S3 File Viewer Configuration Guide

Welcome to the S3 File Viewer configuration guide! This guide will help you configure connections to various S3-compatible storage services.

🎬 Video Tutorials

Before diving into the configuration details, watch these quick demos to see S3 File Viewer in action:

File Browsing & Management

Browse buckets, upload files, and manage your S3 storage with an intuitive interface

File Preview & Operations

Preview images, copy URLs, switch between list and thumbnail views

Quick Start

S3 File Viewer is a modern desktop application for browsing and managing S3-compatible object storage services. Whether you're using AWS S3, MinIO, Cloudflare R2, or other S3-compatible services, this guide will help you quickly set up connections.

Basic Concepts

Before getting started, it's important to understand the following basic concepts:

S3 Protocol

S3 (Simple Storage Service) was originally created by Amazon
Has become the de facto standard for object storage
Many cloud providers offer S3-compatible APIs

Object Storage

Stores data as objects (files)
Each object has a unique key (path)
Suitable for storing large amounts of unstructured data

Bucket (Storage Container)

Container for objects, similar to folders
Each service account can have multiple buckets
Bucket names typically need to be globally unique

Configuration Parameters

Connecting to S3 services typically requires the following parameters:

1. Endpoint

The endpoint is the API address of the S3 service, typically formatted as:

https://s3.<region>.example.com

Examples:

AWS S3: https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com
MinIO: http://localhost:9000
Cloudflare R2: https://abc123.r2.cloudflarestorage.com

Notes:

Must include protocol (http:// or https://)
HTTPS is recommended for production environments
Some services may use non-standard ports

2. Access Key ID

The access key is your account identifier used for authentication.

Characteristics:

Used publicly (but should not be publicly shared)
Typically a string of letters and numbers
Similar to: AKIAIOSFODNN7EXAMPLE

Aliases: Different services may use different names:

AWS: Access Key ID
Alibaba Cloud: AccessKey ID
Tencent Cloud: SecretId
MinIO: Access Key

3. Secret Access Key

The secret key is the private key paired with the access key, used for signing requests.

Characteristics:

Must be kept strictly confidential
Typically only displayed once after creation
Similar to: wJalrXUtnFEMI/K7MDENG/bPxRfiCYEXAMPLEKEY

Aliases:

AWS: Secret Access Key
Alibaba Cloud: AccessKey Secret
Tencent Cloud: SecretKey
MinIO: Secret Key

⚠️ Security Tips:

Save immediately after creation
Don't commit to code repositories
Rotate regularly
Use principle of least privilege

4. Region

Region identifies the geographic location of the service.

Examples:

AWS: us-east-1 (US East), ap-northeast-1 (Tokyo)
Alibaba Cloud: cn-hangzhou (Hangzhou), cn-beijing (Beijing)
Cloudflare R2: auto (automatic selection)

Notes:

Choosing the closest region to users provides best performance
Some services don't require a region; you can use us-east-1 or auto
If unsure, check the service provider's documentation

Major S3 Service Configuration Guides

We provide detailed configuration guides for major S3-compatible services, including how to obtain access keys, configuration examples, and common issues.

Cloud Providers

AWS S3

Amazon's object storage service, the creator and standard definer of the S3 protocol.

Use Cases: Enterprise applications, global distribution, AWS ecosystem integration

Key Features:

Most complete features and ecosystem
Global data center coverage
High availability and durability
Rich storage classes

View detailed configuration guide →

Cloudflare R2

Cloudflare's object storage service with zero egress fees.

Use Cases: Public file hosting, CDN origin, large file distribution

Key Features:

Zero egress fees
Globally distributed
Cloudflare Workers integration
S3-compatible API

View detailed configuration guide →

MinIO

Open-source high-performance object storage server that can be self-hosted.

Use Cases: Private cloud, local development, edge computing, data sovereignty

Key Features:

100% open source
Fully S3-compatible
High performance
Easy to deploy

View detailed configuration guide →

Alibaba Cloud OSS

Alibaba Cloud's object storage service with fast access in China.

Use Cases: Mainland China applications, Alibaba Cloud ecosystem

Key Features:

Fast domestic access
Alibaba Cloud product integration
S3-compatible API
Image processing service

View detailed configuration guide →

Tencent Cloud COS

Tencent Cloud's object storage service with deep WeChat ecosystem integration.

Use Cases: Mini programs/Official accounts, Tencent Cloud ecosystem

Key Features:

Fast domestic access
WeChat ecosystem integration
Data Insight (media processing)
S3-compatible API

View detailed configuration guide →

Backblaze B2

Highly cost-effective object storage service, priced at 1/4 of S3.

Use Cases: Backup and archiving, cost-sensitive projects

Key Features:

Very affordable
Generous free download quota
S3-compatible API
Simple to use

View detailed configuration guide →

DigitalOcean Spaces

DigitalOcean's object storage service with fixed pricing including CDN.

Use Cases: Small to medium projects, static website hosting

Key Features:

Fixed pricing ($5/month)
Built-in free CDN
Simple to use
Fully S3-compatible

View detailed configuration guide →

Other S3-Compatible Services

General Configuration Guide

Including but not limited to:

Wasabi - Low cost, no egress fees
Linode Object Storage - Linode cloud platform
Vultr Object Storage - Vultr cloud platform
IBM Cloud Object Storage - IBM cloud service
Google Cloud Storage - GCS S3-compatible API
Huawei Cloud OBS - Huawei Cloud object storage
Oracle Cloud - Oracle cloud storage
Private Deployments - Ceph, OpenStack Swift, SeaweedFS, etc.

View general configuration guide →

Quick Configuration Process

1. Create New Connection

In S3 File Viewer:

Click the "+" button at the bottom of the sidebar
Or right-click in empty space and select "New Connection"

2. Fill in Connection Information

Based on your chosen service provider, fill in the following information:

Connection Name: [Custom name, e.g., "My AWS S3"]
Endpoint: [Service API endpoint URL]
Access Key: [Access Key ID]
Secret Key: [Secret Access Key]
Region: [Service region code]

3. Save and Connect

Click "Save" to save the connection configuration
The connection will appear in the sidebar
Click the connection name to connect and view buckets

4. Browse and Manage

After successful connection, you can:

📂 Browse buckets and objects
⬆️ Upload files and folders
⬇️ Download objects
🗑️ Delete objects
📋 Copy object URLs
👁️ Preview files
➕ Create folders

Security Best Practices

1. Use Sub-accounts/IAM Users

❌ Don't use main account keys

Main accounts have all permissions
Very high risk if keys are leaked

✅ Create dedicated sub-accounts

AWS: IAM users
Alibaba Cloud: RAM users
Tencent Cloud: CAM sub-users
MinIO: Service Accounts

2. Principle of Least Privilege

Only grant necessary permissions:

Basic read/write permissions:

json

{
  "permissions": [
    "ListBuckets",
    "ListObjects",
    "GetObject",
    "PutObject",
    "DeleteObject"
  ]
}

Read-only permissions:

json

{
  "permissions": [
    "ListBuckets",
    "ListObjects",
    "GetObject"
  ]
}

3. Regular Key Rotation

Recommend changing every 90 days
Delete unused old keys
Monitor key usage

4. Protect Key Security

✅ Should do:

Use password manager to save
Use environment variables (development)
Regularly review access logs

❌ Should not do:

Commit to Git repositories
Hard-code in code
Share through insecure channels
Display in public

Common Issues

Connection Failed?

Checklist:

✓ Endpoint URL format is correct
✓ Access key and secret key copied correctly
✓ No extra spaces or line breaks
✓ Region code is correct
✓ Network can access the endpoint
✓ Firewall allows connection
✓ System time is accurate (deviation not more than 15 minutes)

How to Choose the Right Service?

Considerations:

Geographic Location
- Choose service closest to users
- Consider data sovereignty and compliance requirements
Pricing
- Storage fees
- Traffic fees
- API request fees
- Free quotas
Feature Requirements
- CDN needed?
- Image processing needed?
- Advanced features needed?
Ecosystem Integration
- Using other services from cloud provider?
- Need specific integrations?

Price Comparison (100GB storage + 100GB download/month):

Service	Approx. Cost	Features
Backblaze B2	~$1.5	Cheapest, free download quota
Cloudflare R2	~$1.5	Zero egress fees
DigitalOcean	$5	Fixed price, includes CDN
Wasabi	~$6	No egress fees
AWS S3	~$12	Most features
Alibaba Cloud OSS	~¥17	Fast in China

Prices are for reference only, please check official pricing

Performance Optimization Tips

Choose Nearby Region
- Lower latency
- Faster speed
Use CDN
- Accelerate global access
- Reduce traffic costs
Enable Compression
- Reduce storage space
- Speed up transfers
Reasonable File Organization
- Use prefixes for classification
- Avoid too many objects in single bucket

Getting Help

Documentation and Resources

Submitting Issues

When submitting issues, please include:

S3 service name being used
Error messages or screenshots
Configuration information (hide sensitive data)
Operating system and app version

Contributing Documentation

Pull requests welcome for:

Additional configuration guides
Error corrections
Adding new services
Improving instructions

Next Steps

Choose your service to view the detailed configuration guide:

Enjoy using S3 File Viewer! 🚀

S3 File Viewer Configuration Guide ​

🎬 Video Tutorials ​

File Browsing & Management ​

File Preview & Operations ​

Quick Start ​

Basic Concepts ​

Configuration Parameters ​

1. Endpoint ​

2. Access Key ID ​

3. Secret Access Key ​

4. Region ​

Major S3 Service Configuration Guides ​

Cloud Providers ​

Other S3-Compatible Services ​

Quick Configuration Process ​

1. Create New Connection ​

2. Fill in Connection Information ​

3. Save and Connect ​

4. Browse and Manage ​

Security Best Practices ​

1. Use Sub-accounts/IAM Users ​

2. Principle of Least Privilege ​

3. Regular Key Rotation ​

4. Protect Key Security ​

Common Issues ​

Connection Failed? ​

How to Choose the Right Service? ​

Performance Optimization Tips ​

Getting Help ​

Documentation and Resources ​

Submitting Issues ​

Contributing Documentation ​

Next Steps ​

S3 File Viewer Configuration Guide

🎬 Video Tutorials

File Browsing & Management

File Preview & Operations

Quick Start

Basic Concepts

Configuration Parameters

1. Endpoint

2. Access Key ID

3. Secret Access Key

4. Region

Major S3 Service Configuration Guides

Cloud Providers

Other S3-Compatible Services

Quick Configuration Process

1. Create New Connection

2. Fill in Connection Information

3. Save and Connect

4. Browse and Manage

Security Best Practices

1. Use Sub-accounts/IAM Users

2. Principle of Least Privilege

3. Regular Key Rotation

4. Protect Key Security

Common Issues

Connection Failed?

How to Choose the Right Service?

Performance Optimization Tips

Getting Help

Documentation and Resources

Submitting Issues

Contributing Documentation

Next Steps