Subway Surfers Keys Guide

Key

A key.

Informations

Type

Resource

Function

Unlocking stuff and reviving players

Obtainable by

Collecting or prize

Price

Variable

How to get Keys in Subway Surfers?

Keys in Subway Surfers are one of the most important resources players can collect. Unlike coins, which are fairly common and used for basic upgrades and unlocking certain characters or boards, keys have a much higher value and serve multiple roles. They allow players to revive after a crash, unlock alternate outfits, access some special characters, and complete certain in-game events. If you’re serious about expanding your Subway Surfers collection or maximizing your runs, understanding how to gather keys efficiently is essential. Here’s a guide to help you do just that.

Keys (and tokens) can be purchased directly in the game in various quantities, but you can also earn them for free by playing the game. There are different ways you can earn keys in Subway Surfers without paying real-world money:

• Daily Video Ads: The Most Reliable Free Source
• Mystery Boxes: Chance-Based Rewards That Pay Off
• Season Hunts: Tiered Rewards with Keys Milestones
• Awards: Achievements That Offer Keys
• Track Appearances: Pick up Keys, Rare but Real
• Facebook Connection Bonus
• Weekly Hunt and Daily Calendar Rewards

Daily Video Ads: The Most Reliable Free Source on Subway Surfers

Watching Ads

While earning keys from watching ads in Subway Surfers is possible, ad rewards aren’t always set in stone. Whether or not watching an ad will earn you a key depends mainly on the day, as sometimes the game switches to Mystery Boxes or tokens instead.

One of the most dependable and consistent sources of keys is by watching daily video ads. These short ads usually reward you with two or three keys per viewing, and you can watch multiple ads each day. Some players have reported earning up to six keys a day using this feature alone, making it one of the few guaranteed methods to earn keys without fail.

1. On the main screen, find the Watch Ad button (it looks like a TV with a Play button inside and an arrow pointing to the reward you’ll earn for watching).

2. Click or tap the button and begin watching the ad that plays. If the reward isn’t a key, watch more ads until the reward changes.

3. When the Skip Ad button appears, click or tap it to skip whatever remains of the current ad and earn your reward.

4. You can repeat this process as often as you want, but remember that the reward won’t always be a key. If you only want keys and the reward changes, it’s time to switch methods.

Mystery Boxes: Chance-Based Rewards That Pay Off

Opening Mystery Boxes is another solid method for collecting keys. While keys aren’t guaranteed in every box, they are one of the rarer but more valuable possible rewards. You can open Mini, regular, and Super Mystery Boxes, all of which have a chance to drop keys. If you’ve already unlocked all character tokens, your chances of getting keys or other valuable rewards may improve. Don’t forget to double any subway surfers Mystery Box rewards when given the option to watch an ad—this simple step can significantly increase your total key income over time.

Mystery Boxes will appear as soon as you purchase them from the shop, earn them from watching ads, or after completing the level in which you picked one up.

Click or tap the screen (or press the Space Bar) to open the Mystery Box and see if you’ve won a key.

Repeat the process to open more Mystery Boxes. Whether or not you get keys as a reward is up to chance, so there’s no way of knowing how many attempts it might take.

Season Hunts: Tiered Rewards with Keys Milestones

Season Hunts are rotating events tied to the game’s current city and season theme. During your runs, you collect subway surfers special seasonal tokens that contribute to unlocking progressive reward tiers. Keys are often included in multiple tiers—commonly at milestones like tiers 0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 31—with early tiers often awarding 2 keys and later ones offering 5. The event usually spans about three weeks, and tiers unlock daily, giving players time to reach all levels before the Season Hunt ends. Just be sure to claim your rewards before the event concludes, as progress and tokens don’t carry over.

Awards: Achievements That Offer Keys

Subway Surfers also includes a built-in achievement system called Awards, which can be accessed through the “Me” section on the main menu. Many of these achievements offer keys as rewards once certain conditions are met. You can even claim key rewards for achievements you’ve completed in the past. This method rewards consistent, long-term play and can provide a good stream of extra keys as you progress naturally through the game.

This is the step by step guide on how to get keys on Subway Surfers.

1. From the main screen, click or tap on the Me icon.

2. If you don’t see your Awards list, click or tap on the Awards button in the bottom-right corner of the menu. It looks like a spray can.

3. Scroll through your Awards list and click or tap the Collect Award button to collect keys from any completed awards.

Track Appearances: Pick up Keys, Rare but Real

From time to time, you might spot keys floating on the tracks during gameplay. While it’s exciting to grab one, these are rare and not something to count on for regular farming. Missions that require collecting multiple keys in a single run are among the most difficult in the game for this reason. Keep an eye out, but focus your efforts on more dependable sources.

This simple steps can significantly increase your total subway surfers key income over time.

1. Be patient, but keep playing because you’ll probably not see them very often.

2. Always be on the lookout for special items and power-ups off in the distance; if you spot a key, it’s time to make your move.

3. Quickly assess the level layout before you and determine your best path to reach the key.

4. Be prepared to miss sometimes, as there’s a chance you won’t realize a key is up ahead until it’s too late to change paths.

Facebook Connection Bonus

Connecting your Subway Surfers game to Facebook is a one-time action that provides a nice bonus: 10 free keys. This is a quick and easy way to get a head start on your key collection, and it also unlocks other minor in-game benefits.

Weekly Hunt and Daily Calendar Rewards

In addition to Season Hunts, you can sometimes earn keys from the Weekly Hunt, especially in the first week of the event. If you’ve already unlocked all available content in the game, keys may also appear as rewards in the Daily Calendar. Be sure to log in each day and check what’s available—you never know when keys might show up.

Final Thoughts: Build Keys with Patience and Purpose

Ultimately, building up your key inventory in Subway Surfers is all about consistency and smart planning. Watch your daily ads, open Mystery Boxes regularly, complete Season Hunt tiers, and work through your Awards list. By using your keys wisely and staying focused on high-value goals, you’ll be able to unlock rare items, boost your performance, and make the most of everything Subway Surfers has to offer.

Good luck on the tracks—and may your keys unlock something amazing!

Frequently Asked Questions (F.A.Q.)