Need to transfer or backup your Kaspersky license? Don't rely on screenshots. Here is the exact file path for the .key license file on Windows, plus a PowerShell trick to export it. We’ve all been there. Your IT ticketing system lights up: "New computer setup – need to move the Kaspersky license."
# Find the latest Kaspersky data folder $kavPath = Get-ChildItem "C:\ProgramData\Kaspersky Lab\AVP*" | Sort-Object LastWriteTime -Descending | Select-Object -First 1 if ($kavPath) $licPath = Join-Path $kavPath.FullName "Data\lic.key" if (Test-Path $licPath) Write-Host "License file found at: $licPath" -ForegroundColor Green Write-Host "File size: $((Get-Item $licPath).Length) bytes"
C:\ProgramData\Kaspersky Lab\AVP21.X\Data\lic.key AVP21.X changes based on your version (e.g., AVP21.9 , AVP21.16 ). ProgramData is a hidden folder. The "Catch" You Need to Know You cannot simply copy/paste this lic.key file to a new PC. kaspersky license key file location
else Write-Host "No Kaspersky license file found." -ForegroundColor Red
Where Does Kaspersky Hide the License Key File? (And How to Extract It) Need to transfer or backup your Kaspersky license
So, where does Kaspersky actually store the on your hard drive? The answer is simpler—and trickier—than you think. The Short Answer For Kaspersky Endpoint Security (KES) and most desktop versions (KIS, KAV, Total Security), the license key file is not a standard .txt or .lic file you can double-click. It is typically stored as:
Don't manually copy the lic.key file from ProgramData . Use Kaspersky's native Export tool. It saves you from the dreaded "Corrupted license file" error every time. Have a different Kaspersky version (KSOS, KSC)? The path pattern remains the same—just look for the Data folder inside the version-specific directory. We’ve all been there
You have the license installed on the old machine, but the original activation code is buried in an email from three years ago (or worse, stuck in a former employee’s draft folder).
Kaspersky binds the license to a during installation. Moving the raw file often results in a "License is not valid for this computer" error.