PPK File

What are PPK files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a PPK file or just wondering what they contain? We explain what these files are used for and show you software that we know can open or otherwise handle your files.

What is a PPK file?

PPK files have multiple uses, and PuTTY Private Key is one of them. Read more about the other uses further down the page.

PuTTY Private Key File

.PPK PuTTY Private Key Files store the private portion of a key pair used for SSH authentication. They are used in conjunction with PuTTY, a popular Windows SSH client, to establish secure connections to remote servers.

These files are an alternative to the more commonly used OpenSSH format, which uses .pem files.

When generating a key pair, it is important to keep the private key safe, as it is used to authenticate the client to the server. Failure to secure the private key can result in unauthorized access to the server.

It is recomended to use a passphrase to encrypt the private key. This will add an extra layer of security.

How to open PPK files

We have identified one PPK opener that is compatible with this specific type of PPK file.

Programs that open PuTTY Private Key files

Last updated: February 24, 2023

All known file formats using extension .PPK

While PuTTY Private Key File is a popular type of PPK-file, we know of 2 different uses of the .PPK file extension. Different software may use files with the same extension for different types of data.

PGNPack Archive

We know that one PPK format is PGNPack Archive. We have not yet analyzed in detail what these files contain and what they are used for. We're working on it.

While we have not verified the apps ourselves yet, our users have suggested ten different PPK openers which you will find listed below.

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of PPK files. Remember, different programs may use PPK files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

Help us help others

File.org helps thousands of users every day, and we would love to hear from you if you have additional information about PPK file formats, example files, or compatible programs. Please use the links below or email us at submit@file.org to discuss further.