What is a .key file?
Apple Keynote Presentation · Document · Apple · 2003
A .key file is a presentation from Apple's Keynote app, the iWork alternative to PowerPoint. It is a package format that opens on Mac, iPad, iPhone and iCloud, but not natively on Windows.
What is a .key file used for?
Keynote is known for polished animations and templates. A .key file bundles the slides, media and transitions as a package.
Windows has no Keynote app, so the usual path is iCloud Keynote in a browser, or exporting to PowerPoint (.pptx) or PDF.
How to open a .key file
The .key format opens in the following apps, grouped by operating system. If one app does not work, try another from the same list. For a step-by-step walkthrough, see how to open a .key file.
Windows
- iCloud Keynote (web)
- convert to PPTX first
macOS
- Apple Keynote
- Preview (quick look)
Linux
- iCloud Keynote (web)
Web
- iCloud.com Keynote
How to convert a .key file
You can convert a .key file to pptx, pdf, mov using a conversion tool or the export menu of an app that opens it.
.key file signature (magic bytes)
Programs recognise a .key file by the bytes at the start of the file, not by its name. These are the signatures for Keynote. For a full breakdown, see the Keynote file signature page.
| Hex signature | Offset | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 50 4B 03 04 | 0 | ZIP package (PK..) |
See the full magic-numbers reference for every format.
Frequently asked questions
What is a .key file?
A .key file is a presentation from Apple's Keynote app, the iWork alternative to PowerPoint. It is a package format that opens on Mac, iPad, iPhone and iCloud, but not natively on Windows.
How do I open a .key file on Windows?
Use iCloud.com Keynote in a browser, or ask the sender to export it to PowerPoint (.pptx) or PDF from Keynote.
Can PowerPoint open a .key file?
Not directly. Export it from Keynote as .pptx first, then PowerPoint opens it, though complex animations may not survive.
What is a .key file?
A presentation made in Apple Keynote, part of the free iWork suite on Mac, iPad and iPhone.
Related formats
Sources
Details on this page were checked against authoritative references: