Updated November 15, 2026 · Last checked November 15, 2026 against Kling's 4.0 User Guide and Kling 4.0 release notes.
Short answer: Kling 4.0 accepts up to 10 keyframes, and the Keyframes entry takes images only. Each keyframe pins what the video shows at a set moment: a character's state, a scene change or a story beat. You upload the images, give each one a time range in the prompt, and the model generates the motion between them.
Kling 4.0 keyframes at a glance
| Kling 4.0 | Kling 4.0 Flash | |
|---|---|---|
| Keyframes | Up to 10 | Not supported |
| Keyframe input | Images only | One first-frame image for image to video |
| First and last frame | Supported | Not supported |
| Clip length | 3–30 seconds, in 1-second steps; default 10 | 3–20 seconds |
| Resolution | 720p, 1080p, 4K | 720p |
| Aspect ratio | Follows the first keyframe; without images 21:9, 16:9, 1:1 or 9:16 | Kling has not stated |
| Reference assets in the same task | No, the Keyframes entry does not accept them | Kling has not stated |
| API | Up to 10 keyframes | One first-frame image |
Last verified: November 15, 2026.
What is a keyframe in Kling 4.0?
A keyframe is an image that fixes what the video looks like at one point on the timeline. Kling's User Guide explains it: without keyframes, the model decides the order and timing of visual changes; with keyframes, you define the visuals at specific timestamps.
Kling 4.0 accepts a first frame, a last frame, both, and middle frames at any position. The guide lists five things keyframes control:
- Character actions: a hand rises at 3 seconds, the character turns at 7 seconds.
- Entrances and exits: character B walks through the door at 6 seconds instead of appearing at the end.
- Scene changes: the sky darkens at 5 seconds and rain starts at 10.
- Composition changes: an extreme wide shot becomes a close-up at a set time.
- State progression: the move from state A to state B, with the stages in between.
A single generation runs 3 to 30 seconds, and multi-shot is on by default, so the model can split the clip into shots and set the pacing itself. For how clip length works, see our guide to Kling 4.0 video length. Kling 4.0 outputs 720p, 1080p and 4K. 10-bit HDR and Video Extension are marked as coming soon in Kling's User Guide.
How do you place keyframes on the timeline?
Give every keyframe its own time range and say what happens in it. Kling's guide suggests this format:
X–Y sec | Keyframe 1: [describe what happens]
Y–Z sec | Keyframe 2: [describe what happens]
A–B sec | Keyframe 3: [describe what happens]
For each keyframe, describe what appears at that point and how the camera gets there.
Example: a 15-second reveal with 3 keyframes
Upload three images: a closed gift box on a table, the same box with the lid half open, and the open box with a watch inside. Set the duration to 15 seconds and write:
0–5 sec | Keyframe 1: A closed gift box sits on a wooden table in soft morning light. The camera pushes in slowly.
5–10 sec | Keyframe 2: Two hands lift the lid halfway. Same box, same table, same camera direction.
10–15 sec | Keyframe 3: The lid is off and the watch inside is fully visible. The camera stops and holds on the final composition.
Three habits help:
- Crop the first image to the shape you want. Once images are uploaded, the aspect ratio follows the first keyframe.
- Keep the subject, light and background consistent between images unless the change is part of the story.
- Say how the camera moves between frames. If the move matters, write it as a camera instruction; our Kling 4.0 camera moves guide lists the wording.
If you only need a starting image, a plain first-frame workflow is simpler. Use Kling 4.0 image to video.
Keyframes or Omni Reference: which should you use?
Kling 4.0 has two entry points. Omni Reference is the default and the most complete: it handles text to video and keyframe to video, and it accepts images, videos, voice profiles and elements as references. The Keyframes entry is the separate option for the classic image-to-video workflow, built for pixel-level consistency with the keyframe images.
| You need | Use |
|---|---|
| Exact visuals at exact moments | Keyframes |
| A character, product or voice carried from reference files | Omni Reference |
| A storyboard to set shot order and composition | Omni Reference with a storyboard image |
| An idea with no fixed visuals yet | Omni Reference |
The two entry points cannot be combined in one generation task, and the Keyframes entry does not accept reference assets. With a storyboard image, Kling's guide tells you to treat the panels as the approved shot order and to say that the storyboard itself must not appear in the video. More on references in our Kling 4.0 Omni Reference guide.
How do you fix common keyframe problems?
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| The video comes out in the wrong shape | The aspect ratio follows the first keyframe. Crop that image to 16:9, 9:16 or the ratio you need. |
| A moment lands at the wrong time | Give that keyframe an explicit time range in the prompt. |
| The clip cuts when you wanted one move | Multi-shot is on by default. Write "one continuous shot, no cuts". |
| The result does not match the idea | Replace abstract words such as "cinematic feel" with concrete lighting, materials and composition, as Kling's guide advises. |
| You need references and keyframes together | The Keyframes entry does not take reference assets. Use Omni Reference, which also supports keyframe to video. |
| The last frame is ignored on Flash | Kling 4.0 Flash does not support start-and-last frames or multiple keyframes. Switch to Kling 4.0. |
FAQ
How many keyframes does Kling 4.0 support?
Up to 10. The Keyframes entry accepts images only, up to 10 in total, each up to 30 MB.
Can a video clip be a keyframe?
No. Keyframes are images. To use a video as a reference for motion or camera, use Omni Reference.
Does Kling 4.0 Flash support keyframes?
No. Kling 4.0 Flash takes one first-frame image for image to video and does not support start-and-last frames or multiple keyframes.
Can I add reference images to a keyframe task?
Not in the Keyframes entry. It does not support reference assets, and you cannot combine it with Omni Reference in one task.
Does the Kling API support keyframes?
Yes. The Kling 4.0 API has been fully available since October 28, 2026, and the Kling 4.0 Flash API since November 4, 2026. Kling 4.0 accepts up to 10 keyframes there; Flash takes a single first-frame image.
Where do these facts come from?
- Kling 4.0 User Guide, Kling AI. Keyframe limits, time-range format, aspect ratio rule, entry points, Flash limits and prompt tips.
- Kling 4.0 release notes, Kling AI. Up to 10 keyframe images and multi-keyframe control.
- API Updates, Kling AI. API availability dates and keyframe support.
All facts were checked on November 15, 2026. Confirm the current options in the generator before you plan a shot.
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