A PuTTY shortcut that automatically launches a profile?

Question

How can I create a PuTTY shortcut that automatically launches a profile, so I can dial into a specific computer with one click?

It's not even necessary to have a saved session for that. `putty.exe user@host -p 42` and similar options can be used. — u1686_grawity, Feb 20 '11 at 13:52

score 95 · Accepted Answer · edited Dec 10 '14 at 21:19

95

From the Putty FAQ:

To run a PuTTY session saved under the name ‘mysession’, create a Windows shortcut that invokes PuTTY with a command line like \path\name\to\putty.exe -load "mysession"

---EDIT---

In Windows 7, the shortcut has to be in quotes like this:

"\path\name\to\putty.exe" -load "mysession"

edited Dec 10 '14 at 21:19

Community

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answered Feb 20 '11 at 13:25

Siim K

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Thanks, the same grammar to [PuTTYtray](https://puttytray.goeswhere.com/). – Weekend Sep 03 '18 at 12:52

hamid araghi · Answer 2 · 2022-04-29T10:43:11.890

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In windows use this target for putty shortcut, for save username and password. Then load a saved session or add to Task Manager:
"C:\Program Files\PuTTY\putty.exe" -load "your_saved_session" -l "username@your_server_address" -pw "your_password"

right click on putty shortcut
fill out "target" field of shortcut using above code (alter to your own properties).
click save button.

After that when you click on PuTTy shortcut it loads your session automatically using given username and password.

UPDATE: If you specified server ip or hostname in your selected putty profile you should not put your server address (..@server_address) in windows shortcut; correct shortcut is now: "C:\Program Files\PuTTY\putty.exe" -load "your_saved_session" -l "username" -pw "your_password"

edited Apr 29 '22 at 10:43

answered Nov 23 '18 at 06:50

hamid araghi

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Putting passwords in shortcut isn't a good idea. Type the password in putty window manually. – Biswapriyo Nov 23 '18 at 06:54
Yes Biswapriyo, but in educational purposes it is too boring type password many times! – hamid araghi Nov 23 '18 at 07:11
Perhaps key authentication would be an alternative to passwords – Ed Heal Dec 13 '18 at 16:26
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In my case, I had to do it without `@your_server_address` as `-l "username" -pw "your_password"`. – Lalit Fauzdar Nov 18 '21 at 08:46
Yes it seems to be a change in new versions of putty. @LalitFauzdar – hamid araghi Sep 30 '22 at 19:11
You can use a password manager to store the password and hand it to PuTTY when necessary. – Paul Johnson Feb 22 '23 at 09:22

score 5 · Answer 3 · edited Dec 18 '19 at 17:02

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I had referred to Putty Connection Manager as a useful addon, giving one click connects and tabbed windows, but it seems the app is dead and all the files removed from the hosting site.

While checking into this, I found a fork of the project, called superputty (see below) and a reference to KiTTY - a Win32 native version of PuTTY with extra features so here you go:

Superputty:https://github.com/jimradford/superputty

KiTTY: http://kitty.9bis.com/

edited Dec 18 '19 at 17:02

T.Todua

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answered Feb 20 '11 at 13:41

Linker3000

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There is no published files for puttycm, or homepages. – Olli Feb 20 '11 at 13:43
Yep - looks like the project has died - can't find the files anywhere. Shame. I have edited the post to reflect this. – Linker3000 Feb 20 '11 at 16:06

score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 02 '16 at 20:30

PuttyTray is an alternative where you get sessions in the Windows quickjump list if you pin it to the taskbar. Mine is pinned at position 9, so I type Win+Alt+9 to show list of sessions and arrow key to select, then enter to launch.

It also has a bunch of other nice to have features.

A PuTTY shortcut that automatically launches a profile?

4 Answers4