Master the AWS CLI Installation Process

TL;DR

Install the AWS CLI v2 on Linux using curl to download, unzip to extract, and sudo ./aws/install. On Windows, use msiexec.exe to install directly from the AWS URL. Verify installation with aws --version.

Unleash the power of automation with the AWS CLI! Say goodbye to manual tasks and hello to seamless access to AWS services. Whether you're a Windows or Linux user, the installation process is a breeze, so you can start taking advantage of the CLI's programmatic capabilities in no time. The two operating systems I always use, as well as my installation preference, are listed below.

Prerequisites

Access to the internet
Ability to unzip/extract downloaded package
64-bit operating system

Note

AWS CLI version 2 is the latest major version and includes features not available in version 1. Always install version 2 for new projects unless you have specific compatibility requirements.

Linux

#use curl to download the zip file and name it awscliv2.zip

curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-x86_64.zip" -o "awscliv2.zip"

#use the unzip program to extract the package, which will create a folder called 'aws' in the current location

unzip awscliv2.zip

#use sudo to install the CLI
sudo ./aws/install

#confirm successful installation

aws --version

Pro Tip

For Linux ARM architectures (like AWS Graviton or Raspberry Pi), use the ARM-specific installer: curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-aarch64.zip" -o "awscliv2.zip"

Windows (PowerShell with Admin rights)

#install the msi package directly from the website

msiexec.exe /i https://awscli.amazonaws.com/AWSCLIV2.msi

#install the msi package directly from the website without any user interaction

msiexec.exe /i https://awscli.amazonaws.com/AWSCLIV2.msi /qn

Important

After installing on Windows, you may need to restart your terminal or PowerShell session for the aws command to be recognized in your PATH. If aws --version still fails, try opening a new terminal window.

#confirm successful installation

aws --version

Next Steps

After installation, configure your credentials by running aws configure and entering your Access Key ID, Secret Access Key, default region, and output format.

Troubleshooting

Issue	Possible Cause	Solution
"aws: command not found" after installation	PATH not updated or terminal not refreshed	Close and reopen terminal. On Linux, the installer adds /usr/local/bin/aws. Verify with `which aws` or add to PATH manually.
"unzip: command not found" on Linux	unzip utility not installed	Install unzip first: `sudo apt install unzip` (Debian/Ubuntu) or `sudo yum install unzip` (RHEL/Amazon Linux).
MSI installation fails on Windows	Insufficient privileges or conflicting version	Run PowerShell as Administrator. Uninstall any previous AWS CLI version first via Control Panel.
"Unable to locate credentials"	AWS credentials not configured	Run `aws configure` and enter your Access Key ID and Secret Access Key. Credentials are stored in ~/.aws/credentials.
SSL certificate errors during installation	Corporate proxy or firewall interference	Configure proxy settings or download the installer manually from the AWS website and install offline.