connection process:

1. Enter the server hostname or IP address in Host Name.
2. Select SSH. Port 22 is usual; use the port supplied by the administrator if it differs.
3. Click Open, verify the host key as described below, then provide the requested login credentials.

After login, the server determines which commands and permissions are available. Save a frequently used connection by entering a name in Saved Sessions and selecting Save. The Session panel documentation explains how to save, load and update those settings.

Verify the server's host key

On a first connection, PuTTY may report that the host key is not cached. Obtain the expected fingerprint from the administrator through a trusted, separate channel and compare it carefully. Accept the key only after confirming the match. "Connect Once" does not save the key for future checks; it does not establish trust by itself. The host-key guide explains the choices.

If a previously known key changes, stop and confirm the reason before continuing. A server change can be legitimate, but an unexpected key can also indicate an intercepted connection. The warning documentation explains why checking with the administrator matters.

Use a private key with PuTTYgen

Public-key authentication uses two related keys. The server must be configured to accept your public key; keep the private key under your control. PuTTYgen can generate a pair or import an existing OpenSSH private key and save it in PuTTY's .ppk format. Its key-authentication manual also explains passphrases, which encrypt the saved private key.

To select a private key file in the current PuTTY interface, open Connection, SSH, Auth, then Credentials. Browse to the .ppk file using "Private key file for authentication", then save the session if you want to retain the setting. See the Credentials panel. Renaming a key file's extension does not convert its format.

Pageant for repeated key authentication

Pageant is an authentication agent that holds loaded private keys in memory, so compatible PuTTY tools can authenticate without repeatedly asking for the key passphrase. It is useful when you open several sessions with the same key. It still requires the server to recognise your public key.

Read the Pageant manual before enabling agent forwarding. Forwarding gives the remote side access to the agent's authentication services and should be used only when needed and when you trust that system.

Transfer files with PSFTP or PSCP

PuTTY's terminal window is for remote commands. For files, the suite includes two separate command-line tools:

• PSFTP provides an interactive SFTP session. You can list directories and use get or put for multiple transfers before disconnecting.
• PSCP performs a copy operation from the command line. Despite its name, it normally tries SFTP first and falls back to SCP when SFTP is unavailable.

Both need the appropriate server access. Check the destination path and permissions before copying files. If you want graphical browsing and drag-and-drop transfers, compare tools in the files and network category.

What PuTTY provides, and its limits

PuTTY is a client, not a general-purpose SSH server. Installing it does not enable incoming SSH access to your Windows PC. The project clarifies this in its FAQ. Its terminal interface also differs from a graphical remote desktop.

A standalone exe is not a promise that settings travel with the file. PuTTY stores saved sessions and cached host keys in the Windows Registry by default, as its data-storage notes explain. For network logins, prefer SSH to Telnet: the protocol comparison describes their different security properties.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PuTTY free for commercial use?

Yes. PuTTY is distributed under the MIT licence, which permits commercial use. Redistribution and modified copies must retain the required copyright and licence notices.

Why does nothing appear when I type my password?

PuTTY normally hides password input, including its length. Type the password and press Enter; do not expect dots or asterisks. This behaviour is covered in the login instructions.

Can I ignore a changed host-key warning?

Verify the new fingerprint with the server administrator first. PuTTY cannot tell whether an unexpected change is legitimate. The host-key warning guide describes both legitimate changes and possible attacks.

Does reinstalling PuTTY fix "Connection refused"?

Check the connection details first. Confirm the protocol and port, then ask whether the server's SSH service is available or a firewall rejects the connection. PuTTY documents these causes in its connection-error guide.