Free KYS File Viewer
Review a Photoshop keyboard shortcut file before using it.
This tool runs in your browser, and inputs stay on your device until you choose to copy or download the result.
Inspect and Validate a KYS File
What This Viewer Can Do
Photoshop KYS files are keyboard shortcut files. Your .kys file is read locally. This viewer reports file metadata, a hex preview, printable strings found in the file, and likely command words. It is intentionally read-only and does not rewrite your shortcut file.
For a searchable default shortcut reference, use the Photoshop Shortcut Finder.
Workflow Notes
Best for
- Pre-import safety review of a new .kys file from a teammate, agency, or marketplace profile.
- Quick comparison of shortcut pack versions to confirm intended commands still exist before rollout.
- Auditing a shared shortcut bundle when you need to find duplicate, missing, or renamed command labels.
- Preparing a concise handoff report for production editors, trainers, or creative leads before touching Photoshop preferences.
Check before using it
- Confirm you have a .kys file from a trusted source and keep an existing backup of active Photoshop shortcuts for rollback.
- Record the exact file name and context, such as source tool, author, and date, so later comparisons are traceable.
- Run the check in a modern browser tab with clipboard permission available if you plan to use the copy action.
- Have a target Photoshop workflow in mind, so you can compare each reported string against your expected command set.
Review the output
- Verify the metadata section shows the expected filename, size, and timestamp, then compare that size and time window against the expected file you were sent.
- Look for likely command strings that match known Photoshop areas like Layer, Brush, Select, File, View, and Export, then flag anything missing or unexpected.
- Use printable strings as a secondary signal only, and confirm whether odd tokens are truly shortcut commands versus container bytes or binary noise.
- Validate the final report output by running through one known shortcut action manually in Photoshop before copying or downloading for broader sharing.
Limits to keep in mind
- This tool shows a lightweight local parse only and does not guarantee perfect semantic interpretation of all binary variants.
- No online or server-side decoding is performed, so advanced mapping from string snippets to exact Photoshop shortcut IDs may be incomplete.
- Output is static text from one parsing pass and still needs human interpretation, especially for production, accessibility, or enterprise publishing decisions.
- You must still import the file in Photoshop manually to test real runtime behavior, because browser output alone cannot guarantee collision-free shortcut conflicts.
Handoff
- Move to Photoshop Shortcut Finder when you need to verify exact command names and menu paths after this first-pass inspection.
- Use Shortcut Cheat Sheet Builder to publish a readable team sheet from validated shortcuts once import readiness is confirmed.
- When conflicts are discovered, route to the Photoshop section and review import safety and rollback guidance before any environment-wide application.
- If reporting for teammates, attach the downloaded report and source metadata so another operator can reproduce your same local inspection.
How to Use
- Open the tool, click the file input, and choose one local .kys file from your device. The page reads only your selected file and shows a starter message until parsing completes.
- Wait for the output panel to populate with file metadata, a small hex preview, likely command strings, and detected printable strings; this is a read-only browser parse with no
- Review the generated report for obvious command names, expected app sections, and any suspicious or missing shortcut patterns before deciding to use or import the file.
- Use Copy Report to place the text in your clipboard for ticket notes, or Download Report to save a plain-text review artifact for your team without sending data out of the browser.
- If behavior is unclear, clear the local file from the input, load a second candidate file, and run the same steps again so you can compare outputs side by side.
FAQ
Is KYS File Viewer free?
Yes. It runs in the browser and does not require an account.
What does it do?
Review a local Photoshop .kys shortcut file in-browser, inspect commands and metadata, and export a lightweight report to copy or download.
What should I use next?
Usually Photoshop Shortcut Finder is the next step when you want to find the exact Photoshop command, shortcut key, or menu path you need, then export a filtered set of rows for sharing or review.
Does this tool require sign-in, cloud upload, or an account?
No. The file is selected from your device, parsed in your browser, and the report is generated locally in the page. You can copy or download it from the same session.
What exactly can I trust in the report output?
You can trust that it is a local read-only snapshot of detectable strings, command-like tokens, and file metadata from the selected file. You should still verify every operational shortcut expectation in Photoshop itself.
Why does the tool show hex preview and printable strings instead of a full decoded table?
The viewer is intentionally lightweight and browser-native. It exposes enough evidence for safe screening and handoff, while avoiding assumptions about hidden binary fields that could be misread.
What should I do if a file looks suspicious?
Do not import it. Save the report, rename the file version, and request a replacement from the source. Compare with a known-good .kys file and test only the commands you need.
Related Tools
Related Guides
Continue the Workflow
When this step is finished, move to the tool that handles the next production risk.
Privacy
This tool runs in your browser, and inputs stay on your device until you choose to copy or download the result.
Update Log
- 2026-06-10: Added workflow notes, output checks, limits, and handoff guidance.