How to Install Azure Storage Explorer on Windows

In this post, I demonstrate how to install Azure Storage Explorer on Windows. As part of this post, I also take you through how to set it up after installation. Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer offers a variety of options to install on Windows, macOS, and Linux. It simplifies the process of managing Azure storage data. With Azure storage, you can deploy a Static Website to Azure Storage from VSCode. You may also be interested in how to Upload Batch Files to the Azure Storage Account. Your legacy apps are best suited to run on Azure Fileshare. See also how to create Blob Storage and upload files.

After installing and setting up Azure Storage Explorer in this post, you will be able to connect to and manage all your storage accounts in a single place. Azure Storage is a scalable cloud storage service on Azure.

Are you looking for other options? Explore the following guides on how to manage Storage Drives on Windows and how to create and attach an extra Disk to Azure Virtual Machine. When you work with Azure Cloud Shell, a storage account is required. Take a look at the overview of Azure Cloud Shell.

Install Azure Storage Explorer

It is pretty straightforward to download, install, and set up Storage Explorer on Windows. To do so, follow the steps below:

Step 1: Download Storage Explorer

To download the .exe installer file for Storage Explorer, visit the download page. Click on Download now and select Windows from the list of options.

Step 2: Run the Installation

After downloading the installation file, double-click to run it.

As shown in the above screenshot, on the Select Install mode screen, you’re prompted either to select Install for me only (recommended) or Install for all users.

What this means is that if you select the install for me only (recommended) option, the solution will only be installed for the current system user, and vice versa.

Next, note the default storage location. You can choose to change it or leave it as is.

On the Select Start Menu Folder page, leave it at default. Click Next to proceed.

The next step, as shown below, shows you the installation progress. Seat tight and observe while the installation progresses.

After the installation, you need to authenticate with your Microsoft Azure accounts by signing in using your Azure credentials.

On the Completing the MS Azure Storage Explorer Setup Wizard page, keep Launch Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer checked. Click Finished to launch the Storage Explorer.

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Step 3: Authenticate with Azure Account

To sign into your Azure account, from the Get Started area of the screen, click on Sign in with Azure.

Next, select Azure as the environment you want to sign into, and click Next.

A browser tab will open; follow the prompt to complete the sign-in process.

Select your preferred subscription if you have multiple subscriptions from the list of subscriptions.

Step 4: Connect to Azure Storage

To connect Azure Storage accounts, click Storage Accounts -> Connect to Storage Account -> Storage account or service.

Next, choose a connection method. As shown below, I selected the account name and key. Click Next to continue.

To obtain your account key, head to the Azure Portal and locate Storage Accounts. Select the storage account you want to connect to.

As shown above, I selected the storage account with the name demostore0 as the storage account I want to connect to.

Locate and click Access Keys under the Security + Networking tab in the storage account blade.

Storage Account Access keys are available in two that's key1 and key2. You can use either key1 or key2 for this demonstration. 

Warning! 
Never expose your storage account keys to unauthorized users.

From the above, click show so your key will show, and then click the copy icon to copy your key. Return to the Storage Explorer connection screen.

Supply all the connection information, including the access key you copied earlier, and click Next to continue.

Don't allow connections over HTTP; therefore, keep the Use HTTP (not recommended) dialog box unchecked. 

The summary page displays the summary of the connection information. Notice a warning saying that you should only connect to resources you trust? Click Connect to continue.

Connect succeded.

In the demostore0 Storage Account I connected to, I have two blob containers named $logs and storage-container.

In Azure Storage, a "blob container" is a logical grouping of blobs, which are objects such as files, images, videos, or documents. Blob containers provide a way to organize and manage related blobs within an Azure Storage account.

Step 5: Upload Blob Items to Blob Container

Azure Storage Explorer offers you the flexibility of managing your blob containers and objects from a single pane of glass.

To upload blob items to the blob container, select the blob container you wish to upload items to. Click on the drop-down icon beside Upload and select Upload Files. Azure Storage Explorer offers you the option to upload both folders and files.

Navigate to the directory where your blob items are stored. Note: blob items can be .txt, .docx, .xlsx, or a video file. Here, I want to upload .txt files.

You have the opportunity to upload multiple files at the same time. So, select your files and click Open to prepare for the upload process.

As shown above, click Upload to initiate the upload process.

Finally, you will receive a prompt that your blob items have been uploaded successfully.

Note, the access tier for the blob item stays at the Hot (inferred) tier for frequently accessible data which cost more. Feel free to use a lifecycle management policy to manage the movement of your data to other tiers like cool, cold or archive tiers in order to optimize storage costs.

Let me refresh my blob container on the Azure Portal to see the blob items I have uploaded.

As you can see above, the authentication method used is indicated as an access key.

Feel free to delete your resources in order not to incur Azure charges. 

Run az group delete --name resource-name --no-wait to delete the resource group containing the storage account. 

I hope you found the post on how to install Azure Storage Explorer on Windows useful. Please feel free to leave a comment below.