An AWS CLI cheat sheet is the quickest way to learn and recall the most important commands for managing Amazon Web Services. The AWS Command Line Interface (CLI) is a unified tool that allows you to control multiple AWS services from the terminal. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced cloud engineer, this guide provides a comprehensive list of AWS CLI commands you can use daily.
Table of Contents
What is AWS CLI and Why Use a Cheat Sheet?
The AWS CLI is a command-line tool that enables users to interact with AWS services without needing the console. With just a few commands, you can manage EC2 instances, upload files to S3, configure IAM users, and more.
An AWS CLI cheat sheet serves as a quick reference guide. Instead of searching documentation repeatedly, you can glance at the cheat sheet and execute tasks faster. It’s especially useful in DevOps, automation, and scripting scenarios where efficiency matters.
Installing and Configuring AWS CLI
Before using the commands in this AWS CLI cheat sheet, you need to install and configure the tool.
Installation
- Linux/Mac
curl "https://awscli.amazonaws.com/awscli-exe-linux-x86_64.zip" -o "awscliv2.zip"
unzip awscliv2.zip
sudo ./aws/install- Windows
Download the installer from AWS CLI Downloads.
Verify Installation
aws --version
Configure AWS CLI
aws configure
You’ll be asked for:
- AWS Access Key ID
- AWS Secret Access Key
- Default region name
- Output format (json, text, or table)
This setup ensures all the AWS CLI cheat sheet commands work smoothly.
General AWS CLI Commands
These commands help you check basic AWS account details.
- Check AWS CLI version:
aws --version- List configured profiles:
aws configure list-profiles- Display current identity:
aws sts get-caller-identityThese general commands are a good starting point for your AWS CLI workflow.
AWS CLI Cheat Sheet for S3
Amazon S3 is one of the most frequently used AWS services, and these commands are essential.
Create and Manage Buckets
aws s3 mb s3://my-bucket
aws s3 rb s3://my-bucket --force
Upload and Download Files
aws s3 cp file.txt s3://my-bucket/
aws s3 cp s3://my-bucket/file.txt .
Sync Directories
aws s3 sync ./local-folder s3://my-bucket
S3 commands are often the most accessed section of any AWS CLI cheat sheet.
AWS CLI Cheat Sheet for EC2
Amazon EC2 provides scalable compute instances. These commands simplify instance management.
List Instances
aws ec2 describe-instances
Start and Stop Instances
aws ec2 start-instances --instance-ids i-1234567890abcdef0
aws ec2 stop-instances --instance-ids i-1234567890abcdef0
Launch an Instance
aws ec2 run-instances --image-id ami-12345 --count 1 --instance-type t2.micro --key-name my-key --security-groups my-sg
Knowing these commands speeds up server management without logging into the AWS Console.
AWS CLI Cheat Sheet for IAM
Identity and Access Management (IAM) is critical for security.
List Users and Roles
aws iam list-users
aws iam list-roles
Create a New User
aws iam create-user --user-name newuser
Attach Policy to a User
aws iam attach-user-policy --user-name newuser --policy-arn arn:aws:iam::aws:policy/AmazonS3ReadOnlyAccess
IAM commands in your AWS CLI cheat sheet help maintain security best practices.
AWS CLI Cheat Sheet for CloudFormation
CloudFormation automates infrastructure deployment using templates.
Deploy a Stack
aws cloudformation create-stack --stack-name mystack --template-body file://template.json
Update a Stack
aws cloudformation update-stack --stack-name mystack --template-body file://template.json
Delete a Stack
aws cloudformation delete-stack --stack-name mystack
CloudFormation commands make infrastructure as code (IaC) more efficient.
AWS CLI Cheat Sheet for Lambda
Serverless computing is powered by AWS Lambda. Here are key commands:
List Functions
aws lambda list-functions
Invoke a Function
aws lambda invoke --function-name my-function output.json
Update Function Code
aws lambda update-function-code --function-name my-function --zip-file fileb://function.zip
These commands allow quick deployment and testing of Lambda functions.
AWS CLI Cheat Sheet for CloudWatch
Monitoring and logging with CloudWatch is essential for AWS environments.
List Log Groups
aws logs describe-log-groups
Get Log Events
aws logs get-log-events --log-group-name my-group --log-stream-name my-stream
Put Custom Metrics
aws cloudwatch put-metric-data --namespace "MyApp" --metric-name "Errors" --value 1
These monitoring commands ensure your applications stay healthy.
AWS CLI Cheat Sheet for DynamoDB
DynamoDB is a fast and flexible NoSQL database service.
List Tables
aws dynamodb list-tables
Create a Table
aws dynamodb create-table --table-name MyTable --attribute-definitions AttributeName=Id,AttributeType=S --key-schema AttributeName=Id,KeyType=HASH --billing-mode PAY_PER_REQUEST
Put an Item
aws dynamodb put-item --table-name MyTable --item '{"Id": {"S": "101"}, "Name": {"S": "Alice"}}'
These commands simplify database operations via CLI.
Best Practices for AWS CLI
- Use profiles for multiple accounts – Helps separate dev, staging, and production.
- Enable MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) – Adds security to AWS CLI usage.
- Avoid hardcoding credentials – Always use
aws configureor environment variables. - Use JSON parsing tools – Combine AWS CLI with
jqfor better readability. - Automate repetitive tasks – Create shell scripts with AWS CLI commands.
Following these best practices ensures safe and efficient AWS CLI usage.
FAQs About AWS CLI Cheat Sheet
1. What is an AWS CLI cheat sheet?
An AWS CLI cheat sheet is a quick reference guide containing essential commands for managing AWS services directly from the command line.
2. How do I install AWS CLI?
You can install AWS CLI on Linux, macOS, or Windows by downloading it from aws.amazon.com/cli.
3. Can I use AWS CLI without credentials?
No, you need an Access Key ID and Secret Access Key, which are configured using aws configure.
4. Is AWS CLI better than the AWS Console?
AWS CLI is faster for repetitive and automated tasks, while the Console is more user-friendly for beginners.
5. Can I generate an AWS CLI cheat sheet PDF?
Yes, you can save this guide or export your own frequently used commands into a PDF for offline access.