Tips to open PPK file
Can't open the PPK file? You are not the only one. Thousands of users face similar problems every day. Below you will find tips on how to open PPK files as well as a list of programs that support PPK files.
PPK file extension
| File Name |
PuTTY Private Key Format |
| File Developer |
PuTTY |
| File Category |
Misc Files |
The PPK file is supported on 1 operating systems. Depending on your operating system, you may need different software to handle the PPK files. Below is a summary of the number of programs that support and open the PPK file on each system platform.
What is PPK file?
The PPK file has been categorized as Misc Files. The creator of this file is PuTTY. Misc Files consists of 6033 similar files. PuTTY Private Key Format is most often found on 1 operating systems. The file will work on Windows systems, unfortunately not on others. It is recommended to use PuTTY to handle this file. This is a program created by Simon Tatham. Alternatively, you can use 1 other programs. You can use PuTTYgen in case PuTTY cannot be used.
How to open PPK file?
The most common problem when using PuTTY Private Key Format is that a specific PPK is not associated with the program. This causes the file PPK to open by system applications not designed for this purpose, or to display a message that there is no associated program. How to solve such a problem?
The first thing you should do is just "doubleclick" on the PPK file icon you want to open. If the operating system has an appropriate application to support it and there is also an association between the file and the program, the file should be opened.
Step 1. Install PuTTY
The first step is to check if the computer has the PuTTY program installed. To do this, enter the name PuTTY into the system search engine. If it is not, installation may solve the problem, as most applications create file associations during installation. Below is a list of programs that support the file PPK.
Programs to open PPK file
Remember to download programs supporting PPK files only from verified and safe sources. We suggest using the websites of software developers.
Step 2. Create association of PuTTY with PPK files
However, it may happen that the application itself does not cause the PPK file to open in the PuTTY application, but you can set it manually. It is most convenient to call the context menu with the right mouse button and select Properties. Information about the file and the program that the file is associated with are available here. Changes can be made using the "Change" button. The program should be visible in the window, otherwise it should be selected manually using the "Browse" button and the program installation directory should be indicated. The "always use the selected program ..." field will set the PuTTY application as the default for handling the PPK file.
Step 3. Update PuTTY to the latest version
The fault may also lie with the PuTTY program, it is possible that PuTTY Private Key Format requires a newer version of the program. This can be done using the application (if it provides such options) or from the Simon Tatham website and install the latest version.
Step 4. Check for the following problems with the PPK file
If the above steps do not help, you can assume that the file itself is not correct. File problems can be divided into the following:
The PPK file may be unusually small compared to the original file. This is most often caused by a problem while downloading the PPK file. Downloading the file again should fix the problem.
The computer may have fallen victim to a computer virus or hacker. A quick virus scan using an up-to-date antivirus program should clear up any doubts. Some antivirus vendors also provide free online scanners. However, it is important to scan the entire system, not only the file PPK or the program directory. As a result of the scan, sometimes it is not possible to recover PPK files, which are deleted if there is a backup of this file, then after restoring it, it must also be scanned.
Older version of PPK file may not always be supported by the latest software version. Help should be sought from the software developer, as they usually recommend using free file converters or installing an older version of the program.
There can be many reasons for this. Depending on the type of file, it is necessary to repair it accordingly. Some programs offer the ability to automatically repair PPK file corruption. The easiest way is to restore the file from a backup, if there is one, or contact PuTTY
When reading, a message appears that the file was encrypted or corrupted. The encrypted PPK files cannot be played on other computers than the one on which they were encrypted, they must be decrypted before using on another device.
The operating system protects files in some locations (e.g. the root of the system partition) against unauthorized access. The problem is only writing to the file, not reading it. If possible, you can try to move the PPK file to another location.
This problem usually affects more complex files. In this case, the PPK file is blocked by the first application to open it. Running programs (including those in the background) should be verified. Sometimes it is necessary to wait a while before referencing the PPK file again. Some anti-virus or backup software may occupy the PPK file for a certain period of time. If the problem persists, restart the machine.
Was this page helpful? YesNo
