Securely connect to remote servers with ease using PuTTY.
PuTTY is a free and open-source terminal emulator, serial console, and network file transfer application.
PuTTY by Simon Tatham is a popular open-source terminal emulator and SSH client that provides users with a secure way to access remote servers, devices, and systems. Known for its simplicity and robust functionality, PuTTY is widely used by system administrators, network engineers, and software developers for managing and configuring remote machines.
- SSH, Telnet, and Serial Support: PuTTY supports multiple protocols, including SSH, Telnet, and serial connections, allowing users to securely connect to remote devices for configuration, administration, and troubleshooting.
- Terminal Emulation: The terminal emulator in PuTTY provides users with a command-line interface to interact with remote systems. Users can run shell commands, edit configuration files, and perform various tasks within a text-based environment.
- Secure Connections: PuTTY ensures secure communication over networks by encrypting data transmitted between the client and server. This feature protects sensitive information such as passwords, commands, and data exchanged during remote sessions.
- Session Management: Users can save and manage multiple sessions in PuTTY for quick access to commonly used connections. Session configurations, including host IP addresses, ports, protocol settings, and authentication methods, can be easily saved and loaded.
- Customization Options: PuTTY offers various customization options for terminal appearance, fonts, colors, keyboard shortcuts, and behavior settings. Users can tailor the emulator to suit their preferences and optimize their workflow.
- Port Forwarding: PuTTY supports port forwarding functionality, allowing users to securely tunnel connections between local and remote ports. This feature enables users to access services running on remote servers as if they were local.
- Public Key Authentication: Users can authenticate to remote servers using public key cryptography with PuTTY. This method enhances security by eliminating the need to transmit passwords over the network during authentication.
PuTTY by Simon Tatham is a versatile terminal emulator and SSH client that provides users with a secure and reliable means of accessing and managing remote systems. With support for multiple protocols, secure connections, session management, customization options, port forwarding capabilities, and public key authentication, PuTTY is a powerful tool for remote system administration and network communication.
Overview
PuTTY is a Open Source software in the category System Utilities developed by Simon Tatham.
The users of our client application UpdateStar have checked PuTTY for updates 7,069 times during the last month.
The latest version of PuTTY is 0.83, released on 02/09/2025. It was initially added to our database on 08/24/2007. The most prevalent version is 0.83, which is used by 31% of all installations.
PuTTY runs on the following operating systems: Windows. The download file has a size of 0.5MB.
Users of PuTTY gave it a rating of 5 out of 5 stars.
Pros
- Free and open-source software
- Simple and easy-to-use interface
- Supports a wide range of protocols including SSH, telnet, SCP, and more
- Lightweight and fast performance
- Highly customizable with various settings and options
- Portable version available for use without installation
Cons
- Lacks advanced features compared to other SSH clients
- Interface may appear outdated and not visually appealing to some users
- No built-in file transfer capabilities
FAQ
What is PuTTY?
PuTTY is a free and open-source terminal emulator, serial console and network file transfer application.
What operating systems does PuTTY run on?
PuTTY runs on Windows, Linux, macOS and Unix. It also has a portable version that can run from a USB flash drive.
What protocols does PuTTY support?
PuTTY supports SSH, Telnet, rlogin, raw TCP and serial connections. It also has support for IPv6 and various encryption algorithms.
Is PuTTY free to use?
Yes, PuTTY is completely free to use. It is released under the MIT license which allows anyone to use, modify and distribute it.
How do I install PuTTY?
To install PuTTY on Windows, simply download the installer or portable executable from the official website and run it. On Linux and macOS, you can install it using your system's package manager or by downloading the source code and compiling it yourself.
How do I use PuTTY?
To use PuTTY, simply launch the application and enter the details of the connection you want to make (e.g. hostname, username, password). Then select the protocol you want to use and click on the connect button.
Can I save my PuTTY settings?
Yes, you can save your PuTTY settings by creating a session and saving it. This will allow you to quickly connect to the same server with the same settings in the future.
What are some useful PuTTY features?
PuTTY has many useful features such as X11 forwarding, port forwarding, SSH key authentication, dynamic port forwarding (SOCKS proxy) and many more. It also has a command-line version called plink.
How can I report bugs or suggest new features?
If you encounter a bug or want to suggest a new feature, you can do so on the official PuTTY website.
Who created PuTTY?
PuTTY was created by Simon Tatham, a computer programmer and free software advocate based in the United Kingdom.
Boris Weber
I am an editor at UpdateStar. I started as a support engineer, and am now specialized in writing about general software topics from a usability and performance angle among others. I telecommute from UpdateStar’s Berlin office, when I am not working remote as a digital nomad for UpdateStar. When I'm not analyzing the latest software updates, you can find me exploring new cities, immersing myself in local cultures, and discovering innovative tech trends across the globe.
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