When exporting or transferring files from Azure using a browser, it is suitable only for small file sizes. If your file size is large (such as VM disks or backups), the browser method can be slow, unstable, and may fail during download.
In this case, you should use AzCopy. It is a command-line tool designed for fast and reliable data transfer. AzCopy can handle large file sizes efficiently, supports resume if the transfer is interrupted, and provides better performance compared to browser downloads.
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/common/storage-use-azcopy-v10
Navigate to the AzCopy installation directory:
cd C:\azcopy
Open PowerShell + Installed Azure CLI
Open PowerShell as an administrator
Run Command: Execute the following command to install the Azure CLI:
winget install Microsoft.AzureCLI.
az login
select subscription
Get SAS URL from Snapshot (CLI)
Use the following command to generate a SAS URL from a snapshot. Replace the highlighted values with your own configuration.
The following command is used to export a snapshot (hard disk) in Azure using the Azure CLI.
az snapshot grant-access `
--resource-group MyResourceGroup `
--name kobo-disk-snapshot `
--duration-in-seconds 86400
The following command is used to export a hard disk attach VM in Azure using the Azure CLI.
az disk grant-access `
--resource-group your resource group`
--name your hard disk name`
--duration-in-seconds 172800 `
--access-level Read
Notes;
Replace the red highlighted values with your actual resource group and disk/snapshot name.
duration-in-seconds defines how long the SAS URL will be valid.
Run the following command to download
C:\azcopy>azcopy copy "https://<your-sas-url>" "E:\AzureBackup\kobosnap"
Notes
- Replace the SAS URL with your actual generated link.
- Ensure the destination folder (e.g.,
E:\AzureBackup\kobosnap) exists. - Running CMD as Administrator helps avoid permission issues.