How to Create an Amazon S3 Bucket on AWS

How to Create an Amazon S3 Bucket on AWS

Amazon S3 (Simple Storage Service) is a scalable, secure, and durable object storage service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS). It is commonly used to store files, host static websites, manage backups, and serve as cloud-based storage for applications.

This guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough on how to create an S3 bucket using the AWS Management Console — designed for beginners or first-time users.

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✅ Prerequisites

Before you begin, ensure you have:

• An active AWS account
• Basic understanding of cloud concepts
• A stable internet connection and modern web browser

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🚀 Step 1: Sign in to the AWS Management Console

1. Visit https://console.aws.amazon.com
2. Log in using your AWS credentials
3. In the Search bar, type “S3” and select S3 from the services list

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🪣 Step 2: Create a New S3 Bucket

On the Amazon S3 dashboard:

1. Click Create bucket
2. Configure the following settings:

📛 Bucket Name

• Must be globally unique
• Use lowercase letters, numbers, and hyphens only
• Example: global-assets-bucket-2025

🌍 AWS Region

• Choose the region closest to your users or app
• Consider latency, cost, and compliance requirements

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🔧 Step 3: Configure Bucket Options

🔐 Block Public Access

• Enabled by default
• Recommended for private data
• Only disable if you’re hosting public content

📑 Bucket Versioning (Optional)

• Retain, retrieve, and restore all versions of objects
• Useful for backups and recovery

🏷️ Tags (Optional)

• Add key-value pairs to organize your resources
• Example:
  • Key: Environment
  • Value: Development

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🛡️ Step 4: Set Default Encryption

Enable encryption to secure your data:

• SSE-S3 (S3 Managed Keys) — Simplest option
• SSE-KMS (AWS KMS Keys) — For more control and auditing
• SSE-C (Customer-provided keys) — Advanced users only

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✅ Step 5: Review and Create the Bucket

• Review all your settings
• Click Create bucket
• ✅ Your bucket is now created!

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📤 Step 6: Upload Files (Test)

1. From the S3 dashboard, click your bucket name
2. Click Upload
3. Select files from your local machine
4. Click Upload again to confirm

🎉 You’ve successfully uploaded your first object to S3!

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🌍 Step 7: Make a File Public (Optional)

To share a file publicly:

1. Select the file in your bucket
2. Click Actions > Make public
3. Copy the Object URL and share it

⚠️ Security Note: Only make files public when absolutely necessary. Keep sensitive data private.

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🙌 Conclusion

Creating an Amazon S3 bucket is one of the most essential skills in cloud computing. With your bucket ready, you can now upload, store, and manage your data securely in the cloud.

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