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--- title: Use Azure CLI to manage data (Azure Data Lake Storage) titleSuffix: Azure Storage description: Use the Azure CLI to manage directories and files in storage accounts that have a hierarchical namespace. services: storage author: normesta ms.service: azure-data-lake-storage ms.topic: how-to ms.date: 07/24/2026 ms.author: normesta ms.reviewer: prishet ms.devlang: azurecli ms.custom: devx-track-azurecli # Customer intent: As a data engineer, I want to manage files and directories in a hierarchical storage system using command-line tools, so that I can efficiently organize and manipulate large datasets in Azure Data Lake Storage. --- # Manage directories and files in Azure Data Lake Storage by using Azure CLI This article shows you how to use the [Azure CLI](/cli/azure/) to create and manage directories and files in storage accounts that have a hierarchical namespace. All examples in this article assume a storage account that has a hierarchical namespace enabled, and they use Microsoft Entra authorization (`--auth-mode login`). [Samples](https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli/blob/dev/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/storage/docs/ADLS%20Gen2.md) | [Give feedback](https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli-extensions/issues) ## Prerequisites - An Azure subscription. For more information, see [Get Azure free trial](https://azure.microsoft.com/pricing/free-trial/). - A storage account that has hierarchical namespace enabled. Follow [these](create-data-lake-storage-account.md) instructions to create one. - Azure CLI version `2.6.0` or later. ## Ensure that you have the correct version of Azure CLI installed 1. Open the [Azure Cloud Shell](../../cloud-shell/overview.md), or if you [installed](/cli/azure/install-azure-cli) the Azure CLI locally, open a command console application such as Windows PowerShell. 1. Verify that your installed Azure CLI version is `2.6.0` or later by using the following command. ```azurecli az --version ``` If your Azure CLI version is earlier than `2.6.0`, install a later version. For more information, see [Install the Azure CLI](/cli/azure/install-azure-cli). ## Connect to the account 1. If you're using Azure CLI locally, run the login command. ```azurecli az login ``` If the CLI can open your default browser, it opens the browser and loads an Azure sign-in page. Otherwise, open a browser page at [https://aka.ms/devicelogin](https://aka.ms/devicelogin) and enter the authorization code displayed in your terminal. Then, sign in with your account credentials in the browser. To learn more about different authentication methods, see [Authorize access to blob or queue data with Azure CLI](./authorize-data-operations-cli.md). 1. If your identity is associated with more than one subscription, and you're not prompted to select the subscription, set your active subscription to the subscription of the storage account that you want to operate on. In this example, replace the `<subscription-id>` placeholder value with the ID of your subscription. ```azurecli az account set --subscription <subscription-id> ``` Replace the `<subscription-id>` placeholder value with the ID of your subscription. > [!NOTE] > The example presented in this article shows Microsoft Entra authorization. To learn more about authorization methods, see [Authorize access to blob or queue data with Azure CLI](./authorize-data-operations-cli.md). ## Create a container A container acts as a file system for your files. Create one by using the [az storage fs create](/cli/azure/storage/fs#az-storage-fs-create) command. This example creates a container named `my-file-system`. ```azurecli az storage fs create -n my-file-system --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` To verify that the container exists, run the [az storage fs show](/cli/azure/storage/fs#az-storage-fs-show) command. ## Show container properties Use the [az storage fs show](/cli/azure/storage/fs#az-storage-fs-show) command to print the properties of a container to the console. ```azurecli az storage fs show -n my-file-system --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` ## List container contents Use the [az storage fs file list](/cli/azure/storage/fs/file#az-storage-fs-file-list) command to list the contents of a container. This example lists the contents of a container named `my-file-system`. ```azurecli az storage fs file list -f my-file-system --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` ## Delete a container Use the [az storage fs delete](/cli/azure/storage/fs#az-storage-fs-delete) command to delete a container. This example deletes a container named `my-file-system`. ```azurecli az storage fs delete -n my-file-system --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` ## Create a directory Use the [az storage fs directory create](/cli/azure/storage/fs/directory#az-storage-fs-directory-create) command to create a directory reference. This example adds a directory named `my-directory` to a container named `my-file-system` that is located in an account named `mystorageaccount`. ```azurecli az storage fs directory create -n my-directory -f my-file-system --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` To verify that the directory exists, run the [az storage fs directory exists](/cli/azure/storage/fs/directory#az-storage-fs-directory-exists) command. ## Show directory properties Print the properties of a directory to the console by using the [az storage fs directory show](/cli/azure/storage/fs/directory#az-storage-fs-directory-show) command. ```azurecli az storage fs directory show -n my-directory -f my-file-system --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` ## Rename or move a directory Rename or move a directory by using the [az storage fs directory move](/cli/azure/storage/fs/directory#az-storage-fs-directory-move) command. This example renames a directory from the name `my-directory` to the name `my-new-directory` in the same container. ```azurecli az storage fs directory move -n my-directory -f my-file-system --new-directory "my-file-system/my-new-directory" --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` This example moves a directory to a container named `my-second-file-system`. ```azurecli az storage fs directory move -n my-directory -f my-file-system --new-directory "my-second-file-system/my-new-directory" --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` ## Delete a directory Delete a directory by using the [az storage fs directory delete](/cli/azure/storage/fs/directory#az-storage-fs-directory-delete) command. This example deletes a directory named `my-directory`. ```azurecli az storage fs directory delete -n my-directory -f my-file-system --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` ## Check if a directory exists Determine whether a specific directory exists in the container by using the [az storage fs directory exists](/cli/azure/storage/fs/directory#az-storage-fs-directory-exists) command. This example reveals whether a directory named `my-directory` exists in the `my-file-system` container. ```azurecli az storage fs directory exists -n my-directory -f my-file-system --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` ## Download from a directory Download a file from a directory by using the [az storage fs file download](/cli/azure/storage/fs/file#az-storage-fs-file-download) command. This example downloads a file named `upload.txt` from a directory named `my-directory`. ```azurecli az storage fs file download -p my-directory/upload.txt -f my-file-system -d "C:\myFolder\download.txt" --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` ## List directory contents Use the [az storage fs file list](/cli/azure/storage/fs/file#az-storage-fs-file-list) command to list the contents of a directory. This example lists the contents of a directory named `my-directory` that is located in the `my-file-system` container of a storage account named `mystorageaccount`. ```azurecli az storage fs file list -f my-file-system --path my-directory --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` ## Upload a file to a directory Upload a file to a directory by using the [az storage fs file upload](/cli/azure/storage/fs/file#az-storage-fs-file-upload) command. This example uploads a file named `upload.txt` to a directory named `my-directory`. ```azurecli az storage fs file upload -s "C:\myFolder\upload.txt" -p my-directory/upload.txt -f my-file-system --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` To verify that the file uploaded, run the [az storage fs file list](/cli/azure/storage/fs/file#az-storage-fs-file-list) command. ## Show file properties Print the properties of a file to the console by using the [az storage fs file show](/cli/azure/storage/fs/file#az-storage-fs-file-show) command. ```azurecli az storage fs file show -p my-file.txt -f my-file-system --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` ## Rename or move a file Rename or move a file by using the [az storage fs file move](/cli/azure/storage/fs/file#az-storage-fs-file-move) command. This example renames a file from the name `my-file.txt` to the name `my-file-renamed.txt`. ```azurecli az storage fs file move -p my-file.txt -f my-file-system --new-path my-file-system/my-file-renamed.txt --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` ## Delete a file Delete a file by using the [az storage fs file delete](/cli/azure/storage/fs/file#az-storage-fs-file-delete) command. This example deletes a file named `my-file.txt`. ```azurecli az storage fs file delete -p my-directory/my-file.txt -f my-file-system --account-name mystorageaccount --auth-mode login ``` ## See also - [Samples](https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli/blob/dev/src/azure-cli/azure/cli/command_modules/storage/docs/ADLS%20Gen2.md) - [Give feedback](https://github.com/Azure/azure-cli-extensions/issues) - [Known issues](data-lake-storage-known-issues.md#api-scope-data-lake-client-library) - [Use Azure CLI to manage ACLs in Azure Data Lake Storage](data-lake-storage-acl-cli.md)