PuTTY is an open source terminal client for accessing remote computers through SSH, with additional support for Telnet and serial connections. It is mainly used for server administration and troubleshooting.
PuTTY is a terminal client that lets you operate a remote computer through a text session, most commonly over SSH. System administrators use it to maintain servers, developers use it to inspect application environments, and network technicians use it to access equipment consoles. You enter a hostname or IP address, select the connection type, and authenticate with credentials accepted by the destination. Commands execute on that destination, while their output appears in your local terminal window. The Windows package also includes separate utilities for file transfers, command execution, and SSH key management, supporting several related administration tasks from one installation.
PuTTY requires a reachable server or device that accepts the selected protocol; installing the client does not create a remote account. SSH connections normally use port 22, although the destination administrator may specify another port. Docker Desktop handles local container workflows, while an SSH terminal can administer a separate remote host running container services. The supplied download targets the Windows x64 installer for release 0.84, although the official current release is 0.85. Standalone executables are also available from the developer. Choose the package matching your computer, and distinguish the terminal application from its companion transfer tools when planning installation or automation.
PuTTY helps administrators complete remote maintenance without travelling to a machine or opening a graphical desktop session. A text interface keeps attention on commands and their results, making tasks such as examining service output, checking permissions, and editing server configuration practical from a Windows workstation. For recurring work, retaining connection settings reduces preparation and makes switching between known destinations more predictable. A technician can use the same familiar terminal behaviour when moving between network access and a physical device console, reducing the need to learn separate interfaces. The accompanying utilities also let a manual procedure develop into a scripted workflow as its steps become repeatable. This gives small teams room to standardize maintenance without purchasing a terminal client licence. The MIT licence permits commercial use and redistribution under its terms, while published source code allows technical teams to inspect the implementation or adapt it to their needs.
Key capabilities and highlights.
PuTTY opens encrypted SSH sessions for interactive work on remote systems. Its terminal emulation displays command output and supports text applications running on the destination. Host key checking helps identify the server you are contacting, provided you verify unfamiliar fingerprints through a trusted source before accepting them.
Named profiles retain destination addresses, ports, and terminal preferences for later connections. You can load a profile instead of rebuilding its configuration each time. Different settings for individual machines help accommodate unusual keyboard behaviour or connection requirements, while a default profile provides a starting point for new destinations.
Serial mode connects to a local COM port for equipment that exposes a console interface. You can set communication parameters such as speed, data bits, parity, and flow control. This gives technicians direct access to supported routers or embedded devices when network access is unavailable or not yet configured.
PuTTY supports local, remote, and dynamic port forwarding through an SSH connection. These options route selected application connections through the remote server, subject to server permissions and network reachability. Dynamic forwarding supplies a SOCKS proxy, while fixed forwarding rules connect a chosen listening port to a specific destination.
PuTTYgen creates authentication keys and can import supported existing key formats. You install the public key on the server and retain the private key locally, optionally protected by a passphrase. This supports server policies that require public key authentication and separates possession of a key from knowledge of an account password.
Pageant holds loaded private keys and answers authentication requests from compatible clients. After unlocking a protected key, you can reuse it across connections without repeatedly entering its passphrase. This is useful when terminal sessions, file transfers, and scripted commands need the same identity during a period of administration.
The PuTTY package includes PSCP for command line copying and PSFTP for interactive SFTP sessions. PSCP can copy directories recursively, while PSFTP supports operations such as navigating directories and renaming remote files. These separate tools move files between computers without relying on terminal clipboard operations to reproduce their contents.
Plink exposes connection functionality through a command line interface suited to scripts and remote commands. It can load saved sessions and use Pageant for authentication. Batch mode disables interactive prompts, allowing an unattended job to fail when connection setup needs input instead of waiting indefinitely for a response.
Browse historical releases and previous builds.
Common questions about PuTTY.
Yes. It is distributed under the MIT licence, which permits commercial use, modification, and redistribution subject to its conditions. There is no paid licence requirement for business use.
The official download page identifies version 0.85, released on August 16, 2026, as current. The fixed download in this listing points to the older 0.84 x64 installer. Use the official website to obtain the current release.
The terminal client is available as a standalone executable that can run without the MSI installer. The MSI package installs the companion utilities together. On Windows, normal session settings are stored in the registry, so standalone execution does not mean all configuration travels with the executable.
A timeout usually calls for checking the hostname, port, network route, and firewall. Connection refused commonly means the destination has no service listening on that port or actively rejects it. Authentication errors require checking the username, credentials, and server policy. The Event Log provides connection details.
It primarily provides terminal access, not a complete remote desktop. SSH X11 forwarding can display supported remote graphical applications when an X server is running locally and the remote server permits forwarding. A separate remote desktop solution is needed for a conventional full desktop session.
PuTTY is an open source terminal client for accessing remote computers through SSH, with additional support for Telnet and serial connections. It is mainly used for server administration and troubleshooting.
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