Download PuTTY for Windows , Linux and Mac

PuTTY, a popular terminal emulator, is an open-source, light-weight, and free SSH client. It was developed by Simon Tatham in C language. Its primary function is to connect to a computer remotely while offering the facilities of transferring files, manipulating data, etc.

putty download

What is PuTTY?

PuTTY is an open-source software tool that provides a secure connection to your computer securely via SSH and telnet. PuTTY is a free software package that helps you connect to a Unix-like computer from the Windows operating system and The only SSH and telnet client you need It does not require any installation, so you can use it to create SSH and telnet connections on the fly and then execute programs on remote computers over those connections.

It’s available for Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10, XP and Server 2003 onwards. PuTTY has features such as graphical SFTP file transfer; single-click Remote Desktop tunnelling; auto-reconnecting capability; dynamic port forwarding through an integrated proxy; an FTP-to-SFTP protocol bridge.

Uses of PuTTY

Access anywhere with a one click

It can be configured to save your password, making it easy to log in to your account on any device. You can also set your custom port number if the default of 22 is blocked. With PuTTY you can easily access important files and programs remotely without any hassle.

PuTTY, The only SSH and telnet client you need

It has features such as graphical SFTP file transfer; single-click Remote Desktop tunnelling; auto-reconnecting capability; dynamic port forwarding through an integrated proxy; an FTP-to-SFTP protocol bridge.

Features

PuTTY comes bundled with “pscp” and “psftp” which are command-line SCP and SFTP clients respectively. Plink is a command-line connection tool used for sessions that are non-interactive. Session tabs are not supported directly in  PuTTY but many available wrappers do that.

PuTTY supports multiple variations on the secure remote terminal, and provides its users with the control over the SSH encryption key and protocol version. PuTTY also fully supports alternate ciphers such as AES, 3DES, RC4, Blowfish, DES, and Public-key authentication and also uses its own format of key files – PPK.

Moreover, PuTTY supports  SSO through GSSAPI, which includes user-provided GSSAPI DLLs. It can even emulate and mirror control sequences from xterm,  VT220, VT102, or  ECMA-48 terminal emulation, and allows local, remote, or dynamic port forwarding with SSH (including X11 forwarding).

IPv6 is supported through network communication layer, and the SSH protocol supports the delayed compression scheme. PuTTY can be used with local serial port connections too.

Installing PuTTY on Windows

Once it is successfully downloaded on Windows then follow the following steps to install the software:

  • Download and Double click the .msi file to begin the setup process.
  • Click on next and then continue to select the path and location for the installation.
  • Select the product features that you want to install in your system and click on install.
  • Click on Finish to end the setup and to close the dialogue box.
  • You have completed the installation.
  • With this successful installation, go to the location folder where the application is installed and run the .exe file with the administrator.

1. Manage Sessions in PuTTY

It is a preliminary panel where you have to specify certain options before you start the session.

  • The Host Name (or IP Address)bar is where the user name or IP address of the desired server to be connected will be input
  • Connection-type radio buttons let the users choose from the kind of network they plan to connect to.
  • The Port bar is a section that fills automatically upon selecting the type of connection. However, if the user chooses the Rawtype, the bar stays blank and requires them to enter the port manually by the user.
  • Upon selecting Serial in the connection type section, the Host Name and Port bars will be replaced by Serial Line and Speed respectively.

The “Load, save or delete a stored session” section is an option to set some connection settings without having to input all the details again when needed.

  • Once you save the session, you can just select it and select Load. The saved settings will appear in their boxes in the configuration section.
  • The panel allows modification in a saved session by first loading a session, editing everything as you want it and then by clicking the “save” button.
  • Users are able to delete a session as well.

PuTTY comes bundled with “pscp” and “psftp” which are command-line SCP and SFTP clients respectively. Plink is a command-line connection tool used for sessions that are non-interactive. Session tabs are not supported directly in  PuTTY but many available wrappers do that.

PuTTY supports multiple variations on the secure remote terminal, and provides its users with control over the SSH encryption key and protocol version. PuTTY also fully supports alternate ciphers such as AES, 3DES, RC4, Blowfish, DES, and Public-key authentication and also uses its own format of key files – PPK.

Moreover, PuTTY supports  SSO through GSSAPI, which includes user-provided GSSAPI DLLs. It can even emulate and mirror control sequences from xterm,  VT220, VT102, or  ECMA-48 terminal emulation, and allows local, remote, or dynamic port forwarding with SSH (including X11 forwarding).

IPv6 is supported through the network communication layer, and the SSH protocol supports the delayed compression scheme. PuTTY can be used with local serial port connections too.

The Close Window On Exit option helps determine whether the PuTTY terminal will close as soon as the session ends or restarts the session on the termination.

2. Logging in PuTTY

This configuration panel saves the log files from your PuTTY sessions which may be used later for debugging and analysis purposes. Users are free to choose the type and amount of data they want to log in to this window.

3. Terminal in PuTTY

The section has various options for the appearance of texts in the window. For example, you can decide whether the user wants the text to be placed in the immediate next line when it reaches the right edge of the window or wants to interpret the cursor position.

4. Configure the Keyboard setting in PuTTY

Using this option, users can modify the response to the ‘backspace,’ ‘home’ and ‘end’ keys, and several other keys/buttons to coordinate with the server settings.

5. Bell in PuTTY

It lets PuTTY sound an alert when you want it to.

6. Features of PuTTY

You can either disable or enable some of the advanced terminal features and functions of PuTTY like disabling cursor keys.

7. Adjust the size of the Window in PuTTY

The option allows you to predefine the size of the PuTTY window and control the scrolling limit. Multiple other changes and tweaks can be made using this feature.

8. Change the Appearance of PuTTY

Under this panel, small changes can be made like the appearance of the cursor, font in the terminal window, window border, etc.

9. PuTTY Behaviour

This feature lets you change the title of the window, control the warning window operation, and many more.

10. Translation in PuTTY

The “Remote Character Set” enables you to select how to interpret the information received from the server.

11. Selection in PuTTY

In a Unix environment, you can alter this panel to make changes in the course of copy-pasting or the actions of mouse buttons.

12. Adjust Colours in PuTTY

You can control the colour and colour temp of the background and the texts as well using this panel.

13. Configure Connection in PuTTY

The panel has options that solve any issues when closing connections in an idle window. With the option, users have a choice between the old and new protocols.

14. Manage Data in PuTTY

Auto-login is an excellent feature which dismisses the need to type the username every time you log in. It can also point out the terminal needs using this section.

15. A proxy setting in PuTTY

Permits configuration and creation of various proxies of different kinds used while making the network connections.

16. Telnet, Rlogin, and SSH in PuTTY

These sections allow configuration of session-related options like changing negotiation mode between the server and client, allowing automated login on the server, etc.