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Open aws.amazon.com
Find the "Create AWS Account" button
aws.amazon.com
aws
Sign In to the Console
Build the future with AWS
Get started with 200+ AWS services. Free tier includes 750 hours of compute monthly.
What you're doing
- Open a new browser tab. Go to
aws.amazon.com - Look for the orange "Create an AWS Account" button. It's the big one.
- You'll be taken to a multi-step signup form. We'll walk through every step.
- Don't use a "throwaway" account — this is the AWS profile you'll use throughout your career. Use your real name and a real email.
💡 Tip: Use an email you'll have for years (not your school address that expires). I recommend a personal Gmail like
yourname.aws@gmail.com.
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Enter your details
Email, password, account name
aws.amazon.com/registration
aws
Sign up · Step 1 of 5
Sign up for AWS
What goes where
- Email address: the one you'll log in with. Triple-check the spelling — this is forever.
- AWS account name: just a label. Something like
shadrack-personalormy-aws-account. - Click Verify email address. AWS sends a 6-digit code to your inbox. Paste it back into the form.
- Choose a strong password. Save it in a password manager — losing this is a nightmare to recover.
⚠️ Important: This becomes your root account. You'll create a regular user later for daily work. The root account is for emergencies only — like the master key to a house.
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Add a payment method
Credit/debit card (West Africa tips!)
aws.amazon.com/billing
aws
Sign up · Step 3 of 5
Billing information
A valid card is required to verify your identity. You won't be charged unless you exceed the free tier.
The card situation
- AWS will charge $1 USD (~GHS 15) to verify the card, then refund it within 3-5 days.
- The card must support international transactions. Most local debit cards do NOT — they're domestic-only.
- Cards that work: Stanbic Visa Gold, Ecobank Visa, Standard Chartered, GTBank MasterCard, Calbank Visa.
- Or use a Wise/Payoneer/Chipper virtual card — free to set up, works perfectly.
🇬🇭 Ghana-specific: Telecel Cash and MTN MoMo Mastercards work for some users but fail for others. If yours fails, switch to a Wise virtual card — it's the most reliable workaround.
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Enable MFA on root account
The single most important security step
console.aws.amazon.com/iam/security-credentials
aws
IAM · Security credentials
Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
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MFA is not yet enabled on your root account.
Adding MFA significantly improves account security. We strongly recommend it.
Why this matters
- If someone steals your password, MFA stops them from logging in. Without MFA, they're inside.
- Use Google Authenticator or Authy on your phone — both free, both rock solid.
- In AWS Console:
IAM → Security credentials → Assign MFA→ scan the QR code with your authenticator app. - Back up the QR code's secret key somewhere safe (password manager). If you lose your phone, you'll need it.
🚨 Skip MFA at your peril: Every week, students post horror stories about hacked accounts that ran up $10,000+ in bills from crypto mining. MFA is the single biggest protection. Do it today, not tomorrow.
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Set a billing alarm
So you never get a surprise bill
console.aws.amazon.com/billing/budgets
aws
Billing · Budgets
Create budget
How to set this up
- In AWS Console:
Billing → Budgets → Create budget - Pick "Cost budget". Name it
Free tier alarm. - Amount: $5 USD. You should never exceed this if you stay in free tier.
- Threshold: 80% of budgeted. Alert email: your email address.
- Now if you ever spend even $4, AWS emails you. No more "I forgot to delete an EC2 instance for 3 weeks" disasters.
💡 Pro move: Set TWO alarms — one at $1 (catches early), one at $5 (catches drift). I learned this the hard way. So can you, without paying the tuition.
🎉
You're set up on AWS
Account created, payment verified, MFA enabled, billing alarm armed. You're ready for Week 1.