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AWS cli setup windows 10 2021

Published: December 1, 2025 (Updated: Dec 1, 2025)

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Master the Cloud: Installing and Configuring the AWS CLI on Windows (Step-by-Step Guide)

Hi there! This is Darren O’Neill from Darren’s Tech Tutorials.

If you’re serious about cloud management, accessing your Amazon Web Services (AWS) account directly from your command line is an essential skill. The AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) allows you to automate tasks, manage resources, and interact with all your AWS services quickly and efficiently without constantly clicking through the Management Console.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk through the entire process: downloading the installer, creating a dedicated security user in IAM, and finally, configuring the CLI on your Windows machine.

Let’s get started!

Step 1: Downloading and Installing the AWS CLI

The installation process for the AWS CLI on Windows is straightforward, thanks to the dedicated installer.

1. Find the Installer

  1. Open your web browser (like Chrome or Edge).
  2. Search for: AWS CLI.
  3. Click the official link for the “AWS Command Line Interface” (usually the top result from aws.amazon.com).
  4. On the AWS CLI documentation page, locate the 64-bit Windows Installer link (for modern versions of Windows 10/11) and click to download the .msi file.

2. Run the Installation

  1. Once the file has finished downloading, click to open and run the installer package.
  2. The installation wizard will appear. Click Next to begin.
  3. Review and Accept the license agreement. Click Next.
  4. Leave the installation destination as the default, unless you have a specific need to change it. Click Next.
  5. Click Install.
  6. The installation will take a moment. Once complete, click Finish.

You have now successfully installed the required software!

Step 2: Creating a Secure IAM User for CLI Access

Before you can use the CLI, you need security credentials. It is best practice never to use your root account keys. Instead, we will create a dedicated IAM user specifically for programmatic access.

1. Navigate to IAM

  1. Go to your AWS Management Console.
  2. In the search bar at the top, type IAM and click on the service result (Identity and Access Management).

2. Add a New User

  1. In the IAM dashboard, click on Users in the left-hand navigation pane.
  2. Click the Add users button.
  3. Configure User Details:
    • User name: Give the user a clear name, such as api-user or cli-access-user.
    • AWS access type: This is critical. Select Programmatic access. (We are not giving this user console access, only access via API keys).
  4. Click Next: Permissions.

3. Set Permissions and Create

For testing and administrative tutorials, we often use Administrator access, but in production, you should apply the principle of least privilege.

  1. Select Attach existing policies directly.
  2. For testing, check the box next to the policy you need (e.g., AdministratorAccess).
  3. Click Next: Tags (you can skip this for configuration).
  4. Click Next: Review.
  5. Review the settings and click Create user.

CRITICAL STEP: Save Your Credentials!

Once the user is created, you will be presented with the Access Key ID and the Secret Access Key.

  1. Download the .csv file which contains both keys.
  2. Treat the Secret Access Key like a password. This is the only time AWS will show you this key. If you lose it, you must generate a new one.

Keep these two keys handy for the next step!

Step 3: Configuring the AWS CLI using aws configure

Now that the software is installed and you have the keys, we can connect the CLI tool to your AWS account.

1. Open Command Prompt

  1. Open your Windows Start Menu (or hit the Windows key).
  2. Type cmd and open the Command Prompt.

2. Run the Configure Command

  1. In the command prompt, type the following command and hit Enter:
aws configure

You will be prompted to enter four specific items. Copy the keys you saved from Step 2 into the required fields:

Prompt Input Value Notes
AWS Access Key ID: Paste the key starting with AKIA... This identifies your user account.
AWS Secret Access Key: Paste the long, secret key you saved. This authenticates your request.
Default region name: Enter your preferred region (e.g., eu-west-1 for Ireland, us-east-1 for N. Virginia). This is the default region the CLI will execute commands against.
Default output format: You can enter json, text, or table. If unsure, simply type none or hit Enter. This defines how results are returned.

Once you have entered the Default output format, hit Enter one last time.

And that’s it!

Conclusion: You Are Ready to Command Your Cloud!

Congratulations! You have successfully installed and configured the AWS CLI on your Windows machine. You are now equipped to manage S3 buckets, launch EC2 instances, and interact with the entire suite of AWS services directly from your command line.

Try running a simple command to verify your setup, like listing your configured identity:

aws sts get-caller-identity

If you see your account information returned, you are officially connected and ready to explore the power of command-line cloud management!

If this guide helped you get up and running, please let us know in the comments below! Don’t forget to Like this post and Subscribe to Darren’s Tech Tutorials for more clear, accessible technology guides. Happy cloud computing!