Frequently Asked Questions
Common PuTTY, SSH, and companion-tool topics. For a guided walkthrough, open the Practical how-to on this site.
What is PuTTY?
What is PuTTY?
PuTTY is a no-cost open-source client for SSH, Telnet, rlogin, serial, and raw TCP. You receive a terminal window, saved session profiles, and optional helpers for keys and file transfer.
Is PuTTY free?
Yes. PuTTY ships under the MIT Licence without purchase.
Is PuTTY safe?
Choose the download route on this site when policy allows, validate checksums if your security team insists, and always inspect the host key on first connect to reduce interception risk.
Keys and authentication
What is PuTTYgen?
PuTTYgen produces SSH key pairs. It ships inside the Windows PuTTY installer; on Debian-style Linux install putty-tools to add the puttygen CLI.
Should I use a passphrase on my private key?
Yes, unless you rely on a tightly managed alternative such as hardware tokens. A passphrase guards the key if the file leaks.
Platforms and install
Which platforms are supported?
Windows bundles graphical PuTTY and PuTTYgen. macOS and Linux users normally install through package managers; see PuTTYgen and Download PuTTY for links and notes.
Where should I download from?
Use this site’s Download PuTTY page together with your organization’s software policy. In high-assurance settings verify checksums and host keys exactly as your administrator directs.
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