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@atheiman
Last active February 19, 2026 20:55
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aws cli install windows without administrator rights. run from powershell.

1. Install AWS CLI using PowerShell:

Install into user's home directory using PowerShell without Windows adminstrator requirement:

# Install from PowerShell without needing administrator permissions:
# https://github.com/aws/aws-cli/issues/4633#issuecomment-1049955325
msiexec /a https://awscli.amazonaws.com/AWSCLIV2.msi /qb TARGETDIR=$env:USERPROFILE\awscli

# show version after install:
& "${env:USERPROFILE}/awscli/Amazon/AWSCLIV2/aws.exe" --version
# aws-cli/2.33.25 Python/3.13.11 Windows/2025Server exe/AMD64

2. Configure Git-Bash

Run in Git-Bash shell to update $PATH and configure tab-completion:

# Append PATH update to ~/.bash_profile
echo 'export PATH="$PATH:$HOME/awscli/Amazon/AWSCLIV2"' >> ~/.bash_profile
# Append tab-completion configuration to ~/.bash_profile
echo 'complete -C "$(which aws_completer)" aws' >> ~/.bash_profile
# Reload ~/.bash_profile
source ~/.bash_profile

# Show aws cli is in $PATH:
aws --version
# aws-cli/2.33.25 Python/3.13.11 Windows/2025Server exe/AMD64

# Test tab-completion:
aws sts get-caller-id<tab>
# Should tab-complete to `aws sts get-caller-identity`

If tab-completion is not working, verify aws_completer is in $PATH: which aws_completer.

AWS CLI tab-completion docs. Windows PowerShell tab-completion is also available.

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