Azure Storage browser & Storage Explorer
What it is
Storage browser is the graphical way to manage storage — available in the Azure portal (storage account → Storage browser) and as the standalone Azure Storage Explorer desktop app (and in VS Code / Azure CLI). It gives a point-and-click UI over blobs, file shares, queues, and tables.
Why it exists
For interactive/one-off data management (upload a file, create a share, inspect a queue) a GUI is faster and less error-prone than scripting. Storage Explorer is the desktop tool when you need it outside the portal.
Key ideas
- Portal Storage browser: browse/save blobs (containers), file shares, queues, and tables inside any storage account — upload/download/delete, view properties, generate SAS.
- Azure Storage Explorer (desktop app): standalone cross-platform client connecting to all storage services + emulator; supports AzCopy integration for large/bulk transfers, SAS-based access, cross-account copy.
- Works alongside azcopy (CLI/bulk) — Storage Explorer = graphical, AzCopy = scriptable.
- Sign in with Azure AD / Microsoft account or via connection strings / SAS.
How it fits (diagram)
Exam notes
- Storage browser (portal) and Storage Explorer are the GUI tools; AzCopy is the CLI bulk tool.
- Check “Use Azure Storage Explorer” unit — it’s how you visually manage shares/blobs.
- Both log in with Azure AD or a SAS/connection string.
Related
storage-account · blob-storage · azure-files · azure-queues · azcopy
📘 Source: Microsoft Learn — Storage Browser