Create AWS Key Pair
The easiest way to get started with AWS is to create a "root" key pair.
- Go to the AWS Console and log in.
- Click on your name at the top right and click "Security Credentials" in the drop-down menu.
- Click the + sign next to "Access Keys".
- Click "Create New Access Key". Then click "Show Access Key" in the pop-up window to see the key pair you just created:

- Use that key pair in Arq: Go to Arq's preferences, Destinations tab, click the + sign to add a destination, choose Amazon S3/Glacier, and enter the key pair.
AWS IAM
If you'd prefer to use Amazon's newer IAM system instead of root keys:
- Follow the steps in this video to create an IAM "admin" user.
- (Optional) Direct Arq to create a new IAM user with just enough permission to read/write its own data in your AWS account: Restricting Amazon Permissions