Convert a .ppk private key (Putty) to a base64/pem private key for OpenSSH or OpenSSL

You can convert your Putty private keys (.ppk) to base64 files for OpenSSH or OpenSSL.

With puttygen on Linux/BSD/Unix-like

If you are using the unix cli tool, run the following command:

puttygen my.ppk -O private-openssh -o my.key

You can also generate a public key for your SSH servers using one of the two following commands based on your server:

puttygen my.ppk -O public-openssh -o my.pub

puttygen my.ppk -O public -o my.pub

You private key can be used with OpenSSH or Openssl-based software. The public key can be used with OpenSSH.

Although we recommend using different private keys as much as possible, you can reuse the newly generated key to make a CSR using OpenSSL.

With Puttygen on Windows

• Open Puttygen and click on Load in the Actions section.
  
  
• Then, select your PPK file.
  
  
• Your key has been imported.
  
  
• Then, go to the Conversions menu and select Export OpenSSH key.
  
  
• Name your private key and save it.
  
  
• In the main window, select Save public key in the Actions section.
  
  
• Name and save your public key.
  
  

See Also

• Main OpenSSL documentation
• Convert an OpenSSL/OpenSSH key to a Putty PPK file.
• Use an OpenSSL key with OpenSSH

• Putty official page
• Conversion tutorial by Danyll