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    Object Storage Service:Get started with the OSS console

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    Object Storage Service:Get started with the OSS console

    Last Updated:Oct 07, 2025

    The Object Storage Service (OSS) console is a user-friendly, web-based management tool. This quickstart shows how to use the OSS console to create a bucket, upload/download an object, and delete an object or a bucket.

    Prerequisites

    • An Alibaba Cloud account is created.

    • OSS is activated.

      Note

      To use an OSS resource plan, you must first activate OSS. Activation is a separate, manual step and does not incur any fees.

    Step 1: Create a bucket

    A bucket is a container for storing objects in OSS. You must create a bucket before uploading files.

    1. In the left-side navigation pane, go to the Buckets page and click Create Bucket.

    2. Configure the following key parameters and keep the default values for the rest:

      • Bucket Name: Enter a globally unique name for your bucket. We recommend that you use a combination of a project name, region, and a random string to ensure it is unique. Example: my-project-singapore-a1b2c3d4.

      • Region: Select a region near you to reduce access latency, such as Singapore.

    3. Click Create.

    Step 2: Upload a file

    Once the bucket is created, you can upload various types of files, such as images, videos, or documents. Each file is stored as an object.

    Important

    You can use the console to upload single files of up to 5 GB. For larger files, use ossutil .

    1. If you do not have a test file on your computer, download the sample file exampleobject.jpg.

    2. On the Buckets page, click the name of the bucket that you just created.

    3. In the left-side navigation pane, choose Object Management > Objects, then click Upload Object.

    4. In the Upload panel, drag the exampleobject.jpg file from your local directory to the upload area, or click Select Files to select the file.

    5. Keep the default settings for other parameters and click Upload Object.

    You can view the upload progress of each file on the Upload Tasks tab. After the upload is complete, you can view the file name, size, and storage class in the destination path.

    Step 3: Download an object

    You can download objects from a bucket to your computer.

    1. On the Objects page, find the exampleobject.jpg file that you just uploaded.

    2. Select the checkbox next to the file, and then click the Download button below the list.

    Step 4: Share an object

    Generate a temporary object URL to share an object in a private bucket.

    1. On the Objects page, click the object name exampleobject.jpg.

    2. In the View Details panel that appears on the right, set Validity Period (Seconds) to the desired value (default value: 600 seconds), then click Copy Object URL.

      Important

      • Billing: This URL uses a public endpoint. Downloads using this URL incur outbound internet traffic fees.

      • Security: Before you share the object, make sure it does not contain sensitive data.

      • Validity: The URL automatically expires after the specified period. To share the object again, generate a new URL.

    3. Paste the copied URL into your browser's address bar and press Enter to access the image.

    Step 5: Clean up resources

    To prevent ongoing charges, first delete all objects in the bucket, then delete the bucket itself. The deletion cannot be undone.

    Delete an object

    1. In the left-side navigation pane, choose  Object Management > Objects.

    2. Select the uploaded exampleobject.jpg.

    3. Click Permanently Delete below the list, then click OK in the dialog box that appears.

    Delete a bucket

    Important

    After you delete a bucket, you must wait several hours (usually 4 to 8 hours) before you can create another bucket with the same name.

    1. On the Buckets page, click the name of the desired bucket.

    2. In the left-side navigation pane, click Delete Bucket.

    3. Click Delete Bucket, and follow the prompts on the console to complete the deletion.

    Billing

    This tutorial involves the following billable items:

    • Storage fees: Standard storage fees are charged for the duration that the object is stored.

    • Outbound traffic fees: Fees for outbound internet traffic are charged when others download the object by using the shared URL.

    • Request fees: Fees are charged for the number of API requests made during upload and download operations.

    For more information about pricing, see the OSS Pricing page.

    What to do next

    • Understand and reduce costs: Learn how charges are calculated in the Billing overview, then apply resource plans to save costs.

    • Automate operations: Get started with OSS SDKs to integrate and manage OSS directly from your application.

    • Advanced object management: Explore our Feature guide to learn about more features for managing your objects.

    • Secure your data: Configure permissions and access control for fine-grained control over who can access your objects.

      Note

      Block public access is enabled by default when you create buckets by using the OSS console. Once Block Public Access is enabled, you cannot configure public access permissions, including public ACLs (public read and public read/write) and bucket policies that allows public access. You can disable this feature after the bucket is created if your business requires public access.

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