How to Copy Files in AWS S3: A Step-by-Step Guide | AWS S3 Copy Command: Everything You Need to Know

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How to Copy Files Between AWS S3 Buckets

Manually downloading and re-uploading files between S3 buckets is a waste of time. Using the AWS CLI (Command Line Interface), you can move data directly from one bucket to another in seconds. This guide shows you how to master the aws s3 cp command.

Prerequisites

Before you start, make sure you have:

• AWS CLI Installed: The tool must be on your local system.
• Configured Credentials: Run aws configure to set up your Access Key and Secret Key.

1. Copying a Single File

To copy one specific file from a source bucket to a destination bucket, use the following syntax:

aws s3 cp s3://source-bucket-name/file.jpg s3://destination-bucket-name/

2. Copying an Entire Folder (Recursive)

If you need to move a whole directory and everything inside it, you must use the --recursive flag. This tells AWS to look inside the folder and copy every single item.

aws s3 cp s3://source-bucket/my-folder/ s3://destination-bucket/my-folder/ --recursive

Why use the CLI?

• Speed: It's much faster than the AWS Console for large amounts of data.
• Automation: You can put these commands into scripts to run automatically.
• Versatility: Works for local-to-S3, S3-to-local, and S3-to-S3 transfers.

Need the PowerPoint Presentation or the Command Reference? Check the links in the YouTube video description for all downloadable materials!