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Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallTo connect to a VPS with PuTTY, you need the server’s public IPv4 address or hostname, SSH port, login username, and either an account password or a private key whose matching public key is installed on the VPS. Open putty.exe, choose SSH, enter the address and port, verify the host-key fingerprint on the first connection, then authenticate with your password or a .ppk key.
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This guide covers first-time password access, public-key login with PuTTYgen, repeat connections with Pageant and Saved Sessions, and the fixes for refused connections, host-key warnings, and rejected keys.
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PuTTY is a free, MIT-licensed Windows Telnet and SSH client. Its companion tools include PuTTYgen for key creation, Pageant for holding keys in memory, PSCP and PSFTP for file transfers, and Plink for command-line use. For a normal VPS login, the program you use is putty.exe.
The VPS is the remote computer. PuTTY supplies the SSH connection from Windows; it does not create the server account, open a firewall port, or install an SSH service. Collect these details from the VPS provider or administrator first:
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- The public IPv4 address or a resolvable hostname.
- The login username, such as
ubuntuin a provider example. - The SSH port. Port
22is the usual default, but the administrator may have changed it. - Either the account password or a private key. For key authentication, the corresponding public key must already be installed on the VPS.
Keep the address, username, and port together. A successful network connection only proves that you reached an SSH service; it does not prove that the account is authorized to log in.
How to connect to a VPS with PuTTY using a password
1. Install and open PuTTY
Install PuTTY from the project’s supported distribution, then launch putty.exe. The initial window opens on the Session category.
2. Enter the VPS address and port
In Host Name (or IP address), enter the address supplied for the VPS. A provider procedure shows the form username@IPv4_server, for example [email protected]. Use the exact username and address assigned to your server rather than copying that example literally.
Set Port to 22 unless the server administrator supplied another SSH port. Selecting the wrong port produces a connection failure even when the IP address is correct.
3. Select SSH and open the session
Under Connection type, select SSH, then click Open. PuTTY will attempt to contact the SSH service at the address and port you entered.
4. Verify the first host key
On a first connection, PuTTY displays the server’s host key and its fingerprint. Stop and compare that fingerprint with a trusted value supplied by the VPS provider or administrator through a separate channel. Accept the key only when it matches.
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The host key helps protect you from connecting to the wrong machine. If you choose Connect Once, PuTTY continues without caching the key, so the warning appears again on the next connection. A normal acceptance caches the key for subsequent checks. Never accept a changed or unfamiliar fingerprint merely to make the warning disappear.
5. Enter the account password
When the terminal asks for the password, type the VPS account password and press Enter. PuTTY does not echo password characters while you type; the absence of dots or asterisks is expected. If the credentials are accepted, the shell prompt appears and commands run on the VPS rather than on your Windows computer.
How to use a .ppk private key instead of a password
Public-key authentication separates the two halves of an SSH key pair. The public key is installed on the VPS in the account’s authorized-key file. The private key stays on your Windows machine and proves possession of the matching key. PuTTY uses its .ppk private-key format.
Generate a new key with PuTTYgen
- Open PuTTYgen, the key-generation utility included with PuTTY.
- Use it to generate a public/private key pair.
- Enter a strong passphrase for the private key. A passphrase protects the key file if somebody obtains a copy of it.
- Save the private key as a
.ppkfile in a protected location. Do not place it in a shared folder or publish it with project files. - Copy the public-key text displayed by PuTTYgen for installation on the VPS.
The public-key text must remain one uninterrupted line when pasted into an OpenSSH authorized_keys file. Do not insert line breaks or copy explanatory text around the key.
Install the public key on an existing Linux VPS
You need an already-working access method, such as a temporary password login or a provider console, to install a new key. Sign in to the target account and create its SSH directory if necessary:
mkdir -p ~/.ssh
chmod 700 ~/.sshAppend the complete one-line public key to the account’s authorized-key file. Replace the example text with the exact line copied from PuTTYgen:
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echo 'ssh-key-type AAAA...rest-of-the-one-line-key... comment' >> ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
chmod 600 ~/.ssh/authorized_keysDo not wrap the key across lines. The key must belong to the same account whose username you will use in PuTTY. If your provider or administrator requires an SSH-service restart after changing authentication settings, follow that provider’s service procedure; a key added to authorized_keys normally takes effect without changing the service configuration.
Convert an OpenSSH private key when PuTTY cannot use it
A private key created by an OpenSSH tool is not automatically interchangeable with a PuTTY private-key file. If your VPS provider gave you an OpenSSH private key, open it in PuTTYgen and use PuTTYgen’s conversion and save functions to create the PuTTY-format file required by PuTTY. Select the resulting .ppk file in the SSH authentication settings.
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Select the .ppk file in PuTTY
- In PuTTY, expand Connection.
- Expand SSH, then select Auth and Credentials.
- Click Browse for the private-key file and select the saved
.ppk. - Return to Session.
- Enter the VPS address, username format, and SSH port, then select SSH.
- Click Open.
PuTTY asks for the private-key passphrase and then attempts public-key authentication. The passphrase unlocks the local private key; it is not the VPS account password.
Password or public key: which login method should you use?
Both methods use the same SSH connection, but they differ in setup and day-to-day risk. The choice depends on whether you control key installation and whether the VPS permits the authentication method.
| Method | Initial setup | Repeat connections | Security consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Password | Usually quickest when the provider has enabled a password account. | Type the account password at each login. | The account remains exposed to password-guessing attempts; use the password and account policy supplied by the administrator. |
| Public key with PuTTY | Generate or convert a key, install the matching public key, and select the .ppk file. |
PuTTY authenticates with the key after you enter its passphrase. | The private key stays on the client, while the VPS stores only the public key. A passphrase adds protection to the private-key file. |
If a provider supplied a key or specifically requested key authentication, use that method rather than trying to replace it with a password. If you have no way to install a public key and password login is enabled, password authentication is the practical first connection; you can install a key afterward if the administrator permits it.
Make repeat connections faster with Pageant and Saved Sessions
Use Pageant for an already-unlocked key
Browsing for the same .ppk on every connection is optional. Pageant can load the key once and keep it available while the agent is running. PuTTY can then use the loaded key for successive sessions instead of asking you to select the file each time. Pageant still protects the key with its passphrase when you load it; it does not turn an unprotected key into a protected one.
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Because Pageant keeps key material available in the running agent, use it only on a Windows session you control. Exit the agent when you no longer need the keys, especially on a shared computer.
Save a PuTTY session
PuTTY’s Saved Sessions can store the host, port, and key selection for quick reuse. Configure the connection once, enter a descriptive session name, and save it. On later connections, select that name, load the stored settings, and click Open. Confirm that the saved address and port are still current before connecting; a saved session does not detect a VPS address or port change for you.
What to do when PuTTY shows the host-key warning
The warning is a security checkpoint, not a routine dialog to dismiss. PuTTY is telling you that it has not previously verified this server key, or that the key differs from what it cached.
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- Obtain the expected fingerprint from the VPS provider or administrator through a trusted channel separate from the connection you are testing.
- Compare the values exactly, including the key type and every fingerprint character.
- Accept and cache the key only when the values match.
- If they do not match, choose the option that cancels the connection and investigate the address, DNS record, server replacement, or possible interception before trying again.
Connect Once is useful for a one-time test, but it does not cache the key. The warning will therefore return on the next connection.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Troubleshooting: connection and authentication failures
“Connection refused” or a timeout
Separate network reachability from account authentication. Work through these checks:
- Confirm that the VPS is powered on and running.
- Recheck the public IPv4 address or hostname for typing errors.
- Verify the SSH service is listening on the VPS.
- Confirm that the VPS firewall and any provider-level firewall permit the configured SSH port.
- Use the actual SSH port supplied by the administrator instead of assuming it is
22.
A refusal generally means the destination actively rejected the connection; a timeout often indicates that traffic is being filtered or that the address is unreachable. In either case, changing the username or key will not repair a blocked port.
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The host key is unfamiliar or has changed
Do not accept the new key until the provider or administrator confirms why it changed. A legitimate rebuild, migration, or key rotation can produce a new fingerprint, but an unexpected change can also indicate that you reached a different machine. Verify the address and the fingerprint through a trusted channel, then remove or update the cached entry only according to the administrator’s instructions.
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“Server refused our key”
This message means the VPS received a key-based login attempt but did not accept the presented key. Check all of the following:
- The selected
.ppkis the private key corresponding to the public key installed on the VPS. - The public key in
~/.ssh/authorized_keysis complete and remains on one uninterrupted line. - The key was installed in the home directory of the username you entered.
- An OpenSSH private key was converted to PuTTY’s format when necessary.
- The SSH service and account policy permit public-key authentication.
If you generated several keys, compare the public portion of the selected key with the exact line on the server rather than relying on the filename alone.
“Unable to use key file”
PuTTY may be unable to read a file that is not a PuTTY private-key file or that is damaged. Open the original key in PuTTYgen and save a valid .ppk, then select that converted file under Connection → SSH → Auth → Credentials. Keep the original private key safe while you verify the conversion.
The password or key passphrase is rejected
Check that you are entering the VPS account username, not a local Windows username, and distinguish the account password from the private-key passphrase. Also confirm the account policy: the server may permit only public-key authentication, only passwords, or neither for the account you selected. PuTTY cannot override those server-side rules.
The network connects but login still fails
Reaching the SSH banner does not authorize an account. Recheck the username, the account’s login policy, the key-to-account match, and whether password or public-key authentication is enabled. If the VPS uses a restricted administrative account, ask the provider which login name is allowed instead of repeatedly trying credentials.
PuTTY GUI, Pageant, and command-line alternatives
| Approach | Best fit | How credentials are handled | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|
| PuTTY with a password | A one-off or initial connection when password access is enabled. | Enter the account password at the terminal prompt. | Manual entry on every connection and greater exposure to password guessing. |
PuTTY with a selected .ppk |
Interactive Windows sessions using public-key authentication. | Browse to the private key and enter its passphrase. | Requires key installation and format conversion when the source key is OpenSSH. |
| PuTTY with Pageant | Several sessions during one Windows work period. | Load the .ppk into the running agent once. |
Key material remains available while Pageant is running. |
| OpenSSH or Plink from a command line | Repeatable commands, scripts, or workflows that do not need PuTTY’s visual configuration. | Handled by the command-line client and its configured key or password method. | Less visual guidance; scripts must handle addresses, ports, and credentials accurately. |
Choose the tool that matches the task. PuTTY is convenient when you want visible session settings and an interactive terminal. Plink or another OpenSSH client is more suitable when a documented command or script must run repeatedly. The SSH server still enforces the same username, port, host-key, and authentication rules.
A safe first-connection checklist
- Have the current VPS address or hostname, username, SSH port, and permitted authentication method ready.
- Use SSH as the connection type and verify the port before opening the session.
- Compare the first host-key fingerprint with a trusted provider or administrator value.
- For key login, install the exact public key, keep it on one line, and select the matching
.ppk. - Protect the private key with a passphrase and keep the file private.
- Use Pageant only on a trusted Windows session and close it when finished.
- If a connection fails, diagnose the port and SSH service before changing credentials.
After you are connected
At a successful shell prompt, commands are executed on the VPS. Start by confirming the account and host identity with the normal operating-system commands used by your provider, then proceed with your server task. When finished, log out from the shell with exit or the session’s normal logout command. Closing the PuTTY window also ends the interactive session, but logging out explicitly makes the end of the remote shell clear.
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