Where Does PuTTY Store Saved Sessions?
PuTTY saved sessions location in the Windows Registry, plus how to export and back them up.
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PuTTY stores saved sessions in the Windows Registry, not in files. Hostnames, keys, colors and window settings all live under the SimonTatham key.
This is why reinstalling Windows without a registry export wipes every saved session. The export takes seconds and saves real pain.
Where PuTTY stores this, by platform
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SimonTatham\PuTTY\Sessions
Each saved session is a subkey here. Export the Sessions key from regedit for backups. Host keys live in the sibling SshHostKeys key.
Frequently asked questions
How do I back up PuTTY sessions?
Run regedit, go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\SimonTatham\PuTTY\Sessions, right-click Sessions and Export. Save the .reg file somewhere safe; double-clicking it on another machine imports the sessions.
I have no SimonTatham key. Why?
Portable PuTTY can use a putty.conf file or registry-free mode, and some distributions randomize config paths. The registry path below is the standard installed behavior.
Notice an outdated path? Let us know.