Azure Storage File Share SDK for Python

Manage SMB file shares for cloud-native and lift-and-shift scenarios.

Installation

bash
pip install azure-storage-file-share

Environment Variables

bash
AZURE_STORAGE_CONNECTION_STRING=DefaultEndpointsProtocol=https;AccountName=...;AccountKey=...
# Or
AZURE_STORAGE_ACCOUNT_URL=https://<account>.file.core.windows.net

Authentication

Connection String

python
from azure.storage.fileshare import ShareServiceClient

service = ShareServiceClient.from_connection_string(
    os.environ["AZURE_STORAGE_CONNECTION_STRING"]
)

Entra ID

python
from azure.storage.fileshare import ShareServiceClient
from azure.identity import DefaultAzureCredential

service = ShareServiceClient(
    account_url=os.environ["AZURE_STORAGE_ACCOUNT_URL"],
    credential=DefaultAzureCredential()
)

Share Operations

Create Share

python
share = service.create_share("my-share")

List Shares

python
for share in service.list_shares():
    print(f"{share.name}: {share.quota} GB")

Get Share Client

python
share_client = service.get_share_client("my-share")

Delete Share

python
service.delete_share("my-share")

Directory Operations

Create Directory

python
share_client = service.get_share_client("my-share")
share_client.create_directory("my-directory")

# Nested directory
share_client.create_directory("my-directory/sub-directory")

List Directories and Files

python
directory_client = share_client.get_directory_client("my-directory")

for item in directory_client.list_directories_and_files():
    if item["is_directory"]:
        print(f"[DIR] {item['name']}")
    else:
        print(f"[FILE] {item['name']} ({item['size']} bytes)")

Delete Directory

python
share_client.delete_directory("my-directory")

File Operations

Upload File

python
file_client = share_client.get_file_client("my-directory/file.txt")

# From string
file_client.upload_file("Hello, World!")

# From file
with open("local-file.txt", "rb") as f:
    file_client.upload_file(f)

# From bytes
file_client.upload_file(b"Binary content")

Download File

python
file_client = share_client.get_file_client("my-directory/file.txt")

# To bytes
data = file_client.download_file().readall()

# To file
with open("downloaded.txt", "wb") as f:
    data = file_client.download_file()
    data.readinto(f)

# Stream chunks
download = file_client.download_file()
for chunk in download.chunks():
    process(chunk)

Get File Properties

python
properties = file_client.get_file_properties()
print(f"Size: {properties.size}")
print(f"Content type: {properties.content_settings.content_type}")
print(f"Last modified: {properties.last_modified}")

Delete File

python
file_client.delete_file()

Copy File

python
source_url = "https://account.file.core.windows.net/share/source.txt"
dest_client = share_client.get_file_client("destination.txt")
dest_client.start_copy_from_url(source_url)

Range Operations

Upload Range

python
# Upload to specific range
file_client.upload_range(data=b"content", offset=0, length=7)

Download Range

python
# Download specific range
download = file_client.download_file(offset=0, length=100)
data = download.readall()

Snapshot Operations

Create Snapshot

python
snapshot = share_client.create_snapshot()
print(f"Snapshot: {snapshot['snapshot']}")

Access Snapshot

python
snapshot_client = service.get_share_client(
    "my-share",
    snapshot=snapshot["snapshot"]
)

Async Client

python
from azure.storage.fileshare.aio import ShareServiceClient
from azure.identity.aio import DefaultAzureCredential

async def upload_file():
    credential = DefaultAzureCredential()
    service = ShareServiceClient(account_url, credential=credential)
    
    share = service.get_share_client("my-share")
    file_client = share.get_file_client("test.txt")
    
    await file_client.upload_file("Hello!")
    
    await service.close()
    await credential.close()

Client Types

| Client | Purpose | |--------|---------| | ShareServiceClient | Account-level operations | | ShareClient | Share operations | | ShareDirectoryClient | Directory operations | | ShareFileClient | File operations |

Best Practices

1. Use connection string for simplest setup
2. Use Entra ID for production with RBAC
3. Stream large files using chunks() to avoid memory issues
4. Create snapshots before major changes
5. Set quotas to prevent unexpected storage costs
6. Use ranges for partial file updates
7. Close async clients explicitly

When to Use

This skill is applicable to execute the workflow or actions described in the overview.

Limitations

• Use this skill only when the task clearly matches the scope described above.
• Do not treat the output as a substitute for environment-specific validation, testing, or expert review.
• Stop and ask for clarification if required inputs, permissions, safety boundaries, or success criteria are missing.