How to save PuTTY sessions to a settings file

Saving PuTTY sessions to a settings file prevents losing a carefully curated list of server profiles when migrating to a new PC, rebuilding Windows, or standardizing session templates across multiple workstations.

On Windows 11, PuTTY stores most saved configuration data in the Windows Registry under the current user hive (HKEY_CURRENT_USER). Exporting the registry key that contains saved sessions produces a .reg file that can be archived or moved to another machine for later import.

The exported .reg file is plain text and may contain connection metadata such as hostnames, usernames, proxy settings, and key file paths, so it should be treated as sensitive. Saved sessions are per Windows user account, and exporting only Sessions does not include stored SSH host key fingerprints under SshHostKeys, which can cause new “unknown host key” prompts after a migration.

Related: How to import PuTTY sessions from a settings file
Related: How to update or delete PuTTY host key fingerprints on Windows

Steps to save PuTTY sessions to a settings file:

  1. Launch PuTTY.
  2. Verify the target entries exist in the Saved Sessions list.
  3. Close PuTTY after confirming the sessions list.
  4. Open the Run dialog by pressing Win+R.
  5. Type regedit and press Enter.
  6. Click Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
  7. Navigate to Computer → HKEY_CURRENT_USER → Software → SimonTatham → PuTTY → Sessions from the tree list. 
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SimonTatham\PuTTY\Sessions

    Sessions are stored under HKEY_CURRENT_USER for the signed-in Windows account.

  8. Right-click the Sessions key and select Export.
  9. Confirm Selected branch references the Sessions key and click Save.

    The exported .reg file is plain text and may contain sensitive connection details, so store it in a protected location.

  10. Open the exported .reg file in Notepad to confirm the Sessions path is included. 
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SimonTatham\PuTTY\Sessions]
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