When you create the VM, Azure generates a key pair and lets you download the .pem file (your private key). Windows users must first convert the .pem to a .ppk file for use with PuTTY as it uses the PPK format.

Prerequisites

• Download and install PuTTY & PuTTYgen****from the official PuTTY website.
• Keep your downloaded .pem private key file (for example, ubuntu2404.pem) handy.

Steps to convert .pem key file to .ppk file

1. Launch PuTTYgen

   1. Open PuTTYgen (installed with PuTTY).
   2. In PuTTYgen, click Load.

2. Load the .pem File

   1. In the file dialog, change the filter from PuTTY Private Key Files (*.ppk) to All Files (*.*) so you can see the .pem file.
   2. Select your PEM file (For example, ubuntu2404.pem). PuTTYgen displays a message: “Successfully imported foreign key.”

3. Save the Private Key as .ppk

   1. Click Save private key.

   2. A warning appears: “Are you sure you want to save this key without a passphrase to protect it?”

      • Click Yes to save without a passphrase (easier but less secure).
      • Click No to set a passphrase for added security (recommended).

   3. Save the key with a descriptive name, for example, ubuntu2404.ppk.