Quick answer
Choose a terminal character set compatible with the remote application, usually UTF-8 for modern hosting. Encoding changes affect display, not the stored file's actual encoding.
Applies to
For PuTTY on your own Windows computer and an account with authorized SSH access. Use the hosting service's assigned hostname, port and user. An ordinary cPanel account is not a root login; your service may use a nonstandard SSH port.
Steps
- Load the intended saved PuTTY session and open Window > Translation.
- Select the required remote character set and verify a font that can display its characters.
- Return to Session and Save, then test representative non-ASCII text through a harmless read-only operation.
Check the result
Confirm expected characters display correctly without altering the underlying file.
Troubleshooting and support
If characters remain wrong, check the remote application's encoding and locale. Do not rewrite production files just to test a terminal display setting.
If the problem continues, contact support from the account that owns the service. Include the domain, exact error, time and time zone, tool name, and a redacted screenshot. Keep passwords, private keys, cookies and private message content out of the ticket.
Video tutorial
The original video is preserved. Its interface or product version may differ from the written guidance above.
Related help
- Import and authorize a public SSH key in cPanel
- Fix Permission denied (publickey) when connecting an AI coding tool
Official references
Written content reviewed November 1, 2026. Menu availability depends on the product version, permissions and service.
