Licence or encrypted security key
File type: Encoded and encrypted file
Files with key extension are commonly used to store license keys data files. These files are used to verify that the user owns legally purchased copy of the program.
Found 9 different file type records with the same key filename suffix.
File type category:
Encoded and encrypted file
Date updated: June 29, 2024
File extension key is frequently used by various programs for files that hold various encrypted data or keys, such as program licenses.
These files are not meant to be opened directly. Programs access them to verify legally purchased licenses and such. For example antivirus programs like Avira or Kaspersky use key files to store personal licenses.
Also used for various encrypted files (keys) by security programs.
These files are not meant to be opened directly.
You typically cannot converted these files to anything else, there is also no reason to do so.
Kaspersky Anti-Virus (Microsoft Windows)
Avira Premium Security Suite (Microsoft Windows)
Avira AntiVir Premium (Microsoft Windows)
Avira AntiVir Personal (Microsoft Windows)
Estimator (Microsoft Windows)
Sentry 2020 (Microsoft Windows)
Forecast Pro (Microsoft Windows)
Top Secret Crypto Gold (Microsoft Windows)
VMware Workstation (Microsoft Windows)
LightWave 3D (Microsoft Windows)
File type category:
GIS, GPS navigation and map file
Date updated: August 2, 2019
The key file extension is used by ESRI ArcView for files that contain geocoding matching keys in ODB format.
Probably some sort of specialized GIS file type for mapping purposes.
Use ESRI ArcView to work with the *.key files.
Probably cannot be converted to anything else.
ArcGIS for Desktop Basic (ArcView) (Microsoft Windows)
ENVI (Microsoft Windows)
ArcGIS for Desktop Basic (ArcView) (Microsoft Windows)
File type category:
Encoded and encrypted file
Date updated: December 6, 2017
The key file extension is associated with Avira AntiVir Personal, a reliable and free antivirus solution that protect computer against viruses, Trojan horses and other malicious software, developed by Avira.
The key file stores license keys obtained when a license is purchased.
These files are not meant to be opened directly.
Conversion to other formats is not possible.
Avira AntiVir Personal (Microsoft Windows)
Avira AntiVir Premium (Microsoft Windows)
Avira Premium Security Suite (Microsoft Windows)
File type category:
Game file
Date updated: January 22, 2019
The key file extension is also used in Bioware's Infinity and Aurora game engines for files that hold some resource data (central reference point to locate files required by the game).
Used in such successful titles as Baldur's Gate or Neverwinter Nights.
Probably not meant to be accessed by the user.
Probably cannot be converted to anything else.
Baldur's Gate (Microsoft Windows)
Neverwinter Nights (Microsoft Windows)
Baldur's Gate II (Microsoft Windows)
Planescape: Torment (Microsoft Windows)
Icewind Dale (Microsoft Windows)
File type category:
Settings, options, themes or skins file
Date updated: October 27, 2017
The key file extension is also used by DataCAD 3D CAD software.
A *.key file used in this program contains customized toolbar that can be imported to the program. Old file format replaced by DTB format in latest versions of DataCAD.
These *.key files can be imported to DataCAD.
In latest version of DataCAD the *.key files are automatically converted to DTB file format.
DataCAD (Microsoft Windows)
DataCAD (Microsoft Windows)
DataCAD (Microsoft Windows)
File type category:
Document file
Date updated: March 28, 2023
File extension key is also used in Keynote, a presentation software application developed as a part of the iWork productivity suite (which also includes Pages and Numbers applications) by Apple Inc.
The Keynote Presentation is XML based and may contain basic text documents or elaborated multi-page brochures, including images, special texts, tables, graphs, charts and more. be created from a blank page or based on saved template.
A .key file from Keynote is essentially compressed ZIP archive that contains a the main presentation document, previews and some metadata.
Previous versions of iWork Keynote used the keynote file extension instead.
Use Keynote program from Apple's iWork office suite to open .key files.
Keynote offers several export options, including movies(animations) or alternative document formats.
Keynote for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
LibreOffice Impress (Multiplatform)
iWork for iCloud (On-line services)
Keynote for iOS (Apple iOS)
Keynote for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
iWork for iCloud (On-line services)
Keynote for iOS (Apple iOS)
Keynote for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
iWork for iCloud (On-line services)
Keynote for iOS (Apple iOS)
Keynote for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
Keynote for iOS (Apple iOS)
Keynote for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
iWork for iCloud (On-line services)
Keynote for iOS (Apple iOS)
Keynote for iOS (Apple iOS)
LibreOffice Impress (Multiplatform)
iWork for iCloud (On-line services)
PDF to Keynote (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
iWork for iCloud (On-line services)
Keynote for Mac (Apple macOS / Mac OS X)
LibreOffice Impress (Multiplatform)
Keynote for iOS (Apple iOS)
iWork (On-line services)
File type category:
Settings, options, themes or skins file
Date updated: July 12, 2017
File extension key is sometimes used for settings files that contains saved keyboard layouts, shortcuts, keybinds or other configuration data for keyboards. Such formats are frequently used in computer games.
Most likely loaded automatically when put in proper folder.
It is unlikely that this type of .key files can be converted to anything else.
SmartWare (Microsoft Windows)
Delta Force (Microsoft Windows)
Diablo II (Microsoft Windows)
File type category:
System file
Date updated: December 31, 2024
The key file extension is used in Windows 7 much like REG format in previous versions of Windows. It is a file that contains registry information.
You can simply add the registry entry with double clicking on the .key file. You can also view and read the content in any text editor.
Be careful when handling registry file, they might contain malicious code or otherwise corrupt your computer. Always be sure to install registry entries from reliable sources.
Opening the file in windows results in the registry data being added Windows. A *.key file can also be viewed/edited using in any text editor.
Although you can technically "convert" key registers much like any other text file, there is practically no reason to do it, as such conversions would be pointless.
Registry Workshop (Microsoft Windows)
Microsoft Windows NotePad (Microsoft Windows)
Registry Workshop (Microsoft Windows)
Microsoft Windows NotePad (Microsoft Windows)
Registry Workshop (Microsoft Windows)
Microsoft Windows NotePad (Microsoft Windows)
Registry Workshop (Microsoft Windows)
Windows Registry Editor (Microsoft Windows)
Registry Workshop (Microsoft Windows)
Windows Registry Editor (Microsoft Windows)
Microsoft Windows 7 (Microsoft Windows)
Microsoft Windows 8 (Microsoft Windows)
Microsoft Windows 10 (Microsoft Windows)
File type category:
Archive and compressed file
Date updated: January 22, 2018
The key file extension is associated with OS/2, an operating system for IBM-PC compatible computers. The .key file stores archive key.
The IBM OS/2 operating system was discontinued and replaced by eComStation (eCS).
OS/2 (Other operating systems or devices)
OS/2 (Other operating systems or devices)
OS/2 (Other operating systems or devices)
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