Azure Storage Explorer Download and Setup Guide

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To get started with Azure Storage Explorer, you'll first need to download it from the official Microsoft website.

The download process is straightforward, and you can find the download link on the Azure Storage Explorer page.

Azure Storage Explorer is available for both Windows and macOS operating systems, and you can choose the version that suits your needs.

Once you've downloaded the installer, run it to begin the installation process.

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Prerequisites

To get started with Azure Storage Explorer, you'll need to meet some basic prerequisites. Windows, macOS, Ubuntu, and several Linux distributions are supported.

The following operating systems are compatible with Azure Storage Explorer:

  • Windows
  • macOS
  • Ubuntu
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES)

Specifically, the latest versions of Storage Explorer are supported on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Getting Started

To get started with Azure Storage Explorer, simply go to Azure Storage Explorer – cloud storage management | Microsoft Azure to download a free copy.

You'll need to connect it to an active Azure account to link your storage resources.

Credit: youtube.com, Azure Storage Explorer

Click the Download Now button on the screen and the installation file StorageExplorer.exe will be downloaded to your download folder.

Right-click on the downloaded installer file StorageExplorer.exe and select Run as administrator to begin the installation process.

Choose whether you want to install Azure Storage Explorer for all users or for yourself only.

Select the radio button next to “I accept the agreement” and press the Install button to accept the license terms.

Choose the installation path where you want to install this application.

Once the installation is done, you'll be directed to the final screen.

If you want to run the newly installed application, check the box and press the Finish button.

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Azure Storage Explorer

Azure Storage Explorer is a powerful tool that allows you to connect with storage accounts or other services.

To access your Azure storage account, you'll need two permissions: management and data. The management role allows you to view a list of all of your storage accounts, containers, and service endpoints.

Credit: youtube.com, Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer | Download for Windows 10-11 ⏬👇

Storage Explorer, on the other hand, can be used with simply the data-layer permission, which requires at least a read data role. The read/write role's nature should be tailored to the type of data stored in the storage account.

To get started with Storage Explorer, you'll be taken to a sign-in page.

Attach to Resource

To attach to a resource in Azure Storage Explorer, you'll need to select the Connect button in the left-hand toolbar. This will take you through the process of connecting to your desired resource.

You can connect to individual resources, such as an Azure Data Lake Storage container, using various authentication methods. Some authentication methods are only supported for certain resource types.

Here's a breakdown of the authentication methods you can use for different resource types:

After connecting to a storage account, a new tree node appears under Local & Attached > Storage Accounts. For other resource types, a new node is added under Local & Attached > Storage Accounts > (Attached Containers), under a group node matching its type.

Local Emulator

Credit: youtube.com, Use the Azurite emulator for Azure Storage local development

Azure Storage Explorer can connect to a local storage emulator, which is a great way to test and develop your Azure Storage applications without incurring costs.

There are two supported emulators: Azure Storage Emulator, which is only available for Windows, and Azurite, which works on Windows, macOS, or Linux.

If your emulator is running on the default ports, you can access it through the Local & Attached > Storage Accounts > Emulator - Default Ports node.

If you need to use a different name for your connection or your emulator isn't running on the default ports, you'll need to follow a few extra steps.

First, start your emulator manually - Storage Explorer won't do it for you.

Then, in the Select Resource panel of the Connect to Azure Storage dialog, select Local storage emulator.

Next, enter a display name for your connection and the port number for each emulated service you want to use. If you don't want to use a service, leave the corresponding port blank.

Finally, review your connection information in the Summary panel and select Connect if everything looks correct.

Account Management

Credit: youtube.com, Upload and manage data using the Azure storage explorer

Account Management is a crucial aspect of Azure Storage Explorer, and I'm excited to share with you how to manage your accounts effectively.

To start, you can access Account Management by selecting View > Account Management or clicking the Manage Accounts icon in Storage Explorer. This will show you all the Azure accounts to which you have access.

You can connect to another account by selecting Add an account. This will prompt you to sign in to Azure, allowing you to access your subscriptions and resources.

Once you've successfully logged in, you'll see a list of your Azure subscriptions. You can select the subscriptions you'd like to use and click Apply.

After applying your selections, you'll see the storage accounts linked with your selected Azure subscriptions in the Explorer panel.

To connect to a storage account, you can also use the account name and key. You can find your account keys in the Azure portal by opening your storage account page and selecting Settings > Access keys.

Credit: youtube.com, How to Use Azure Storage Explorer tool to manage storage accounts

Here's a step-by-step guide to connecting using account name and key:

1. Select Storage account in the Select Resource panel of the Connect to Azure Storage dialog.

2. Select Account name and key and click Next.

3. Enter a display name for your connection, the name of the account, and one of the account keys.

4. Select the appropriate Azure environment and click Next.

5. Review your connection information in the Summary panel and click Connect if everything looks correct.

Recommended read: Storage Account Key Azure

Connection Options

You can connect to Azure Storage Explorer using various methods, including a connection string with a Shared Access Signature (SAS). This type of connection string is used to connect to a storage account and can be created in the Select Resource panel of the Connect to Azure Storage dialog.

To connect using a SAS connection string, you'll need to enter the SAS connection string for the storage account and a display name for your connection. You can also use Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication to connect to your Azure Storage account.

Credit: youtube.com, Azure Storage Explorer - Connect options

Storage Explorer provides several connection types, including using a connection string, Entra ID, shared access signature URI, and more. Here are some of the ways you can connect to Azure resources:

  • Use a connection string
  • Add resources by using Entra ID
  • Use a shared access signature URI
  • Attach to a local emulator
  • Use a name and key
  • Attach to Azure Data Lake by using a URI
  • Attach to Azure Cosmos DB through a connection string

Account Connection

Connecting to your Azure Storage account is a straightforward process, and there are several ways to do it.

You can connect using a connection string, which contains the necessary information to establish a connection, including the storage account name and account key or Azure AD credentials.

To connect using a connection string, you'll need to select Storage account in the Select Resource panel, then select Account name and key and enter the display name, account name, and one of the account keys.

You can find your account keys in the Azure portal by opening your storage account page and selecting Settings > Access keys.

There are several connection types to choose from, including using a connection string, adding resources by using Entra ID, using a shared access signature URI, attaching to a local emulator, using a name and key, attaching to Azure Data Lake by using a URI, and attaching to Azure Cosmos DB through a connection string.

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Here are the steps to connect using a connection string:

  1. In the Select Resource panel, select Storage account.
  2. Select Account name and key and select Next.
  3. Enter a display name for your connection, the name of the account, and one of the account keys.
  4. Select the appropriate Azure environment.
  5. Review your connection information in the Summary panel and select Connect if the connection information is correct.

You can also connect using Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication, but this takes more configuration than the other methods.

To connect using Azure AD, you'll need to select Storage account in the Select Resource panel, then select Shared access signature (SAS) and enter the SAS connection string for the storage account.

If you're using Azure Data Lake, you can create a blob container using the connection type that allows access to the data layer.

To connect to Azure Storage, you can also sign in to Azure to access your subscriptions and their resources, or attach to an individual Azure Storage resource.

Storage Explorer can also connect to a local storage emulator using the emulator's configured ports.

You can find more information on connecting to Azure Storage in the Azure portal, where you can also manage your Azure accounts and subscriptions.

For your interest: What Is Azure Storage

Command-Line Options

Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer offers a command-line interface (CLI) that allows you to automate tasks and perform operations using scripts or batch files.

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This CLI, called 'storagemigrationcli', provides similar functionality to the graphical user interface (GUI) of Azure Storage Explorer, giving you more flexibility and control over your storage operations.

You can use the CLI to automate repetitive tasks, which can save you time and effort in the long run.

For example, you can use scripts or batch files to perform operations such as data migration or backup, all from the comfort of your command line.

The CLI is a powerful tool that can help you streamline your storage management tasks and improve your overall productivity.

Account Access

To access your Azure Storage account using Azure Storage Explorer, you'll need to connect to it in one of several ways. You can sign in to Azure to access your subscriptions and their resources, or attach to an individual Azure Storage resource.

There are several connection types to choose from, including using a connection string, shared access signature (SAS) connection string, or Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication. A SAS connection string looks like this: In the Select Resource panel of the Connect to Azure Storage dialog, select Storage account.Select Shared access signature (SAS) and select Next.Enter a display name for your connection and the SAS connection string for the storage account. Select Next.Review your connection information in the Summary panel. If the connection information is correct, select Connect.

You can also use a shared access signature (SAS) URL to connect to a storage account. Storage Explorer can connect to the following resource types using a SAS URI: Blob containerAzure Data Lake Storage container or directoryFile shareQueueTable

To connect using a SAS URL, follow these steps: In the Select Resource panel of the Connect to Azure Storage dialog, select the resource you want to connect to.Select Shared access signature (SAS) and select Next.Enter a display name for your connection and the SAS URI for the resource. Select Next.Review your connection information in the Summary panel. If the connection information is correct, select Connect.

You can also use Azure AD to connect to Azure Storage, but this takes more configuration than other methods. To access the target resources, the account you use to connect to Azure must have the appropriate permissions and authorization.

Additional reading: Storage Options in Azure

Frequently Asked Questions

Which devices can you install Azure storage Explorer on?

You can install Azure Storage Explorer on Windows, macOS, and Linux devices. This versatile app makes it easy to work with Azure Storage data across multiple platforms.

How to install Azure File Explorer?

To install Azure Storage Explorer, visit the Microsoft Azure website and follow the download and installation instructions. After installation, connect it to an active Azure account to start using its features.

What is Azure File Explorer?

Azure Storage Explorer is a tool that allows users to manage and transfer data across storage accounts, including blobs, files, queues, and tables. It enables easy upload, download, copy, move, and deletion of data within and across storage accounts.

Is Azure storage Explorer free?

Yes, Azure Storage Explorer is free to download and use. However, you'll need to connect it to an active Azure account to access its full features.

Tanya Hodkiewicz

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Tanya Hodkiewicz is a seasoned Assigning Editor with a keen eye for compelling content. With a proven track record of commissioning articles that captivate and inform, Tanya has established herself as a trusted voice in the industry. Her expertise spans a range of categories, including "Important" pieces that tackle complex, timely topics and "Decade in Review" features that offer insightful retrospectives on significant events.

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