Buckets Management

The Buckets Management features of S3 Explorer let you create, view, and control your S3 buckets from a single interface. Start by opening the app and selecting your connection in the top-left drop-down menu. Click Manage connections to add new credentials or switch between AWS and compatible services like LocalStack or MinIO.

Once connected, the sidebar lists all buckets for the active profile. Right-click anywhere in the list to find the New Bucket option or use the context menu at the top of the panel. Give the bucket a unique name and click Create. The new bucket will appear immediately, ready for uploads.

Select any bucket to reveal its configuration tabs in the inspector panel on the right. Each tab lets you change a specific aspect of your bucket:

• Tags – Edit key/value pairs that help categorize or search for your bucket. Click Add, type the key and value, then choose Save.
• Bucket Policy – Manage JSON policies that control access. Paste a valid policy and use the Validate button before saving to avoid syntax errors.
• Versioning – Enable or suspend object versioning and configure lifecycle rules. Toggle Versioning on to keep older copies of files. Set expiration days or transitions to archival storage using the table below the switch.
• Website Hosting – Configure static website hosting. Provide an Index document and optional Error document to serve a site directly from your bucket.
• CORS – Add cross-origin rules by editing the JSON array. Use the Validate button to check syntax before saving.
• Access Control List (ACL) – View or modify bucket permissions. Choose pre-defined canned ACLs or specify grantees and permissions manually in JSON.

To delete a bucket, right-click it in the sidebar and choose Delete. Buckets with existing objects require emptying before removal. Use Shift+Click or drag to select multiple objects and press the Delete key or context menu.

The click path for any configuration tab is: Sidebar → select bucket → Inspector panel → desired tab (Tags, Bucket Policy, Versioning, Website, CORS, ACL). Remember that changes become active only after clicking the Save button within each tab.

Return to the home page or view all features for more guidance.