Mastering AWS CLI on Ubuntu in 2026

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Difficulty: Beginner
Estimated Time: 15-25 minutes
Prerequisites: An Ubuntu machine with terminal access, sudo privileges on the system, An AWS account with access key and secret access key, Basic familiarity with the Linux command line

From Installation to S3 Sync with sudo Access & Custom Aliases

Ready to tame the AWS cloud from your terminal? This guide walks you through installing AWS CLI v2 on Ubuntu, setting up configuration files, syncing S3 buckets with custom options, and even handling sudo access like a pro

1. Installing AWS CLI v2 on Ubuntu

Let's begin with the essentials — installing the latest AWS CLI:

Update & Upgrade System

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y

Install Required Tools

sudo apt install unzip curl -y

Download AWS CLI v2

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

Unzip & Install

unzip awscliv2.zip
sudo ./aws/install

Confirm Installation

aws --version

You should see something like:

aws-cli/2.x.x Python/3.x.x Linux/x86_64

(Optional) Clean Up Install Files

rm -rf awscliv2.zip aws

Remove AWS CLI v1 (If Needed)

sudo apt remove awscli -y

2. Configuring AWS CLI Credentials & Region

Create AWS Config Directory

mkdir -p ~/.aws

Add Your AWS Credentials

nano ~/.aws/credentials

[default]
aws_access_key_id = YOUR_ACCESS_KEY_ID
aws_secret_access_key = YOUR_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY

Set Region & Output Format

nano ~/.aws/confi

[default]
region = eu-west-1
output = json

Secure Your Files

chmod 600 ~/.aws/credentials ~/.aws/config

Pro Tip: Use environment variables or roles on EC2 instead of hardcoding secrets in root's config.

Conclusion

By now, you've gone from installing AWS CLI . Whether you're managing infrastructure or deploying apps, you now wield the power of the cloud from your terminal .

Tags: #AWSCLI #UbuntuLinux #CloudAutomation #DevOpsTools #S3Sync #AWSTutorial #LinuxTips #CloudComputing #ShellScripting #AWS2026