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Choose the URL type first
Your access model determines the direct link format and how long it remains usable.
| Option | Who can retrieve the PDF | Lifetime | Best use | Trade-off |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Public S3 REST object URL | Anyone with the URL, if anonymous s3:GetObject is allowed |
Until the object or policy changes | Truly public documents and static assets | Anyone who obtains the link can read it; S3 public-access controls must permit it |
| GET presigned URL | Anyone holding the signed URL | Until the expiration or signing credentials expire | Private, expiring, or user-specific downloads | Expired links must be regenerated |
| S3 website endpoint | Publicly readable website content | Until website or object permissions change | Simple static websites | HTTP only; it is not the same as the REST object endpoint |
| CloudFront distribution | Controlled by distribution, origin, and optional signed-delivery policies | Defined by your distribution and signing policy | HTTPS, caching, and controlled public delivery | Requires CloudFront configuration |
In every case, the bucket name, Region, and exact object key matter. S3 keys are case-sensitive, and prefixes such as docs/ are part of the key.
Build a public S3 PDF URL
1. Find the exact object key
In the S3 console, open the bucket and copy the object’s key. For example, an object displayed in the docs folder may have the key docs/guide.pdf, not merely guide.pdf. Preserve capitalization and URL-encode spaces and other special characters.
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2. Use the virtual-hosted style
The current preferred REST pattern is:
https://BUCKET.s3.REGION.amazonaws.com/OBJECT-KEY
For a bucket named acme-manuals in us-east-1, the key docs/guide.pdf becomes:
https://acme-manuals.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/docs/guide.pdf
Use the Region that actually contains the bucket. A wrong Region commonly produces redirects or signature errors. AWS also documents path-style forms, but virtual-hosted style is the preferred current pattern.
3. Confirm anonymous permission
New S3 buckets have all four Block Public Access settings enabled by default. Therefore, copying an object URL does not make the PDF public. Effective access must allow anonymous s3:GetObject through the bucket policy, an object-level permission where applicable, and account-level controls. Check both the bucket and account settings before publishing a public link.
Test the URL in a private browser window or with:
curl -I "https://acme-manuals.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/docs/guide.pdf"A successful public object normally returns HTTP 200. A 403 means the request reached S3 but anonymous access was denied; a 404 can mean the key is wrong or that S3 is intentionally not revealing a private object’s existence.
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Create a private direct link with a presigned GET URL
Presigned URLs authorize a specific object for a limited period without changing the bucket policy. Treat the complete URL as a bearer credential: anyone who receives it can use it until it expires.
Amazon S3 console
- Open the S3 console and choose the bucket and object.
- Use the object’s actions menu and choose the option to share or create a presigned URL.
- Select a GET/download link and set an expiration appropriate to the use case.
- Copy the exact generated URL and test it before sending it to a user or placing it in an application.
Console-created presigned URLs can be set for up to 12 hours according to current AWS documentation.
AWS CLI
After configuring credentials and the correct Region, run:
aws s3 presign s3://acme-manuals/docs/guide.pdf --expires-in 604800604800 seconds is seven days, the maximum supported by the AWS CLI and SDK signing process. Temporary credentials can make the effective lifetime shorter: a link cannot outlive the credentials that signed it. Open the printed URL in a browser or pass it to a downloader:
URL="$(aws s3 presign s3://acme-manuals/docs/guide.pdf --expires-in 3600)"
curl -L "$URL" -o guide.pdfPython with boto3
import boto3
s3 = boto3.client("s3", region_name="us-east-1")
url = s3.generate_presigned_url(
ClientMethod="get_object",
Params={"Bucket": "acme-manuals", "Key": "docs/guide.pdf"},
ExpiresIn=3600,
)
print(url)Generate the URL on your server, not in browser code that would expose long-lived AWS credentials. Return the short-lived link to the authorized user.
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Node.js with AWS SDK for JavaScript v3
import { S3Client, GetObjectCommand } from "@aws-sdk/client-s3";
import { getSignedUrl } from "@aws-sdk/s3-request-presigner";
const client = new S3Client({ region: "us-east-1" });
const command = new GetObjectCommand({
Bucket: "acme-manuals",
Key: "docs/guide.pdf"
});
const url = await getSignedUrl(client, command, { expiresIn: 3600 });
console.log(url);Use the same Region used by the bucket and the credentials that have permission to read the object.
Make the browser display the PDF instead of downloading it
Set the object’s metadata to Content-Type: application/pdf. Whether a browser displays or downloads it also depends on Content-Disposition, browser settings, and organizational policies. For inline viewing, use a disposition such as inline; filename="guide.pdf"; for forced download, use attachment.
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You can set metadata when uploading with the AWS CLI:
aws s3 cp guide.pdf s3://acme-manuals/docs/guide.pdf
--content-type application/pdf
--content-disposition 'inline; filename="guide.pdf"'For an existing object, copy it over itself while replacing metadata:
aws s3 cp s3://acme-manuals/docs/guide.pdf s3://acme-manuals/docs/guide.pdf
--metadata-directive REPLACE
--content-type application/pdf
--content-disposition 'inline; filename="guide.pdf"'A signed GetObject request can override response headers with parameters such as response-content-type and response-content-disposition. Those overrides must be included in the signature, so use a presigned URL (or another signed request), not an unsigned public URL.
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When to use CloudFront instead
An S3 website endpoint is a different service endpoint from the REST object URL. Website endpoints require publicly readable content and do not support HTTPS. AWS states that S3 website endpoints do not support HTTPS or access points; use CloudFront when you need HTTPS, edge caching, or stronger delivery controls.
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Why an S3 PDF URL returns 403, 404, or a signature error
403 AccessDenied
- Public access is not enabled: Block Public Access or the bucket policy denies anonymous
s3:GetObject. Use a presigned URL instead of weakening a private bucket. - Wrong account policy: An organization-level restriction can override a bucket policy. Check effective permissions, not only the visible bucket statement.
- Expired presign: Generate a new URL and verify the credential lifetime did not end first.
- Signed header mismatch: If the URL was signed with a
Content-Typeor other header, send exactly that value.
404 NoSuchKey
Compare the key character for character, including prefixes, capitalization, URL encoding, and the Region endpoint. A folder shown in the console is only part of the key path; it is not a filesystem directory.
301 redirect or AuthorizationHeaderMalformed
The hostname’s Region does not match the bucket’s Region. Discover the bucket’s Region and regenerate the URL with that Region. Do not manually edit a generated signature.
SignatureDoesNotMatch
- Use the exact generated URL, without decoding or re-encoding its query string.
- Synchronize the signing machine’s clock; significant clock skew invalidates AWS signatures.
- Regenerate after changing any signed header, response override, key, bucket, or Region.
The browser downloads instead of displaying
Check Content-Type, Content-Disposition, and browser policy. For a presigned request, apply response-header overrides while generating the signature. A PDF viewer is not guaranteed in every browser or managed environment.
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Security, reliability, and cost considerations
Security
- Prefer a private bucket plus short-lived presigned URLs for user-specific documents.
- Do not put AWS access keys in frontend JavaScript, source control, or a PDF URL intended to be permanent.
- Remember that a presigned link can be forwarded. Use the shortest practical expiry and regenerate when access should end.
- Choose a public URL only when the document is intended for unrestricted distribution.
Reliability
Store and reuse the exact object key and Region in application configuration. Generate links at request time when expiry matters, and handle expiration by requesting a fresh link. For high-volume public delivery, CloudFront caching can reduce repeated origin requests, but changes to an object may require cache invalidation or a versioned key.
Stable links versus expiring links
A public object URL or CloudFront URL is suitable when a link must remain stable. A presigned URL is safer for private content but is inherently temporary. If you need both a stable application URL and private storage, have your application authenticate the user and redirect to a newly generated presigned URL.
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Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I revoke one presigned URL without changing the object?
S3 does not provide a direct per-link revocation switch. Remove or change the object, revoke or rotate the signing credentials, or change the authorization design; otherwise the URL remains usable until its expiry.
Does renaming an S3 object preserve its old URL?
No. S3 renaming is effectively a copy to a new key followed by deletion of the old key. The old key URL will stop working once the original object is deleted.
Can a presigned URL be used for a range request or download manager?
Usually yes, provided the client sends a request that remains compatible with the signed operation. If you sign additional headers, the client must send those exact values.
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Why does a link work in my account but not in an incognito window?
Your normal session may supply AWS credentials or cookies. An incognito test removes that authenticated context and reveals whether the URL itself is public or correctly presigned.
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