Managing multiple AWS accounts just became significantly more straightforward with today’s release of multi-session support in the AWS Management Console. This new capability responds to a common challenge faced by AWS users who regularly work across different accounts for development, testing, and production environments.
Previously, accessing multiple AWS accounts required users to either open different browsers or constantly sign out and back in between accounts. The introduction of multi-session support transforms this experience by allowing simultaneous access to up to five different AWS accounts within a single browser. Whether working with root accounts, IAM users, or federated roles, users can now maintain active sessions across different accounts or within the same account.
Understanding Multi-Session Access
The multi-session feature works seamlessly within your existing AWS Management Console experience. When you sign in to an additional account, the console creates a new browser tab for that session. Each tab functions independently, maintaining separate authentication states for each account. The system supports any combination of identity types – you might use a root user in one tab, an IAM user in another, and access federated roles in others.
A key aspect of the implementation is the new URL structure. When multi-session is enabled, the console URL includes a unique subdomain that helps identify and manage each session. For example, your URL might look like “https://000000000000-aaaaaaaa.us-east-1.console.aws.amazon.com/console/home?region=us-east-1“. This change ensures proper session isolation and security between different account accesses.
This architecture maintains clear separation between accounts while allowing quick transitions between them. Users who access AWS through the IAM Identity Center or other federation services will find their additional sessions readily available in the account menu, providing a unified view of all active sessions.
The process of enabling and using multi-session support reflects AWS’s commitment to user control and flexibility. Users can activate this feature directly from the AWS Management Console by selecting their account name in the navigation bar and choosing “Turn on multi-session.” This opt-in approach ensures that users can maintain their preferred workflow while having the option to enhance it when needed.
After enabling multi-session support, adding a new account session becomes straightforward. From the account menu in the navigation bar, selecting “Add session” opens a new tab where you can sign in with different credentials. This new session maintains its own independent state, allowing you to work in both accounts simultaneously without interference.
For organizations using federation through AWS IAM Identity Center or corporate single sign-on solutions, the experience integrates naturally with existing authentication flows. When signing in through your access portal, your federated sessions appear alongside other active sessions in the account menu, creating a seamless experience regardless of how you authenticate.
Should you need to disable multi-session functionality, you have several options. You can turn it off through the console interface, disable it at console.aws.amazon.com, or clear your browser cookies. Since the setting is browser-specific, you can enable it only where needed while maintaining traditional single-session behavior in other browsers.
Working with multiple AWS accounts has become an essential practice for organizations implementing secure, well-structured cloud environments. The new multi-session capability in the AWS Management Console recognizes this reality and adapts to support it. Users can now monitor production systems while making changes in development environments, compare configurations across accounts, or manage resources in different organizational units – all without switching between browsers or repeatedly signing in and out.
The feature’s browser-based implementation means no additional software or configuration is needed. The console automatically manages session state, authentication, and access controls for each account. When viewing AWS notifications or accessing shared services like AWS Health events, each session maintains its specific context, ensuring you always know which account you’re working with.
Multi-session support works across all AWS Commercial Regions, providing consistent functionality regardless of where your resources reside. While the feature supports up to five simultaneous sessions, you can add and remove sessions as needed throughout your work day, providing flexibility to adapt to changing tasks and responsibilities.
Organizations can start using multi-session support today by enabling it through the AWS Management Console. As with any AWS feature, it’s designed to complement existing security practices and access controls, giving teams more efficient ways to work while maintaining the security and accountability they need.