/azure-storage-file-share-py

name: azure-storage-file-share-py
description: Azure Storage File Share SDK for Python. Use for SMB file shares, directories, and file operations in the cloud.
risk: unknown
source: community
date_added: '2026-02-27'

Azure Storage File Share SDK for Python

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

Installation

pip install azure-storage-file-share

Environment Variables

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

Authentication

Connection String

from azure.storage.fileshare import ShareServiceClient

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

Entra ID

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

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

List Shares

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

Get Share Client

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

Delete Share

service.delete_share("my-share")

Directory Operations

Create Directory

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

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

share_client.delete_directory("my-directory")

File Operations

Upload File

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

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

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

file_client.delete_file()

Copy File

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

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

Download Range

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

Snapshot Operations

Create Snapshot

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

Access Snapshot

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

Async Client

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.