Keynote (Apple)
Also known as: .key file, Apple Keynote presentation, iWork Keynote
A .key file is a presentation created in Apple Keynote, the slide app in Apple’s iWork suite. The format is Apple-only — Windows and Android cannot open it natively — so Keynote exports to PowerPoint, PDF, or video for sharing.
- Native presentation format of Apple’s iWork suite
- Apple-only — no native Windows or Android app
- Export to PPTX, PDF, or video to share
What a Keynote file is
Keynote is Apple’s free presentation app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with a browser version on iCloud.com. A .key file is a package bundle containing the slides, themes, transitions, and embedded media.
The format is proprietary to Apple and known for cinematic transitions and animations. There is no native Keynote app for Windows or Android, so non-Apple users need an exported file or the iCloud web version.
Sharing a Keynote presentation
Use Share or Export to convert a deck: PowerPoint (PPTX) for an editable file, PDF for static slides, or Movie to render it as a video with animations intact for anyone to play.
Keynote can open and edit PPTX files, so it doubles as a PowerPoint alternative on Apple devices. Some effects may simplify when converting to or from PowerPoint.