Azure Storage Explorer Full Guide

Azure Storage Explorer is a must-have tool for any Azure user. It's a free, lightweight, and easy-to-use tool that allows you to easily manage and explore your Azure Storage resources.

With Azure Storage Explorer, you can access and manage your Azure Blob, File, Queue, and Table storage resources from a single interface.

You can use it to create, edit, and delete storage resources, as well as upload and download files and data. It's a great way to get a quick overview of your storage resources and troubleshoot any issues that may arise.

Azure Storage Explorer is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, so you can use it regardless of your operating system.

For your interest: How to Use Google Storage

To use Azure Storage Explorer, you'll need to meet some basic requirements. You can run Storage Explorer on Windows, macOS, Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES).

Storage Explorer supports Windows 11 and Windows 10, and you must have a 64-bit application supported Windows installation. You'll also need a .NET 8 runtime installed, which matches the architecture of your Storage Explorer install.

Readers also liked: Reset Ford Explorer Computer

You can download the latest .NET 8 runtime from the Storage Explorer website. Storage Explorer is also available in the Snap Store for Ubuntu users.

To run Storage Explorer on Ubuntu, you'll need to install snapd, which comes preinstalled with Ubuntu. You can learn more about snapd installation on the snapd installation page.

Here are the supported operating systems for Storage Explorer:

To connect Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer to your Azure Storage account, you'll need to provide the necessary account details.

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

To get started, you'll need to select Storage account in the Select Resource panel of the Connect to Azure Storage dialog.

You can connect to your Azure Storage account using either the storage account's name and key or Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication.

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

Take a look at this: How to Upload File to Google Cloud Storage Using Reactjs

1. Select Account name and key and select Next.

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

3. Select the appropriate Azure environment and select Next.

4. Review your connection information in the Summary panel and select Connect if the connection information is correct.

Alternatively, you can connect using Azure AD authentication by selecting Sign in using Entra ID in the Connect to Azure Storage dialog's Select Resource panel.

To connect using Azure AD authentication, follow these steps:

1. Select Blob container, ADLS Gen2 container, or Queue in the Select Resource panel.

2. Select Sign in using Entra ID.

3. Choose an Azure account as well as a tenant.

4. Give your connection a display name and the resource’s URL.

5. Select Connect if the connection information is valid.

It's worth noting that you can sign in to an Azure Stack instance, a national cloud, or a global Azure account in the Select Azure Environment screen.

A fresh viewpoint: Session Storage Should Clear Next Js

You can connect to your Azure Storage account using a Shared Access Signature (SAS) connection string. This is done by selecting Shared access signature (SAS) from the drop-down menu and then Next.

To use a SAS connection string, you'll need to give your connection a name and the SAS connection string for the storage account. This is a crucial step in establishing a secure connection.

Azure Storage Explorer also supports Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication, which is an alternative to using a connection string. This method provides an additional layer of security.

To manage both Azure Blob Storage and Azure Data Lake Storage, you can use Azure Storage Explorer. This makes it easy to navigate and work with both types of storage resources within the application.

You can view and edit table data, upload and download files and folders, and much more once you're connected to your storage account. This is all possible without having to leave the Azure Storage Explorer interface.

Expand your knowledge: Access Azure Blob Storage

Azure Storage Explorer can connect to an Azure Storage emulator, which is a great way to test and develop applications without actually using actual storage resources.

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

If your emulator is listening on the default ports, you can easily access it through Storage Explorer. However, if you want to use a different name for your connection or if your emulator isn't running on the default ports, you'll need to follow a few extra steps.

To do this, start your emulator manually, as Storage Explorer doesn't automatically start it. Then, in the Connect to Azure Storage dialog, select Local storage emulator and enter a display name for your connection and the port number for each emulated service you want to use.

Readers also liked: How Much Free Storage Start a New Onedrive

Attaching to a resource is a straightforward process in Storage Explorer. You can connect to individual resources like an Azure Data Lake Storage container using various authentication methods.

To get started, select the Connect button in the left-hand toolbar. Then, follow the instructions for the resource type you want to connect to, such as a storage account or a blob container.

Storage accounts can be connected using Microsoft Entra ID, Account Name and Key, or Shared Access Signature (SAS) via connection string or URL. Blob containers, on the other hand, can be connected using Microsoft Entra ID, Shared Access Signature (SAS) via URL, or Public (anonymous).

Here's a breakdown of the authentication methods supported for different resource types:

Once a connection is successfully added, a new tree node appears under Local & Attached > Storage Accounts, or under a group node matching its type, like Blob Containers.

You can connect to an Azure Storage emulator using Storage Explorer. The emulator is available for Windows, macOS, and Linux.

There are two supported emulators: Azure Storage Emulator (Windows only) and Azurite (Windows, macOS, or Linux). You can use the Local & Attached > Storage Accounts > Emulator - Default Ports node to access your emulator if it's running on the default ports.

If your emulator isn't running on the default ports, you'll need to start it manually. In the Select Resource panel of the Connect to Azure Storage dialog, select Local storage emulator. Enter a display name for your connection and the port number for each emulated service you want to use.

You can leave the corresponding port blank if you don't want to use a service. Select Next to review your connection information in the Summary panel. If the connection information is correct, select Connect.

Here are the two supported emulators:

To create a container, you'll need to expand the storage account you created earlier. Select Blob Containers and right-click to choose Create Blob Container.

Enter a name for your blob container, keeping in mind the rules and restrictions for naming blob containers.

Once you've entered the name, press Enter to create the blob container. It will then be displayed under the Blob Containers folder for the selected storage account.

Readers also liked: How to Create a Blob Storage in Azure

Uploading blobs to a container is a straightforward process. You can upload folders or individual files, and even choose the type of blob you want to upload.

Blob storage supports three types of blobs: block blobs, append blobs, and page blobs. Most files stored in Blob storage are block blobs.

To upload files, select the Upload option on the container ribbon. This will give you the option to upload a folder or a file, and choose the blob type.

If you're uploading a .vhd or .vhdx file, it's recommended to choose Upload .vhd/.vhdx files as page blobs. This will ensure that the file is uploaded correctly.

You can also choose to store the uploaded files in a folder under the container. If you don't choose a folder, the files will be uploaded directly under the container.

Once you've selected the files and options, click Upload to start the upload process. The files will be queued and uploaded one by one, and you can view the upload results in the Activities window.

Readers also liked: Azure Files vs Blob

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

The CLI, called 'storagemigrationcli', provides similar functionality to the graphical user interface (GUI) of Azure Storage Explorer, making it a valuable tool for users who prefer working in the command line.

You can use the 'storagemigrationcli' to automate tasks and perform operations, giving you more control and efficiency in your workflow.

This CLI option is particularly useful for users who are comfortable working in the command line and want to streamline their tasks and workflows.

You might enjoy: Azure Storage Explorer Install

Azure Storage Explorer is a free desktop tool that allows you to manage your Azure storage account easily. You can upload files to your Azure storage account with ease.

Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer is available for both Windows and Mac, making it accessible to a wide range of users. To download it, simply head over to the Microsoft website and click the "Download" button.

To connect to your Azure storage account, you'll need to enter your login credentials and the Authentication key. This is a quick and easy process, and you'll be good to go once you've done so.

Here's a quick rundown of what you can do with Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer:

To use Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer, you can connect it to your Azure storage account in several ways. You can use a connection string or Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) authentication, which requires the storage account name and account key or Azure AD credentials.

To access your Azure storage account, you'll need two permissions: management and data. Storage Explorer can be used with just the data-layer permission, which allows you to access blobs, containers, and other data resources.

The management role allows you to view a list of all your storage accounts, containers, and service endpoints. You can use Storage Explorer to connect and manage your Azure storage service accounts and resources across subscriptions.

Intriguing read: What Is the Data Storage in Azure Called

Here are the different connection types you can use to connect to Azure Storage Explorer:

Storage Explorer allows you to operate without being connected to the cloud or using local emulators, which increases productivity and efficiency while lowering expenditures.

Azure Storage offers a range of storage options to suit different needs. Table Storage is a flat, NoSQL storage option for unstructured data like logs or event data.

Each storage option has its unique features and use cases. Blob Storage is a cheap and easy storage option for large binary objects (BLOBs), which can range in size from a few kilobytes to several gigabytes.

You can store files of any type and size using Blob Storage, making it a great starting point for Azure Storage. Blob Storage is also perfect for storing text or multimedia files.

Queue Storage is a messaging service that allows you to send messages between applications and services, making it ideal for managing workflows and asynchronous tasks.

Explore further: Save Api Data on Local Storage Next Js

Here are the main types of storage options in Azure:

File Storage is a basic file store that you can use to store any type of file. You can access your files from anywhere as long as you're connected to the internet.