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Fix PuTTY Server Refused Our Key Error: Best Solution

In this guide, we want to teach you how to Fix PuTTY Server Refused Our Key Error. PuTTY is a free implementation of SSH (and telnet) for PCs running Microsoft Windows (it also includes a xterm
terminal emulator). You will find PuTTY useful if you want to access an account on a Unix or other multi-user system from a PC (for example your own or one in an internet cafe).
You can now proceed to the guide steps below on the Orcacore website to resolve the PuTTY Server Refused Our Key Error.
Common Causes of PuTTY Key Error
This error can occur due to some reasons. Here are some common causes of this error:
- Wrong Public Key
- Incorrect Key Permissions
- Key Not Added to Server
- PuTTY Format Issue
- Wrong SSH User
- SSH Server Configuration Issues
In most cases, it is caused by the public key that isn’t copied correctly to your remote server. Follow the steps below to resolve the issue.
Table of Contents
Steps To Fix PuTTY Server Refused Our Key Error
It is a possible error message when you try to connect to the remote SSH server using PuTTY SSH Key: “Server refused our key“.
This happens because you haven’t copied your public key to the remote server or haven’t done it properly. In this guide, we want to show you how to troubleshoot PuTTY Key Error.
1. Open PuTTY Private key File
To resolve the PuTTY Server Refused Our Key Error, you need to open PuTTYgen, Go to File > Load Private key, and open your Private Key File.

At this point, you will see the Public key in the text box. Highlight it and copy it into your clipboard.

2. Edit the authorized_keys file To Fix Server Refused Key Error
Your public key should exist in the authorized_keys file of the user account you used to log in to the remote server.
Log in to the Linux server and change to the home directory with the cd command:
cd ~/
Then, create the .ssh folder and the .ssh/authorized_keys file (if it doesn’t already exist):
# mkdir ~/.ssh
# touch ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
Open the authorized_keys file and paste the public key. Here we use vi editor:
vi ~/.ssh/authorized_keys
Paste your public key in the file. When you are done, save and close the file.
3. Connect to the Remote Server
To connect to the remote server. Open the PuTTY terminal and provide the IP address of the remote server. Then, Go to Connection > SSH > Auth and Load the private key after clicking on the Browse button.
Click on Open to establish an SSH connection to the Linux server. You should be able to connect to the server without getting the “Server refused our key” error.
Conclusion
The “PuTTY Server Refused Our Key” error occurs when trying to connect to a remote server using PuTTY with an SSH key, but the server rejects the key for authentication. This usually means the server does not recognize or accept the provided key. At this point, you have learned to troubleshoot, fix, or resolve Server Refused Our Key PuTTY SSH Key Error.
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