All Small Key Locations RE4 Remake And How To Use Them

Surviving the horrors of the Resident Evil 4 remake requires more than just excellent marksmanship and quick reflexes. Managing your resources and acquiring valuable treasures is essential for purchasing powerful weapon upgrades from the Merchant. Scattered throughout the game are elusive Small Keys, single-use items designed specifically to unlock hidden drawers containing lucrative rewards.

Finding Every Small Key in the Village

The first zone of the game contains five hidden keys that players can easily miss during their frantic escape from the infected locals. You can find the very first key inside a small case on a shelf in the southern valley structure during Chapter 2. Shortly after, the second key rests quietly on a pile of papers in the southwestern corner of the Village Chief’s Manor.

As you advance to Chapter 3, explore the southwestern side of the Fish Farm to locate the third key hidden inside a small wooden shack. The fourth key requires the Insignia Key in Chapter 4, which grants access to the Forest Altar where the item sits on a ruined cart. Finally, the fifth village key is placed on a flower-covered table right next to the main altar inside the Church.

Locating the Final Keys in the Castle

Once Leon enters the massive castle grounds, the final three keys become available to discover across various chapters. The sixth key is located inside a small room just after completing the intricate Lithographic Stones puzzle in Chapter 8. Players will find it resting on a box near a window right before encountering dangerous new enemies.

In Chapter 9, players can secure the seventh key by navigating the upper level of the Grand Hall and entering a northern wooden door. The item is tucked away inside a dark cupboard located in the corner of this specific dressing room. The eighth and final key appears in Chapter 12 inside a briefcase sitting right next to the gondola structure.

How to Use Small Keys Effectively

Every Small Key you collect acts as a universal tool that can open any locked drawer regardless of where you found it. Since these keys take up inventory space and become completely useless once you transition to the late-game Island region, using them immediately is highly recommended. Unlocking these drawers rewards players with valuable items like the Vintage Compass, Elegant Mask, and various gemstones.

Backtracking is often required because you will frequently discover locked drawers long before finding the corresponding keys to open them. Purchasing Treasure Maps from the Merchant will instantly reveal the exact locations of these containers on your map screen. Strategically managing these unlocks ensures you maximize your total pesetas and easily fund the most expensive firearm upgrades available.