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Getting Started Resource Center

TUTORIAL

Launch a Windows Virtual Machine in Amazon Lightsail

Introduction

Overview

Amazon Lightsail is one of the easiest ways to get started on AWS. It offers virtual servers, storage, databases, and networking, plus a cost-effective, monthly plan.

In this tutorial, you create a Windows Server 2019 instance in Amazon Lightsail in seconds. After the instance is up and running, you connect to it via RDP within the Lightsail console using the browser-based RDP client.

Get started with Amazon Lightsail for free.

Watch the tutorial

Implementation

Beginner

10 minutes

Free Tier eligible

  • AWS account

  • Recommended browser: The latest version of Chrome or Firefox

Note: Accounts created within the past 24 hours might not yet have access to the services required for this tutorial.

August 23, 2022

1. Create an Amazon Lightsail account

Sign up for AWS

Already have an account? Sign-in

This tutorial is free tier eligible.

2. Create a Windows Server 2019 instance in Amazon Lightsaild

Choose the Create instance button on the Instances tab of the Lightsail home page.

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Configure the instance

1. Specify a Region and Availability Zone

An AWS Region and Availability Zone is selected for you. Choose Change Region and Availability Zone to create your instance in another location.

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3. Choose a platform and image

Choose the Microsoft Windows platform option, and choose OS only to view the operating system-only instance images available in Lightsail. Select the Windows Server 2019 image.

To learn more about Lightsail instance images, see Choose an Amazon Lightsail instance image.

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4. (Optional) Add a launch script

Choose Add launch script to add a PowerShell script that will run on your instance when it launches.

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5. Select an instance plan

Choose your instance plan.

You can try the $8 USD Lightsail plan free for three months (up to 750 hours). We'll credit three free months to your account.

Learn more on the Lightsail pricing page.

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5. Enter an instance name

Enter a name for your instance.

"Amazon Lightsail interface showing an instance being named 'Windows_Server_2019-1' with options for adding key-only and key-value tags."

6. (Optional) Add tags

Choose one of the following options to add tags to your instance:

  • Add key-only tags — Enter your new tag into the tag key text box, and press Enter. Choose Save when you’re done entering your tags to add them, or choose Cancel to not add them.

  • Create a key-value tag — Enter a key into the Key text box, and a value into the Value text box. Choose Save when you’re done entering your tags, or choose Cancel to not add them.

Key-value tags can only be added one at a time before saving. To add more than one key-value tag, repeat the previous steps.

For more information about key-only and key-value tags, see Tags in Amazon Lightsail.

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7. Create instance

Choose Create instance.

Amazon Lightsail interface showing tagging options for a Windows Server instance, with fields for key-only and key-value tags, and a highlighted "Create instance" button.

Connect to your instance using the browser-based RDP client in Lightsail

1. Connect using RDP

On the Instances tab of the Lightsail home page, choose the RDP icon, or the ellipsis (⋮) icon next to the Windows Server 2019 instance you just created and choose Connect.

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2. Use RDP to manage instance

The browser-based RDP client window appears. You can use and manage your instance without configuring a third-party RDP client.

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Get administrator password for your Windows Server 2019 instance

1. Choose the instance

Choose the name of the Windows Server 2019 instance on the Instances tab of the Lightsail homepage.

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2. Get the password

Select the Connect tab, scroll down to the Default login credentials section of the page, and choose Retrieve default password.

Important: If you changed the administrator password after signing in to your Windows Server 2019 instance, then the administrator password displayed in the Lightsail console is no longer valid.

Screenshot of an Amazon Lightsail instance details page showing connection options, public and private IP addresses, and a button to retrieve the default password.

Clean up

1. Delete the instance

On the Instances tab of the Lightsail home page, choose the ellipsis (⋮) icon next to the Windows Server instance you just created and choose Delete.

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2. Confirm deletion

Choose Yes, delete from the prompt.

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Conclusion

Congratulations! You used Amazon Lightsail to spin up and configure a Windows instance.

Amazon Lightsail is great for developers, web pros, and anyone looking to get started on AWS in a quick and cheap way. You can launch instances, databases, and SSD-based storage; transfer data; monitor your resources; and so much more in a managed way.