---
title: "PuTTY for Mac: Download, Tutorial and How to install and Use"
description: Download PuTTY SSH client for Mac - tutorial on how to install and use PuTTY SSH client on your mac also suitable for basic and advanced users
---

[Academy ](https://www.ssh.com/academy)

# [PuTTY for Mac: Download, Tutorial and How to install and Use](https://www.ssh.com/academy/ssh/putty/mac)

 Written by [Admin](https://www.ssh.com/academy/author/admin) | Oct 8, 2019 4:00:00 AM

PuTTY for Mac is a port of the [Windows version of PuTTY](https://www.ssh.com/academy/ssh/putty/windows). However, there are many options for SSH clients for Mac, and this page discusses several of them.

### Contents

[Using the built-in SSH client in Mac OS X](https://www.ssh.com/academy/ssh/putty/mac?hs_amp=true#using-the-built-in-ssh-client-in-mac-os-x) [Running SSH from the terminal command line](https://www.ssh.com/academy/ssh/putty/mac?hs_amp=true#running-ssh-from-the-terminal-command-line) [Running SSH with a graphical user interface](https://www.ssh.com/academy/ssh/putty/mac?hs_amp=true#running-ssh-with-a-graphical-user-interface) [How to use PuTTY SSH keys with the built-in OpenSSH](https://www.ssh.com/academy/ssh/putty/mac?hs_amp=true#how-to-use-putty-ssh-keys-with-the-built-in-openssh) [Ported PuTTY for Mac](https://www.ssh.com/academy/ssh/putty/mac?hs_amp=true#ported-putty-for-mac) [Installation using HomeBrew](https://www.ssh.com/academy/ssh/putty/mac?hs_amp=true#installation-using-homebrew) [Installation using MacPorts](https://www.ssh.com/academy/ssh/putty/mac?hs_amp=true#installation-using-macports) [Alternatives to PuTTY on the Mac](https://www.ssh.com/academy/ssh/putty/mac?hs_amp=true#alternatives-to-putty-on-the-mac)

## Using the built-in SSH client in Mac OS X

Mac OS X includes a command-line SSH client as part of the operating system. To use it, goto Finder, and selext Go -> Utilities from the top menu. Then look for Terminal. Terminal can be used to get a local terminal window, and also supports SSH connections to remote servers.

### Running SSH from the terminal command line

Once you have the terminal window open, you have two alternatives. The first approach is to type `ssh hostname` or `ssh user@hostname` into the terminal window. This is more familiar for Linux and Unix users who are used to using a command line.

### Running SSH with a graphical user interface

The second option is to select New Remote Connection... from the Shell menu of Terminal. This opens a graphical dialog asking for the host to connect to and the user name. This also allows saving connections. This is recommended for users who are not accustomed to using a command line.

### How to use PuTTY SSH keys with the built-in OpenSSH

If you have a PuTTY `.ppk` format private key and want to use it with the built-in OpenSSH on Mac on the command line or in scripts, you can use the following commands.

First, install PuTTY for Mac using `brew install putty` or `port install putty` (see below). This will also install the command-line version of [puttygen](https://www.ssh.com/academy/ssh/putty/linux/puttygen), the PuTTY key generator tool.

Then, use the following command to convert the `.ppk` format private key to a standard PEM format private key:

```
puttygen privatekey.ppk -O private-openssh -o privatekey.pem
```

Make sure permissions on the private key file are set properly. It should only be readable by the user that owns it.

```
chmod go-rw privatekey.pem
```

You can now use the key for logins from scripts and command line with:

```
ssh -i privatekey.pem user@hostname
```

## Ported PuTTY for Mac

There is a port of PuTTY for Mac. It can be installed in several ways.

### Installation using HomeBrew

If you already have the `brew` command installed, the best way to install PuTTY is to use the following command:

```
brew install putty
```

### Installation using MacPorts

PuTTY is readily available via MacPorts. To see how to install MacPorts and PuTTY, see [here](https://onvinetech.wordpress.com/2016/01/26/49/).

Once you have MacPorts installed, you just need to give this command:

```
sudo port install putty
```

and to add a shortcut on the Desktop,

```
cp /opt/local/bin/putty ~/Desktop/PuTTY
```

## Alternatives to PuTTY on the Mac

A lot of people use [Cyberduck](https://www.ssh.com/academy/ssh/client) on Mac. It is a solid, well-known SSH client that is quite popular.

[View full post](https://www.ssh.com/academy/ssh/putty/mac)

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