KDE File

What are KDE files and how to open them

Are you having problems opening a KDE file or are you simply curious about its contents? We're here to explain the properties of these files and provide you with software that can open or handle your KDE files.

What is a KDE file?

A .KDE file is a Kaspersky Anti-Virus Data Vault file.

A file with the extension .kde is a secure container created by Kaspersky's data-vault feature used in products like Kaspersky Total Security. When you place files or folders into a data vault, they are stored together in this encrypted container so they cannot be accessed unless the vault is unlocked with your password. Its purpose is to protect your sensitive data from unauthorized access.

Kaspersky Anti-Virus (or more accurately, features in its broader suites like Total Security) creates .kde files when you use the data vault for encryption. You set up the vault: pick files/folders, designate a containing .kde file to store them, and assign a password. When you want to use the data again, you unlock the vault through Kaspersky, at which point you can browse the contents via Windows Explorer; afterward it can be locked again so the contents are securely stored. If you upgrade to a version that uses a newer vault format, you may be prompted to convert existing .kde vaults.

The encryption algorithm used for .kde vaults is AES in XTS mode, with an effective key length of about 56 bits when created under certain conditions (such as older versions, or constrained file systems). Vaults on FAT32 are limited to a maximum size of around 4 GB.

Files with extension .kde are only usable by Kaspersky's vault system, which is the only program that reads and writes them. If you lose the vault password you set, there is no documented way to recover its contents. The system also applies lockout rules: entering the wrong password too many times blocks access temporarily.

You usually do not need to edit or view these files, as they only contain information usable by the software program that uses them.

Last updated: August 7, 2026

Various apps that use files with this extension

These apps are known to open certain types of KDE files. Remember, different programs may use KDE files for different purposes, so you may need to try out a few of them to be able to open your specific file.

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