# AWS Explorer
AWS Explorer

AWS Explorer provides convenient access to several features in the AWS Toolkit for JetBrains. These include managing connections from the toolkit to AWS accounts, switching AWS Regions, working with AWS Lambda functions and AWS CloudFormation stacks in accounts, and more.

To open AWS Explorer, with the AWS Toolkit for JetBrains installed and with IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, or JetBrains Rider running, do one of the following:
+ On the tool window bar, choose **AWS Explorer**.  
![\[AWS Explorer tool window button.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/toolkit-for-jetbrains/latest/userguide/images/aws-explorer-tool-window-button.png)
+ On the main menu, choose **View**, **Tool Windows**, **AWS Explorer**.  
![\[Opening AWS Explorer from the main menu.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/toolkit-for-jetbrains/latest/userguide/images/aws-explorer-main-menu.png)

In **AWS Explorer**, choose the settings icon (**Show Options Menu**) for the following options:

![\[The AWS Explorer Show Options Menu.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/toolkit-for-jetbrains/latest/userguide/images/aws-explorer.png)


**AWS Connection Settings**  
Contains the following options:  
+ **AWS Regions list** – The AWS Toolkit for JetBrains uses the selected Region. To have the toolkit use a different Region, choose another listed Region.
+ **Recent Credentials list** – Lists recent connections made from the AWS Toolkit for JetBrains to AWS accounts. The toolkit uses the selected connection. To have the toolkit use a different recent connection, choose that connection's name.
+ **All Credentials** – Lists all available connections that you can make from the AWS Toolkit for JetBrains to AWS accounts. The toolkit uses the selected connection. To have the toolkit use a different connection, choose that connection's name. To do other connection tasks, choose **AWS Edit Credential file(s)**.
The **AWS Connection Settings** area in the status bar displays the AWS account connection and Region that the AWS Toolkit for JetBrains is currently using.  

![\[The AWS Connection Settings area in the status bar.\]](http://docs.aws.amazon.com/toolkit-for-jetbrains/latest/userguide/images/aws-connection-settings.png)

Choose this area to view the same **AWS Connection Settings** options as the **Show Options Menu**.

**View Documentation**  
Goes to the [AWS Toolkit for JetBrains User Guide](https://docs.aws.amazon.com/toolkit-for-jetbrains/latest/userguide/) (this guide).

**View Source on GitHub**  
Goes to the [aws/aws-toolkit-jetbrains](https://github.com/aws/aws-toolkit-jetbrains) repository on the GitHub website.

**View Mode**  
Adjusts the **AWS Explorer** tool window so that you can quickly access it and save space when you work in the editor or other tool windows.  
For IntelliJ IDEA view modes, see [Tool window view modes](https://www.jetbrains.com/help/idea/viewing-modes.html) on the IntelliJ IDEA Help website.  
For PyCharm view modes, see [Tool window view modes](https://www.jetbrains.com/help/pycharm/viewing-modes.html) on the PyCharm Help website.  
For WebStorm view modes, see [Tool window view modes](https://www.jetbrains.com/help/webstorm/viewing-modes.html) on the WebStorm Help website.  
For JetBrains Rider view modes, see [Tool window view modes](https://www.jetbrains.com/help/rider/Viewing_Modes.html) on the JetBrains Rider Help website.

**Move to**  
Moves the **AWS Explorer** tool window to a different location in IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, WebStorm, or JetBrains Rider.

**Resize**  
Changes the size of the **AWS Explorer** tool window.

**Remove from Sidebar**  
Removes the **AWS Explorer** tool window from the tool window bar. To display it again, on the main menu bar, choose **View**, **Tool Windows**, **AWS Explorer**.

You can also use AWS Explorer to work with Lambda functions and work with AWS CloudFormation stacks in AWS accounts.