> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.freakhosting.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# How to Use PuTTY to Connect to Your Server

> How to use PuTTY: enter your server IP and port 22, click Open, accept the host key and log in. Covers saved sessions and SSH key login with PuTTYgen.

To use PuTTY, open it, type your server's IP address (for example `203.0.113.10`) in **Host Name (or IP address)**, keep **Port** `22` and **Connection type** **SSH**, then click **Open**. Click **Accept** on the host key alert, type your username (usually `root`) and your password. Save the settings under **Saved Sessions** so you can reconnect with a double-click.

| Difficulty | Time | Works on | Needs |
| - | - | - | - |
| Beginner | 10 minutes | Windows 10 / 11 connecting to any Linux server | PuTTY 0.85 or later, server IP, username and password or key |

## Before you start

* Download PuTTY only from the [official PuTTY download page](https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html). The MSI installer includes PuTTY and PuTTYgen (the key generator). The current release is 0.85.
* Have your server IP, username and password ready. On a VPS, the IP is on your [server page](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/a-tour-of-your-server-page.md).
* If you only need a command line, Windows already has the `ssh` command. See [how to SSH into a server](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-connect-to-a-linux-server-with-ssh.md). PuTTY is useful if you prefer a window with saved sessions.

## How to connect with PuTTY

**1. Enter the server address**

Open PuTTY. In the **Session** category, type your server IP in **Host Name (or IP address)**, for example `203.0.113.10`. Leave **Port** at `22` unless you [changed the SSH port](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-change-the-ssh-port.md). Make sure **Connection type** is **SSH**.

**2. Save the session**

Type a name such as `web01` in **Saved Sessions** and click **Save**. Next time, double-click the name to connect.

**3. Click Open**

The first time, PuTTY shows a **PuTTY Security Alert** with the server's host key fingerprint. Click **Accept** to trust it and store it. PuTTY won't ask again unless the key changes.

**4. Log in**

At `login as:` type your username, for example `root`, and press **Enter**. Then type your password. Nothing appears while you type. To paste, right-click inside the PuTTY window.

## How to stop PuTTY disconnecting when idle

Some routers and firewalls drop idle connections. In PuTTY, open **Connection** and set **Seconds between keepalives** to `30` or `60`. Go back to **Session**, select your saved session and click **Save** again so the setting is kept.

## How to log in with an SSH key in PuTTY

A key is safer than a password and lets you [turn password logins off](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-disable-password-login-for-ssh.md). PuTTY uses its own key format, `.ppk`.

**1. Generate a key in PuTTYgen**

Open **PuTTYgen**. Select **EdDSA** with **Ed25519 (255 bits)**, or **RSA** with 4096 bits for very old servers. Click **Generate** and move the mouse over the blank area until the bar fills.

**2. Protect and save the private key**

Type a passphrase in **Key passphrase** and **Confirm passphrase**. Click **Save private key** and store the `.ppk` file somewhere safe. Never share this file.

**3. Copy the public key**

Select all the text in **Public key for pasting into OpenSSH authorized\_keys file** and copy it. It is one line that starts with `ssh-ed25519` or `ssh-rsa`.

**4. Add the public key to the server**

Log in with your password and run these commands. Replace the quoted text with the line you copied:

```bash theme={null}
mkdir -p ~/.ssh
chmod 700 ~/.ssh
echo 'ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAI... alex@laptop' >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
chmod 600 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
```

The key must stay on one line. SSH ignores the file if it is writable by other users, which is why the `chmod` commands matter.

**5. Tell PuTTY to use the key**

In PuTTY, load your saved session. Go to **Connection > SSH > Auth > Credentials** and click **Browse** next to **Private key file for authentication**. Select your `.ppk` file. Optionally set **Connection > Data > Auto-login username** to `root` or your user. Go back to **Session** and click **Save**.

**6. Test it**

Open the session. PuTTY asks for the key passphrase instead of the server password. If you still get a password prompt, the public key wasn't added correctly.

> [!TIP]
>
> On a VPS you can also add a public key in the [VPS Control Panel](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/vps-panel/how-to-manage-ssh-keys.md) before you rebuild the server.

## How to use an existing OpenSSH key in PuTTY

If you already made a key with `ssh-keygen`, open PuTTYgen, choose **Conversions > Import key**, select the private key (for example `id_ed25519`) and click **Save private key** to write a `.ppk` copy. The original file keeps working with the `ssh` command.

## Frequently asked questions

### PuTTY says "Network error: Connection timed out". What does that mean?

PuTTY can't reach the server at all. Check the IP and port, that the server is running, and that no firewall blocks the port. See [SSH connection timed out](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-fix-ssh-connection-timed-out.md).

### PuTTY says "Server refused our key". Why?

The server doesn't have your public key in `~/.ssh/authorized_keys` for that user, the line is broken across several lines, or the file permissions are too open. See [permission denied (publickey)](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-fix-ssh-permission-denied-publickey.md).

### How do I copy and paste in PuTTY?

Selecting text copies it. Right-click pastes. **Ctrl+C** and **Ctrl+V** don't work the way they do in other Windows apps.

### Do I need PuTTY on Windows 11?

No. Windows 10 and 11 include the OpenSSH `ssh` command, which works in PowerShell. Use whichever you prefer.

### Can PuTTY transfer files?

PuTTY itself can't. Use [WinSCP or FileZilla](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-transfer-files-with-sftp-winscp-and-filezilla.md), which can reuse your `.ppk` key.

## Related guides

> [card] [VPS and dedicated server guides](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/vps-and-dedicated-server-guides.md)
>
> Every guide in this section.

> [card] [SSH into a server](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-connect-to-a-linux-server-with-ssh.md)
>
> Use the built-in ssh command.

> [card] [Create and use SSH keys](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-create-and-use-ssh-keys.md)
>
> Key login with ssh-keygen.

> [card] [Disable password login](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-disable-password-login-for-ssh.md)
>
> Allow keys only.

> [card] [Transfer files with SFTP](https://help.freakhosting.com/portals/other/how-to-transfer-files-with-sftp-winscp-and-filezilla.md)
>
> WinSCP and FileZilla.

***

> [!NOTE]
>
> **Checked against the official [PuTTY manual](https://the.earth.li/~sgtatham/putty/0.85/htmldoc/) (release 0.85)** on 4 November 2026; key generation and `.ppk` conversion tested with PuTTYgen 0.81 on Ubuntu 24.04 LTS. Menu names can differ in older PuTTY releases.

> [!NOTE]
>
> ### Need Extra Help?
>
> If you encounter any issues, our support team is ready to assist:
>
> * **Live Chat:** Quick assistance via our website.
> * **Support Ticket:** [Open a Ticket](https://freakhosting.com/clientarea/submitticket.php)
> * **Discord:** [Join our Community](https://discord.gg/freakhosting)
> * **Email:** [support@freakhosting.com](mailto:support@freakhosting.com)

> [!TIP]
>
> ### Save on Your Hosting
>
> Ready to upgrade your hosting? Use code **KB20** at checkout for **20% off** your first order!

***

**Last Updated:** November 2026


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