The AWS Command Line Interface (AWS CLI) is a powerful tool that lets you manage AWS services from your terminal or command prompt without the need for a console. Knowing how to install the AWS CLI is essential whether you’re a developer, cloud engineer, or system administrator. This step-by-step guide shows you how to install the newer AWS CLI version 2 on Windows, macOS, and Linux systems. We’ll also walk through how to verify and configure your installation.
Step-by-step guide to installing AWS CLI
We’ve given you detailed steps for each OS so you can skip to the specific section and follow the steps that are meant for your OS.
How to install AWS CLI on Windows OS
Step 1. Download the Windows installer
Go to the link AWS CLI for Windows and it will automatically download the .msi file.
Step 2. Run the installer
Once the file is downloaded, double-click the .msi file to launch the setup wizard and follow the on-screen instructions till the setup is completed.
Step 3. Verify the installation
Once installed, check if the AWS CLI is working correctly. Open Command Prompt, type the following command and press enter:
aws --version
You should see an output like this:
aws-cli/2.x.x Python/3.x Windows/x86_64
How to Install AWS CLI on macOS
Step 1. Download the macOS installer
Run the following command in the terminal to download the latest version:
curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/AWSCLIV2.pkg" -o "AWSCLIV2.pkg"
You can also download the .pkg file directly.
Step 2. Install the package
You can then run this command to install the package:
sudo installer -pkg AWSCLIV2.pkg -target /
Alternatively, you can double-click the .pkg file and follow the instructions to complete the installation.
Step 3. Verify the installation
Check if AWS CLI is installed by simply typing the following prompt:
aws --version
You should see an output like this:
aws-cli/2.15.32 Python/3.11.5 Darwin/x86_64 source prompt/off
How to Install AWS CLI on Linux
Step 1. Download the Linux installer
Use curl to download the zip file using the following command:
curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-x86_64.zip" -o "awscliv2.zip"
Step 2. Unzip and install
Unzip the zip file and install the tool using the following command:
unzip awscliv2.zip
sudo ./aws/install
Step 3. Verify the installation
Once installed, you can then run the following command to check if the installation has happened correctly:
aws --version
If installed correctly, you'll see version details like this:
aws-cli/2.15.24 Python/3.11.5 Linux/5.15.0-105-generic exe/x86_64.ubuntu prompt/off
FAQ
Do I need Python to use AWS CLI?
No. AWS CLI v2 comes bundled with its own Python runtime and does not require a separate Python installation.
Can I install AWS CLI without admin rights?
No. Installing AWS CLI typically requires administrator or root access, especially on Windows and macOS.
What is the latest version of AWS CLI?
Currently, the latest version is version 2 but you can always check the latest version on their help doc.
Can I use AWS CLI with multiple profiles?
Yes. You can configure multiple profiles using in AWS CLI using the command: aws configure --profile profile_name
