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AWS CloudShell offers three practical ways to handle files: use the Actions menu for one file, transfer a group as a ZIP archive or through Amazon S3, and keep important files in the persistent home directory or back them up. First check which environment you are using: the Actions-menu file controls are unavailable in VPC environments, and a VPC home directory is deleted when its active session ends.
Choose the right file workflow
| Method | Best for | Important limits |
|---|---|---|
| Actions menu | One file moving between your computer and a standard CloudShell environment | Transfers one file at a time. The controls are unavailable in VPC environments; Download file is also unavailable when CloudShell is launched from the Console Toolbar. AWS getting-started guide and AWS multi-file guide. |
| ZIP archive | A batch of files moved through the CloudShell interface | Files must be packaged into one archive for upload or download. AWS says ZIP utilities are preinstalled. AWS multi-file guide. |
| Amazon S3 with AWS CLI | Repeated or larger transfers, or a backup stored outside CloudShell | Requires suitable S3 access and IAM permissions. Data transfer charges may apply. AWS multi-file guide and AWS getting-started guide. |
Amazon Web Services says the interface transfers “a single file … at a time” in its Copying multiple files between your local machine and CloudShell guide. AWS also says incoming internet traffic is not allowed, so commands such as scp and rsync cannot copy files from a local machine into CloudShell.
1. Upload or download one file with Actions
Upload a file
- In a standard CloudShell environment, open Actions and choose Upload file.
- Select the file on your computer and complete the upload.
- Use shell commands such as
ls,mv, andcdto locate or organize it. For example,mkdir -p workcreates a directory namedwork.
Download a file
- Choose Actions > Download file.
- Enter the file path. Use an absolute path, or a path relative to
/home/cloudshell-user/; a relative path is resolved under that home directory. - Complete the download prompt in your browser.
The Download file option is unavailable if CloudShell was launched from the Console Toolbar. Both Actions-menu upload and download are unavailable in VPC environments. AWS’s getting-started guide describes these controls.
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Option A: Bundle files into a ZIP archive
ZIP is the straightforward choice for an occasional batch when you want to use the CloudShell interface. Create the archive on your local computer, upload that one file through Actions > Upload file, then extract it in CloudShell:
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unzip zipped-files.zip -d my-unzipped-folderTo bring files out of CloudShell, create one archive containing only the files you intend to transfer, then download that archive through Actions > Download file:
zip -r files-to-download.zip path/to/filesAdjust the archive name and paths to match your files. AWS says ZIP and unzip utilities are preinstalled in CloudShell. Be selective about archive contents so you do not include unrelated or sensitive files. AWS multi-file instructions.
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Option B: Use an S3 bucket with the AWS CLI
S3 can act as an intermediary: upload a directory from your computer to a bucket, then copy it into CloudShell, or reverse the direction to retrieve files. The local computer needs the AWS CLI installed and configured. CloudShell provides the AWS CLI in its authenticated session, but the identity still needs permission for the requested S3 operations.
AWS lists s3:CreateBucket, s3:PutObject, s3:GetObject, and s3:ListBucket among the permissions for its documented multi-file workflow. The exact permissions needed depend on the operations and resources involved. Use an existing bucket if you do not need to create one, and ensure the bucket policy and identity permissions allow the transfer.
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- Durable & Compact: The Lexar D40E USB memory stick features a metal enclosure, withstands temperatures from 0° to 50° C (32°F to 122°F), and is lightweight at 26g with dimensions of 70.4 x 16.9 x 11.7mm
- Security & Warranty: Securely protects files using an advanced security software solution with 256-bit AES encryption. Backed by a Lexar 3-year limited warranty
For example, a directory can be synchronized between a local machine and S3 with commands such as:
aws s3 sync ./my-folder s3://my-bucket/my-folderaws s3 sync s3://my-bucket/my-folder ./my-folderThe first command copies from the current machine to the bucket; the second copies from the bucket to the current machine. Run the appropriate command on your local computer or in CloudShell for the direction you need. Review the source and destination before running a sync, particularly when using options that remove destination files. S3 introduces separate access and storage considerations, and AWS warns that data transfer charges may apply. See AWS’s multi-file guide.
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3. Keep files across sessions and make backups
Use the persistent home directory in a standard environment
AWS documents up to 1 GB of persistent storage in $HOME for each AWS Region. In a standard CloudShell environment, put files you want in later sessions there; files outside the home directory are temporary and recycled at the end of a session. Each Region has a separate home directory, so changing Regions takes you to a different set of files. See AWS CloudShell Concepts.
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Back up the home directory
A persistent home directory is not a substitute for an independent backup. AWS documents archiving home-directory contents with tar or ZIP, then downloading the archive or copying it to S3. A recursive S3 copy is another documented backup approach. For example, to copy the home directory contents to a bucket:
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aws s3 cp $HOME s3://my-bucket/cloudshell-home/ --recursiveReplace the example bucket and destination prefix with ones you control. Confirm that the chosen files belong in the archive or bucket, that the S3 permissions are in place, and that the bucket’s access and retention settings suit the contents. AWS notes that transfer charges may apply. See AWS’s getting-started guide.
Account for VPC environment differences
VPC environments do not provide the Actions-menu upload or download controls, and their home directory is ephemeral: AWS says it is deleted when the active session ends. AWS notes that other CLI transfer methods may work when the VPC environment has internet access, but that is conditional on the environment’s connectivity and permissions. Do not rely on a VPC home directory to preserve files between sessions. See AWS CloudShell VPC environment documentation.
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