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How to Download and Install PuTTY on Windows 11

In this guide, we will walk through the process of installing PuTTY on Windows 11. We will download the software from the official source, configure the client settings for better visibility, and establish an SSH connection to an Ubuntu server.

Step 1: Download PuTTY

Ensure you download the software from the official website to avoid third-party scams. Navigate to putty.org and click the "Download PuTTY" link.

On the download page, select the 64-bit installer package (MSI). It is a small file, approximately 4 MB in size. Run the file once the download is complete.

Step 2: Installation Process

The setup wizard will launch. Follow these steps:

  1. Click Next.
  2. Choose the installation destination folder and click Next.
  3. On the Product Features screen, you can choose to create a desktop icon. Ensure "Install PuTTY files" is selected.
  4. Click Install.
  5. Once complete, uncheck the "View README file" option if desired and click Finish.

The installer includes several tools besides the main client, such as PSFTP (for file transfer) and PuTTYgen (for generating SSH keys). You can find these in the Start menu.

Step 3: Setting Up and Configuring PuTTY

Launch the PuTTY application. The main interface allows you to connect via various protocols, including SSH (Port 22) and Serial (via a COM port).

Customizing Appearance

To improve readability, especially on high-resolution screens:

  1. Navigate to Window > Appearance in the left-hand category menu.
  2. Click the Change button under Font settings.
  3. Select a readable font like Consolas and increase the size (e.g., to 14).

To make these changes permanent for new sessions, go back to the Session category, select "Default Settings," and click Save.

Creating a Stored Session

To save connection details for a specific server:

  1. Enter the IP address (e.g., 192.168.74.21) in the "Host Name (or IP address)" field.
  2. In the "Saved Sessions" text box, type a name for the connection (e.g., "Ubuntu Server").
  3. Click Save. The session will appear in the list below.

Step 4: Connecting via SSH

To connect to your saved server, highlight the session name in the list and click Load, then click Open.

If this is your first time connecting to this host, a security alert will appear asking you to trust the host key. Click Accept to add the key to the cache. Finally, enter your username and password when prompted to log in.

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