Frequently Asked Questions

Typical PuTTY, SSH, and companion-tool questions. For a guided walkthrough, visit the How-to guide on this site.

What is PuTTY?

What is PuTTY?
PuTTY is a free open-source client for SSH, Telnet, rlogin, serial, and raw TCP. You get a terminal window, saved session profiles, and optional helpers for keys and file transfer.

Is PuTTY free?
Yes. PuTTY is distributed under the MIT Licence at no charge.

Is PuTTY safe?
Pick the download path on this site when it fits your policy, confirm checksums if your security team requires them, and always review the host key on first connect to lower interception risk.

Keys and authentication

What is PuTTYgen?
PuTTYgen creates SSH key pairs. It is bundled with the Windows PuTTY installer; on Debian-style Linux install putty-tools to obtain the puttygen CLI.

Should I use a passphrase on my private key?
Yes, unless you depend on a tightly controlled alternative such as hardware tokens. A passphrase protects the key if the file is copied.

Platforms and install

Which platforms are supported?
Windows includes graphical PuTTY and PuTTYgen. macOS and Linux users typically install through package managers; see PuTTYgen and Get the build for links and notes.

Where should I download from?
Use this site’s Get the build page and your organization’s software rules. In high-assurance environments verify checksums and host keys as your administrator instructs.