Where to Find the Forklift Key in Resident Evil Requiem (RE9)
TL;DR
- The Forklift Key is in the Processing Room of the Care Center Basement.
- You need 2 Joint Plugs inserted at the Collection Pool to reach it.
- The Square Socket Wrench (from the Boiler Room) is required to open the Collection Pool panel first.
- Use the Forklift Key on the Processing Room forklift first to get a Hip Pouch.
- Then bring the key back to the Furnace forklift to clear the path to the Inspection Room.
- The Inspection Room holds the third and final Joint Plug.
The Forklift Key is one of the most important key items in the Resident Evil Requiem Basement. Without it, you cannot move the forklift blocking the path to the Inspection Room — which means you cannot get the third Joint Plug, and you cannot rescue Emily. The Basement’s layout makes progress feel stalled the moment you spot that unmovable forklift, but the key is found by continuing forward in another direction first.
This guide walks you through exactly where the Forklift Key is, what you need to do to reach it, and the most efficient order to use it so you do not miss any rewards along the way.
Resident Evil Requiem is available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch 2, Steam, and the Epic Games Store.
Where Is the Forklift Key in Resident Evil Requiem?
The Forklift Key is found in the Processing Room in the Care Center Basement, next to a body leaning against a broken railing. It sits on the floor right beside a second forklift you encounter there. You cannot reach this room directly — it requires completing several steps in the correct order first.
What You Need Before Getting the Forklift Key
To reach the Processing Room, you need to have completed the following:
- Joint Plug from the Furnace area — the second plug, found near the forklift inside the Furnace room after you enter it through the Workshop vent.
- Joint Plug from the Boiler Room entrance — the first plug you used to activate the Workshop door, retrieved after use.
- Square Socket Wrench — found in a red toolbox in the western room of the Boiler Room. This is needed to open the locked panel at the Collection Pool.
For a full breakdown of the Joint Plug sequence and how the bolted vent in the Workshop connects to this path, see our guide on how to open the bolted vent in the Basement Workshop in RE9. For all three Joint Plug locations specifically, see our Joint Plugs Basement locations guide.
How to Get the Forklift Key – Step by Step
Step 1 – Get the Square Socket Wrench From the Boiler Room
Before heading to the Collection Pool, you need the Square Socket Wrench. To reach the Boiler Room safely without the electrified water killing you, insert a Joint Plug into the terminal on the north end of the hallway east of the Furnace room. This opens an entry point into the Boiler Room from a side direction, letting you enter without walking through the deadly flooded floor. Inside, find the red toolbox in the western room and collect the Square Socket Wrench.
While in the Boiler Room, also pick up the Lockpick from the ground — it is lying in the water on the floor. For all Lockpick locations and what they unlock, see our Lockpick and locked drawers guide for the Care Center. Also take a moment to explore the Bunkroom nearby — it contains a Mr. Raccoon collectible and a locked locker with Rare Metal inside.
Step 2 – Insert Two Joint Plugs at the Collection Pool
With the Square Socket Wrench in hand, head to the Collection Pool, located south of the Holding Cells. Use the wrench to open the locked metal panel on the power distributor here. Insert two Joint Plugs — one from the Workshop terminal and one from the Furnace entrance — into the sockets. This restores power to the area, activates the lights, and opens the door at the far end of the room.
Before leaving, flip the Collection and Testing switch at the bottom of the room to drain the pool and reveal a bonus pool of Infected Blood for collection. For help getting more Infected Blood, see our guide on how to get Infected Blood in RE9.
Step 3 – Crawl Through the Fan Ducts to the Processing Room
Once the door is open, proceed through the path ahead. You will reach a gap in the floor that Grace cannot jump across. Turn to the left and you will find a fan vent — the fan is no longer spinning because the power has been redirected. Crawl through the vent. Follow the path through and you will emerge inside the Processing Room.
Step 4 – Collect the Forklift Key
Inside the Processing Room, look for another forklift at the far end. The Forklift Key is on the floor right next to it, beside a body slumped against the broken railing. Pick it up.
Important: Do not take the third Joint Plug yet if it is visible nearby at this stage. Taking it before you are ready will power down the area and create complications. Focus on the Forklift Key for now.
Step 5 – Use the Key on the Processing Room Forklift First
Before heading back to the Furnace, use the Forklift Key on the forklift right here in the Processing Room. Moving it reveals a hidden room containing a Hip Pouch and a map. The Hip Pouch permanently adds two inventory slots to Grace — an extremely valuable upgrade that you do not want to miss. Grab both items before you leave.
After looting this hidden area, do not take the Joint Plug in this part of the room yet — doing so locks you into the next section prematurely.
Step 6 – Return to the Furnace and Use the Key on the Blocked Forklift
Head back out the way you came — back through the vent, back through the Collection Pool, and collect the two Joint Plugs you left in the sockets there. Return to the Workshop, use a Joint Plug to open the door, crawl through the vent into the Furnace room, and insert a plug into the Furnace wall socket to keep the lights on. With The Girl temporarily driven off by the lights, use the Forklift Key on the original Forklift blocking the gated path. The forklift moves, clearing the route to the Inspection Room.
What Is the Forklift Key Used For?
The Forklift Key is used on two forklifts in the Basement:
- Processing Room Forklift — reveals a hidden room with a Hip Pouch and a map. Use this one first to avoid missing the reward.
- Furnace Forklift — clears the blocked gate and opens the path to the Inspection Room, which is required to eventually reach the third Joint Plug and progress the story.
What Is in the Inspection Room?
The Inspection Room is the area Grace enters after the Furnace forklift is moved. It contains a conveyor system carrying body bags and a lever mechanism that needs to be used to navigate through to the far side. There is also a locked locker with Rare Metal inside — use one of your Lockpicks on it.
Completing the Inspection Room puzzle leads Grace to the third and final Joint Plug, which — combined with the other two — opens Emily’s cell in the Holding Cells corridor. For more on the Inspection Room locked locker and all the Rare Metal locations, see our Lockpick and locked drawers guide.
Tips for the Basement Forklift Key Section
- Use the Processing Room forklift before backtracking. The Hip Pouch inside is permanent and missable. It is very easy to skip if you just grab the key and run straight back to the Furnace.
- Keep a Joint Plug in the Furnace socket when facing The Girl. The lights stay on as long as the plug is active, keeping her at bay. Remove it only when you are ready to move quickly.
- Grab the Empty Injector from the zombie cell before inserting all three Joint Plugs in the Holding Cells corridor. Once the final plug is placed and the lever is pulled, the Basement becomes permanently inaccessible. For all Empty Injector locations, see our Empty Injector locations guide for RE9.
- Flip the Collection Pool switch. This drains the blood pool at the bottom for extra Infected Blood. It is easy to miss on your way through.
- Save at the typewriter in the Processing Room before navigating the body bag conveyor puzzle. The sequence is tense and a manual save prevents losing progress.
Related Guides
- How to Open the Bolted Vent in the Basement Workshop – RE9
- Joint Plug Basement Locations in RE9
- All Empty Injector Locations in Resident Evil 9
- How to Restart the Power Distribution Units in RE9
- Resident Evil Requiem Basement Safe Code
- All Lockpicks and Locked Drawers in the Care Center – RE9
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Forklift Key in Resident Evil Requiem?
The Forklift Key is in the Processing Room of the Care Center Basement, on the floor next to a forklift and a body slumped against broken railing. You need 2 Joint Plugs inserted at the Collection Pool — along with the Square Socket Wrench — to access this room.
What does the Forklift Key unlock in RE9?
The Forklift Key moves two forklifts. Using it on the Processing Room forklift reveals a hidden room with a Hip Pouch. Using it on the Furnace forklift clears the blocked gate to the Inspection Room, which is needed to reach the third Joint Plug and progress the story.
How do you get to the Processing Room in Resident Evil Requiem?
Insert two Joint Plugs into the Collection Pool power distributor using the Square Socket Wrench to open the locked panel. This restores power and opens a door. Crawl through the fan duct beyond the gap in the floor to reach the Processing Room.
What is the Hip Pouch reward near the Forklift Key in RE9?
Using the Forklift Key on the Processing Room forklift reveals a hidden room containing a Hip Pouch, which permanently adds two inventory slots to Grace, and a map of the area.
Can you miss the Forklift Key in Resident Evil Requiem?
The Forklift Key is tied to story progression and cannot be permanently missed during the Basement section. However, the Hip Pouch inside the hidden room it unlocks in the Processing Room can be missed if you use the key only on the Furnace forklift and skip the Processing Room one. Always use it on both.
