How to Fix Error Unable to Use Key File When Using PuTTY

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Unable to Use Key File OpenSSH SSH-2 Private Key

In some cases, you get the following error when trying to connect to a Linux system using PuTTY with private key authentication.

How to Fix Error Unable to Use Key File When Using PuTTY

You got this because you use a private key with OpenSSH format. To fix it, you need to convert the OpenSSH private key to PuTTY format.

1. Visit the PuTTY official website then download the PuTTYGen.

Download:https://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/putty/latest.html

How to Fix Error Unable to Use Key File When Using PuTTY

2. Open the downloaded file to run the PuTTY Key Generator.

3. Go to Conversions → Import key.

How to Fix Error Unable to Use Key File When Using PuTTY

4. Browse then select the OpenSSH private key.

How to Fix Error Unable to Use Key File When Using PuTTY

5. The private key is converted to PuTTY format. Click on the Save private key button to save it to a file.

How to Fix Error Unable to Use Key File When Using PuTTY

6. Save the file to a safe location. As you can see, the PuTTY private key format is .ppk.

How to Fix Error Unable to Use Key File When Using PuTTY

Finally, open PuTTY, change the private key authentication from OpenSSH format to the PuTTY format then trying to connect to a remote Linux system.

How to Fix Error Unable to Use Key File When Using PuTTY

The connection should be established without any issue.

How to Fix Error Unable to Use Key File When Using PuTTY

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