How to Install Azure CLI: Step-by-Step Guide

To install Azure CLI, download and run the installer for your operating system from the official Microsoft site or use package managers like apt for Linux, brew for macOS, or msiexec for Windows. After installation, verify it by running az --version in your terminal or command prompt.

Syntax

The basic command to check if Azure CLI is installed and to see its version is:

• az --version: Shows the installed Azure CLI version and confirms installation.
• Installation commands vary by operating system and package manager.

bash

az --version

Output

azure-cli                         2.49.0
core                              2.49.0
telemetry                          1.0.8
Python location '/usr/local/azure-cli/bin/python3'
Extensions directory '/home/user/.azure/cliextensions'
Python (Linux) 3.10.6 (main, Apr  6 2023, 15:23:45) [GCC 11.3.0]
Legal docs and information: aka.ms/AzureCliLegal

Example

This example shows how to install Azure CLI on Ubuntu Linux using the official Microsoft package repository and then verify the installation.

bash

curl -sL https://aka.ms/InstallAzureCLIDeb | sudo bash
az --version

Output

Installing Azure CLI...
azure-cli                         2.49.0
core                              2.49.0
telemetry                          1.0.8
Python location '/usr/local/azure-cli/bin/python3'
Extensions directory '/home/user/.azure/cliextensions'
Python (Linux) 3.10.6 (main, Apr  6 2023, 15:23:45) [GCC 11.3.0]
Legal docs and information: aka.ms/AzureCliLegal

Common Pitfalls

Common mistakes when installing Azure CLI include:

• Not running the installer with sudo on Linux, causing permission errors.
• Using outdated package sources that do not have the latest Azure CLI version.
• Not restarting the terminal after installation, so the az command is not recognized.
• Confusing Azure CLI with Azure PowerShell, which is a different tool.

bash

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install azure-cli

# Wrong: missing sudo
apt-get install azure-cli

# Right: with sudo
sudo apt-get install azure-cli

Quick Reference

Here is a quick summary of installation commands for different operating systems:

Operating System	Installation Command
Windows	Download and run MSI installer from https://aka.ms/installazurecliwindows
macOS	brew update && brew install azure-cli
Ubuntu/Debian Linux	curl -sL https://aka.ms/InstallAzureCLIDeb | sudo bash
CentOS/RHEL Linux	sudo rpm --import https://packages.microsoft.com/keys/microsoft.asc sudo yum install azure-cli
Other Linux	Use package manager or install script from https://learn.microsoft.com/cli/azure/install-azure-cli

Key Takeaways

Use the official Microsoft installer or package manager commands to install Azure CLI.

Always verify installation by running 'az --version' in your terminal.

Run installation commands with proper permissions, like using 'sudo' on Linux.

Restart your terminal after installation to ensure the 'az' command works.

Refer to the official Azure CLI documentation for the latest installation instructions.