KEY File Extension

What is KEY file?

Files with the KEY extension are popular and used by various types of key files software, utilised in the process of registering a legal copy of a given program.

Moreover, KEY files are used by sewers utilising the SSL protocol (Secure Socket Layer), to store and export digital keys.

Additional information

Such files are stored as strings of encoded keys. The KEY files used for purpose of authorising a purchase of a software, can be stored in two ways – as a plain text file, or more often – as an encrypted string of keys. KEY files have no standardised structure, therefore, they are not supported by any specific program. Every application can generate its own file format with registration key, and such file will operate properly only with an indicated application.

Other purposes

Files with the KEY extension are used also to store the Apple Keystone data (a program designed for creating multimedia presentations on Mac OS X platform). Such files contain all the data of a presentation, just like in case of its Windows equivalent – the PPTX file. This may include images, ClipArts, texts, shapes, diagrams, audio or video data.

Programs which support KEY file extension

Programs that can handle KEY files are as follows. KEY files can be encountered on all system platforms, including mobile, yet there is no guarantee each will properly support such files.

Updated: 03/10/2024

How to open file with KEY extension?

Being unable to open files with KEY extension can be have various origins. Fortunately, most common problems with KEY files can be solved without in-depth IT knowledge, and most importantly, in a matter of minutes. The following is a list of guidelines that will help you identify and solve file-related problems.

Step 1. Download and install Kaspersky Anti-Virus

The main and most frequent cause precluding users form opening KEY files is that no program that can handle KEY files is installed on user’s system. This one is an easy one. Select Kaspersky Anti-Virus or one of the recommended programs (for example, VMware Workstation, Avira AntiVir Personal, Avira AntiVir Premium) and download it from appropriate source and install on your system. Above you will find a complete listing of programs that support KEY files, classified according to system platforms for which they are available. If you want to download Kaspersky Anti-Virus installer in the most secured manner, we suggest you visit Kaspersky Lab website and download from their official repositories.

Step 2. Check the version of Kaspersky Anti-Virus and update if needed

If you already have Kaspersky Anti-Virus installed on your systems and KEY files are still not opened properly, check if you have the latest version of the software. It may also happen that software creators by updating their applications add compatibility with other, newer file formats. This can be one of the causes why KEY files are not compatible with Kaspersky Anti-Virus. All of the file formats that were handled just fine by the previous versions of given program should be also possible to open using Kaspersky Anti-Virus.

Step 3. Associate Licence Or Encrypted Security Format files with Kaspersky Anti-Virus

If the issue has not been solved in the previous step, you should associate KEY files with latest version of Kaspersky Anti-Virus you have installed on your device. The next step should pose no problems. The procedure is straightforward and largely system-independent

Selecting the first-choice application in Windows

• Right-click the KEY file and choose Open with option
• Next, select the Choose another app option and then using More apps open the list of available applications
• The last step is to select Look for another app on this PC option supply the directory path to the folder where Kaspersky Anti-Virus is installed. Now all that is left is to confirm your choice by selecting Always use this app to open KEY files and clicking OK.

Selecting the first-choice application in Mac OS

• From the drop-down menu, accessed by clicking the file with KEY extension, select Information
• Open the Open with section by clicking its name
• Select Kaspersky Anti-Virus and click Change for all...
• A message window should appear informing that This change will be applied to all files with KEY extension. By clicking Continue you confirm your selection.

Step 4. Verify that the KEY is not faulty

If you followed the instructions form the previous steps yet the issue is still not solved, you should verify the KEY file in question. Being unable to access the file can be related to various issues.

1. The KEY may be infected with malware – make sure to scan it with an antivirus tool.

If the file is infected, the malware that resides in the KEY file hinders attempts to open it. It is advised to scan the system for viruses and malware as soon as possible or use an online antivirus scanner. KEY file is infected with malware? Follow the steps suggested by your antivirus software.

2. Check whether the file is corrupted or damaged

If the KEY file was sent to you by someone else, ask this person to resend the file to you. The file might have been copied erroneously and the data lost integrity, which precludes from accessing the file. It could happen the the download process of file with KEY extension was interrupted and the file data is defective. Download the file again from the same source.

3. Verify whether your account has administrative rights

There is a possibility that the file in question can only be accessed by users with sufficient system privileges. Log in using an administrative account and see If this solves the problem.

4. Make sure that the system has sufficient resources to run Kaspersky Anti-Virus

If the systems has insufficient resources to open KEY files, try closing all currently running applications and try again.

5. Verify that your operating system and drivers are up to date

Up-to-date system and drivers not only makes your computer more secure, but also may solve problems with Licence Or Encrypted Security Format file. It is possible that one of the available system or driver updates may solve the problems with KEY files affecting older versions of given software.

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