How to Export and Import PuTTY Sessions: Step-by-Step Guide

PuTTY is a popular SSH client used to connect to remote servers. If you frequently use PuTTY and have saved multiple sessions, you may want to export and import them when moving to a new system or after reinstalling Windows.

1. Exporting PuTTY Sessions from the Registry

PuTTY stores session configurations in the Windows Registry. To export them, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the Windows Registry Editor

Press Win + R and type:
```
regedit
```
Click OK to open the Registry Editor.

Step 2: Navigate to the PuTTY Session Storage

In Registry Editor, navigate to:
```
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SimonTatham\PuTTY\Sessions
```
This is where PuTTY stores all saved session configurations.

Step 3: Export the Registry Entries

Right-click on the Sessions folder.
Select Export.
Choose a location to save the .reg file (e.g., Putty_Sessions_Backup.reg).
Click Save.

✅ You have now successfully backed up your PuTTY sessions.

2. Importing PuTTY Sessions on a New System

Once you have exported the PuTTY session registry file, you can restore it on another system.

Step 1: Transfer the `.reg` File

Copy the exported Putty_Sessions_Backup.reg file to the new system via USB, email, or cloud storage.

Step 2: Import the Registry File

Double-click the Putty_Sessions_Backup.reg file.
Click Yes when prompted to allow changes.
You should see a confirmation message:
“The keys and values contained in Putty_Sessions_Backup.reg have been successfully added to the registry.”

✅ Your PuTTY sessions are now restored.

Step 3: Verify in PuTTY

Open PuTTY.
Click Load in the session window.
Your imported sessions should appear in the list.

3. Alternative Method: Copying the Sessions Folder (For Non-Registry Backup)

If you prefer not to use the Windows Registry method, you can manually copy PuTTY session configurations.

Step 1: Find the PuTTY Configuration Files

Some PuTTY versions store session files in:


C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\PuTTY\Sessions

Each session is stored as a separate file.

Step 2: Copy and Transfer the Files

Copy the Sessions folder and transfer it to the new system.

Step 3: Paste the Files in the New System

Place the Sessions folder into:


C:\Users\YourUsername\AppData\Local\PuTTY\

✅ Your PuTTY sessions will be restored.

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How to Export and Import PuTTY Sessions: Step-by-Step Guide