# How to use SSH keys with PuTTY on Windows

The PuTTY SSH client for Microsoft Windows does not use the same key format as the OpenSSH client. If you want to use PuTTY, you have to create a new SSH public and private key using the PuTTYgen tool or convert an existing OpenSSH private key.

SSH (Secure Shell) can carry out authentication using a traditional username and password combination or by using a public and private key pair. The SSH key pair establishes trust between the client and server, thereby removing the need for a password during authentication. While not required, the SSH private key can be encrypted with a passphrase for added security.

## What do I need to use SSH keys with PuTTY?

- PuTTY SSH client for Microsoft Windows
- Remote server that is accessible over OpenSSH

## How to install PuTTY and PuTTYgen

Both PuTTY and PuTTYgen are required to convert OpenSSH keys and to connect to the server over SSH. These two tools can be downloaded individually or, preferably, as a Windows installer from the [PuTTY Download Page](http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/download.html "PuTTY Download Page").

Once the PuTTY Windows installer is downloaded, double-click the executable file in the Download folder and follow the instructions in the installation wizard. The default settings are suitable for most installations. Both PuTTY and PuTTYgen should now be accessible from the Windows Programs list.

## How to use existing public and private keys

If you have an existing OpenSSH public and private key, copy the id\_rsa key to your Windows desktop. This can be done by copying and pasting the contents of the file or using an SCP client such as PSCP, which is supplied with the PuTTY installation package or FileZilla.

Next, launch PuTTYgen from the Windows Programs list.

1. Click **Conversions** from the PuTTY Key Generator menu and select **Import key**.
2. Navigate to the OpenSSH private key and click **Open**.
3. In the **Actions** section, go to **Save the generated key** and select **Save private key**.
4. Choose an optional passphrase to protect the private key.
5. Save the private key to the desktop as ‘id\_rsa.ppk’.

[![Image: PuTTY Key Generator](https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/1/c/csm_putty-key-generator_e8e0fa9df9.webp "PuTTY Key Generator")](https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/putty-key-generator.png) With the PuTTY Key Generator you can use already existing OpenSSH keys. If the public key is already appended to the ‘authorized\_keys’ file on the remote SSH server, connect to the server with the private key.

Otherwise, proceed by copying the public key to the server.

## How to create new public and private keys

Launch PuTTYgen from the Windows Programs list and proceed with the following steps.

1. Under **Parameters**, locate the **Number of bits in a generated key:** field at the bottom of the window. Increase the number of bits to **2048 or higher.**
2. Under **Actions**, go to **Generate a public/private key pair** and click **Generate**.
3. You will be instructed to move the mouse cursor around within the PuTTY Key Generator window. This acts as a randomiser when generating the private key.
4. Once the key information appears, click **Save private key** under **Actions** / **Save the generated key**.
5. Save the private key to the desktop as ‘id\_rsa.ppk’.
6. The public key is located in the field **Public key for pasting into OpenSSH authorized\_keys file:** in the **Key** section at the top of the window.

[![Image: PuTTYgen](https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/e/7/csm_create-new-public-and-private-keys_88698ee8ba.webp "PuTTYgen")](https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/create-new-public-and-private-keys.png) You can use the PuTTYgen tool to generate new private and public keys. ## How to copy a public key to a remote server

The OpenSSH public key is located under **Public key for pasting info OpenSSH authorized\_keys file:** in the **Key** section. The public key begins with **ssh-rsa** followed by a string of characters.

1. Highlight the entire public key in the PuTTY Key Generator and then copy the highlighted text.
2. Launch PuTTY and log into the remote server with your existing user credentials.
3. Use your preferred text editor to create and/or open the authorized\_keys file:

```none
vi ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
```

4. Paste the public key into the authorized\_keys file.

```none
ssh-rsa AAAAB3NzaC1yc2EAAAABJQAAAQBp2eUlwvehXTD3xc7jek3y41n9fO0A+TyLqfd5ZAvuqrwNcR2K7UXPVVkFmTZBes3PNnab4UkbFCki23tP6jLzJx/MufHypXprSYF3x4RFh0ZoGtRkr/J8DBKE8UiZIPUeud0bQOXztvP+pVXT+HfSnLdN62lXTxLUp9EBZhe3Eb/5nwFaKNpFg1r5NLIpREU2H6fIepi9z28rbEjDj71Z+GOKDXqYWacpbzyIzcYVrsFq8uqOIEh7QAkR9H0k4lRhKNlIANyGADCMisGWwmIiPJUIRtWkrQjUOvQgrQjtPcofuxKaWaF5NqwKCc5FDVzsysaL5IM9/gij8837QN7z rsa-key-20141103
```

5. Save the file and close the text editor.
6. Adjust the permissions of the authorized\_keys file so that the file does not allow write permissions for a group.

```none
chmod 600 ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
```

7. Log out of the remote server.

## How to connect to a remote server with a private key

Now it’s time to test SSH key authentication. Close the PuTTYgen tool and then launch PuTTY again.

1. Enter the remote server Host Name or IP address under **Session**.
2. Navigate to **Connection** > **SSH**> **Auth**.
3. Click **Browse…** under **Authentication parameters** / **Private key file for authentication**.
4. Locate the ‘id\_rsa.ppk’ private key and click **Open**.
5. Finally, click **Open** again to log into the remote server with key pair authentication.

[![Image: Connect to Server with Private Key](https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/digitalguide/fileadmin/_processed_/1/5/csm_connect-to-server-with-private-key_416d1bb484.webp "Connect to Server with Private Key")](https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/digitalguide/fileadmin/DigitalGuide/Screenshots_2022/connect-to-server-with-private-key.png) With the SSH client PuTTY you can test whether the key authentication works.


This is a markdown version of: [https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/digitalguide/server/configuration/ssh-key-with-putty/](https://www.ionos.com/en-ie/digitalguide/server/configuration/ssh-key-with-putty/) for AI/LLM consumption.