# Step-by-Step Guide: Transferring Lightsail Snapshots Between AWS Accounts

To transfer an **AWS Lightsail instance snapshot** to another AWS account, follow these steps:

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#### **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.
    

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### **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.

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### **Alternative: Export to Amazon EC2 (For Cross-Region or Advanced Use)**

1. **Convert Snapshot to AMI** (in Lightsail):
    
    * Go to **Snapshots** → Select snapshot → **Export to Amazon EC2**.
        
2. **Share AMI via EC2 Console**:
    
    * In **EC2 Dashboard** → **AMIs** → Select AMI → **Actions** → **Modify Image Permissions** → Add target AWS Account ID.
        
3. **Launch in Target Account**:
    
    * The destination account can now launch an EC2 instance from the shared AMI.
        

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### **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.

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This method ensures a smooth transfer of Lightsail snapshots between AWS accounts while maintaining data integrity. Let me know if you need further clarification! 🚀