Step-by-Step Guide: Transferring Lightsail Snapshots Between AWS Accounts
To transfer an AWS Lightsail instance snapshot to another AWS account, follow these steps:
1. Create a Snapshot of Your Instance (If Not Already Done)
Go to AWS Lightsail Console → Instances.
Select your instance → Snapshots → Create snapshot.
Wait for the snapshot to complete (status changes to "Available").
2. Share the Snapshot with the Target Account
Go to Lightsail Snapshots.
Select your snapshot → Actions → Share snapshot.
Enter the 12-digit AWS Account ID of the destination account.
Click Share.
3. (In the Target Account) Copy the Shared Snapshot
Log in to the destination AWS account.
Go to Lightsail Snapshots → Shared with me.
Select the shared snapshot → Actions → Copy snapshot.
Choose a region (must be the same as the source snapshot).
Click Copy.
4. Create a New Instance from the Copied Snapshot (Optional)
Once copied, the snapshot appears under "My snapshots".
Select it → Create instance.
Configure the new instance (plan, name, etc.) and launch it.
Important Notes
✅ Region Limitation: Snapshots can only be shared within the same AWS region.
✅ Permissions: The target account must have sufficient Lightsail permissions.
✅ Billing: The destination account will incur storage costs for the copied snapshot.
✅ Alternative for AMIs: If you need cross-region transfers, consider exporting the snapshot as an Amazon Machine Image (AMI) via EC2.
Alternative: Export to Amazon EC2 (For Cross-Region or Advanced Use)
Convert Snapshot to AMI (in Lightsail):
- Go to Snapshots → Select snapshot → Export to Amazon EC2.
Share AMI via EC2 Console:
- In EC2 Dashboard → AMIs → Select AMI → Actions → Modify Image Permissions → Add target AWS Account ID.
Launch in Target Account:
- The destination account can now launch an EC2 instance from the shared AMI.
Troubleshooting
🔹 "Snapshot not visible in target account"?
→ Verify the AWS Account ID was entered correctly.
→ Check if the target account has permissions to view shared resources.
🔹 Need to transfer to a different region?
→ First export to EC2 (AMI), then copy the AMI to the desired region.
This method ensures a smooth transfer of Lightsail snapshots between AWS accounts while maintaining data integrity. Let me know if you need further clarification! 🚀
