PPK File
What are PPK files and how to open them
Are you having problems opening a PPK file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your PPK 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
PuTTY | Verified |
Last updated: January 24, 2024
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.
TeraPad | User submitted | |
Xming portable PuTTY | User submitted | |
SailPack-Viewer | User submitted | |
Hangul PuTTY | User submitted | |
Pageant | User submitted |
Microsoft Application Virtualization | User submitted | |
WinSCP | User submitted | |
Presentation Package Player | User submitted | |
Smart card bundle | User submitted | |
Xming portablePuTTY | User submitted |
Help us help others
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