diff --git a/esphome/components/key_collector/__init__.py b/esphome/components/key_collector/__init__.py
index 2099e28109..fd142b3cd7 100644
--- a/esphome/components/key_collector/__init__.py
+++ b/esphome/components/key_collector/__init__.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
     cv.COMPONENT_SCHEMA.extend(
         {
             cv.GenerateID(): cv.declare_id(KeyCollector),
-            cv.GenerateID(CONF_SOURCE_ID): cv.use_id(key_provider.KeyProvider),
+            cv.Optional(CONF_SOURCE_ID): cv.use_id(key_provider.KeyProvider),
             cv.Optional(CONF_MIN_LENGTH): cv.int_,
             cv.Optional(CONF_MAX_LENGTH): cv.int_,
             cv.Optional(CONF_START_KEYS): cv.string,
@@ -55,8 +55,9 @@ CONFIG_SCHEMA = cv.All(
 async def to_code(config):
     var = cg.new_Pvariable(config[CONF_ID])
     await cg.register_component(var, config)
-    source = await cg.get_variable(config[CONF_SOURCE_ID])
-    cg.add(var.set_provider(source))
+    if CONF_SOURCE_ID in config:
+        source = await cg.get_variable(config[CONF_SOURCE_ID])
+        cg.add(var.set_provider(source))
     if CONF_MIN_LENGTH in config:
         cg.add(var.set_min_length(config[CONF_MIN_LENGTH]))
     if CONF_MAX_LENGTH in config:
diff --git a/esphome/components/key_collector/key_collector.cpp b/esphome/components/key_collector/key_collector.cpp
index a9213890ee..bf2333d97d 100644
--- a/esphome/components/key_collector/key_collector.cpp
+++ b/esphome/components/key_collector/key_collector.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,8 @@ void KeyCollector::clear(bool progress_update) {
     this->progress_trigger_->trigger(this->result_, 0);
 }
 
+void KeyCollector::send_key(uint8_t key) { this->key_pressed_(key); }
+
 void KeyCollector::key_pressed_(uint8_t key) {
   this->last_key_time_ = millis();
   if (!this->start_keys_.empty() && !this->start_key_) {
diff --git a/esphome/components/key_collector/key_collector.h b/esphome/components/key_collector/key_collector.h
index 5e63397839..7ef53929ef 100644
--- a/esphome/components/key_collector/key_collector.h
+++ b/esphome/components/key_collector/key_collector.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ class KeyCollector : public Component {
   void set_timeout(int timeout) { this->timeout_ = timeout; };
 
   void clear(bool progress_update = true);
+  void send_key(uint8_t key);
 
  protected:
   void key_pressed_(uint8_t key);