PuTTY for PC: How to Download and Install on Windows (2026 Guide)

If you manage a server, a VPS, a router, or even a Raspberry Pi, the tool you will open most often is a small, plain window called PuTTY. It has connected Windows users to remote machines over SSH for more than 25 years — and it is still completely free.

This guide shows you how to download PuTTY for PC from its one official website, install it on Windows 11 or 10, and log in to your first server. Features, system requirements, and first-use steps are covered below — along with an important warning about a well-known look-alike site that is NOT the official one.

What Is PuTTY?

PuTTY is a free, open-source terminal emulator and network client written by Simon Tatham. From your Windows PC it opens encrypted SSH connections — and also Telnet, rlogin, and raw serial connections — to servers, routers, switches, and single-board computers.

The package also includes companion tools: PSCP and PSFTP for copying files over the same encrypted connection, PuTTYgen for creating SSH keys, and Pageant, an agent that holds your keys in memory so you can log in without retyping passphrases. System administrators, developers, and hosting customers rely on this little toolkit every day.

Key Features of PuTTY

SSH, Telnet, and serial connections: One client for encrypted shell access, older protocols, and direct serial-console cables.
Saved sessions: Store each server’s address, port, and settings under a name and reconnect in two clicks.
Key-based login: Create key pairs with PuTTYgen and hold them in Pageant for password-free, safer authentication.
Port forwarding and tunnelling: Route other traffic through your SSH connection to reach internal services securely.
File transfer companions: PSCP and PSFTP move files to and from the server over the encrypted connection.
Deep terminal customisation: Colours, fonts, scrollback size, and window behaviour are all adjustable per session.
Tiny and portable: The main program is a single small executable that can even run from a USB stick without installation.

System Requirements

Operating System: Windows 11, 10, 8 or 7 (64-bit or 32-bit)
Processor: Any modern or old Intel or AMD CPU — PuTTY runs on very modest hardware
RAM: 512 MB or more is plenty; PuTTY itself uses only a few MB
Storage: Under 50 MB for the full package of tools
Display: Any resolution
Internet: Needed for the download, and to reach your server (or a local network connection for LAN devices)
Account: None for PuTTY itself — you sign in with the username and password or key your server provider gave you

How to Download PuTTY (Official Method)

This part matters. PuTTY has exactly one official home: Simon Tatham’s page on chiark.greenend.org.uk. The site putty.org is NOT the official website and is not run by PuTTY’s author — never download PuTTY from there, or from random “PuTTY download” portals, which sometimes bundle unwanted extras into the installer. Use only the official page below.

Official Website: Download PuTTY from the official website

Step-by-Step Installation

Open the official PuTTY download page linked above — and check the address really is chiark.greenend.org.uk.
Download the Windows 64-bit MSI installer for the latest release.
Save the installer file to your Downloads folder.
Double-click the installer and approve the Windows permission prompt.
Keep the default destination folder and the default set of tools.
Click Install, then Finish when setup completes.
Launch PuTTY from the Start menu — the Configuration window opens, ready for your first session.

First-launch note: The same official page also offers the standalone putty.exe, which runs without installing anything — handy on a work PC you are not allowed to modify.

How to Connect to Your First Server with PuTTY

Open PuTTY and, in the Session category, type your server’s host name or IP address; leave the port at 22 for SSH.
Make sure SSH is the selected connection type, then type a name under Saved Sessions and click Save so you never retype it.
Click Open. The first time, PuTTY shows a security alert with the server’s key fingerprint — check it matches what your provider gave you, then accept.
At the “login as:” prompt, type your username and press Enter.
Type your password and press Enter — nothing appears on screen while you type, which is normal and not a frozen window.
You are in. Try a simple command such as ls or uptime, and type exit when you are finished to close the connection cleanly.

PuTTY Free vs Paid: What Is the Difference?

There is no paid version — full stop. PuTTY is free and open-source software under the MIT licence: the complete package, forever, for personal and commercial use alike. Nobody legitimate sells PuTTY, and the real program never asks you to pay, register, or unlock anything.

Treat any site that wants money or card details for PuTTY as a scam and leave. The project is maintained by Simon Tatham and contributors and simply given away. If PuTTY saves your working day regularly, the official page explains how the project is supported — but using it will always cost you nothing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is PuTTY safe to download and use?
Yes — from the official website linked above, the chiark.greenend.org.uk page maintained by its author. The risk comes from look-alike download sites; remember that putty.org is not the official PuTTY website.

Is PuTTY free?
Yes, completely. It is free and open-source software with no trial, no premium tier, and no paid upgrade. Any site charging for PuTTY is not legitimate.

What do I need before I can connect to a server?
Three things: the server’s address (IP or host name), a username, and a password or SSH key. These come from your hosting provider, your employer, or whoever set up the machine — PuTTY itself does not provide accounts or servers.

How is PuTTY different from the SSH built into Windows?
Windows 10 and 11 include a command-line OpenSSH client, which works fine if you know the commands. PuTTY adds a friendly configuration window, saved sessions you can click, and helper tools like Pageant and PuTTYgen that many administrators still prefer.

Conclusion

PuTTY is one of those rare tools that never needed reinventing: small, fast, free, and utterly dependable for reaching remote machines. Download it from the official website — the real one — save your first session, and your server is never more than two clicks away again.

Download PuTTY from the Official Website

PuTTY for PC: How to Download and Install on Windows (2026 Guide)