How to install PuTTY on Windows

Installing PuTTY on Windows provides a trusted graphical SSH client for remote administration, serial console access, and secure file transfers using SCP or SFTP.

PuTTY is a suite of Windows networking utilities that includes PuTTY (terminal client), PuTTYgen (key generator), Pageant (SSH agent), and command-line tools such as plink, pscp, and psftp. The installer places the executables into a program directory and creates Start menu shortcuts, while session profiles and cached host keys are stored per-user in the Windows registry.

Download packages only from the official PuTTY site to avoid trojanized builds, and prefer the 64-bit installer on modern systems. The .msi installer typically requires administrator approval, while standalone executables can run without installation when administrative rights are restricted.

Related: How to use public key authentication in PuTTY
Related: How to transfer files with PSCP from PuTTY

Steps to install PuTTY on Windows:

  1. Open the official PuTTY download page in a browser. 
    https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html

    Installers from unofficial mirrors can be modified to include malware.

  2. Select the 64-bit .msi installer package for Windows.

    The 32-bit installer is only required on legacy 32-bit Windows installations.

  3. Save the downloaded installer file to a known location such as Downloads.
  4. Open the downloaded .msi file to start the installer.

    Windows SmartScreen prompts may require selecting More info before a Run anyway option appears.

  5. Approve the User Account Control prompt to allow installation changes.

    Administrator approval is required to install into system locations like C:\Program Files.

  6. Click Next on the installer welcome screen.
  7. Accept the license terms when prompted.
  8. Keep the default destination folder unless a custom location is required.

    A typical install path is C:\Program Files\PuTTY.

  9. Keep the default feature selection to install PuTTY, PuTTYgen, Pageant, and transfer tools.
  10. Click Install to begin copying files.
  11. Click Finish after the installer completes.
  12. Search for PuTTY in the Start menu.
  13. Confirm the PuTTY Configuration window opens.

    Saved sessions and cached host keys are stored per-user under HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SimonTatham\PuTTY.

  14. Launch PuTTYgen from the Start menu to confirm the key utility is installed.

    Related: How to generate an SSH key pair using PuTTYgen on Windows
    Related: How to convert PPK key to OpenSSH using PuTTYGen