Where Does PuTTY Store Saved Sessions?
PuTTY keeps every saved session in a Windows registry key, with host keys filed under a separate subkey beside them.
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PuTTY predates portable config files and it shows. Saved sessions live in the registry under a SimonTatham key, one subkey per session, with connection details, terminal settings, and forwarded ports inside.
The odd one out is Default Settings, stored with %20 in place of its space. Edit that session and every new session inherits your font, colors, and keepalive choices. Host keys accumulate in SshHostKeys, which is why a rebuilt server triggers the famous warning.
Where PuTTY stores this, by platform
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\SimonTatham\PuTTY\Sessions
One subkey per saved session. The SshHostKeys subkey beside Sessions holds known server keys; export the whole PuTTY key to migrate everything.
Frequently asked questions
How do I move sessions to a new PC?
Export HKCU\Software\SimonTatham\PuTTY to a .reg file and import it on the new machine. Sessions, defaults, and host keys travel together, and the import needs no PuTTY running at either end.
PuTTY warns the host key changed. What now?
Delete the offending entry under SshHostKeys and reconnect. Only do this when you changed the server yourself. A surprise key change on an untouched server deserves suspicion, not a click through.
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