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Azure CLI AKS & Kubernetes Cheat Sheet 2026

2 min read

Azure CLI — AKS & Kubernetes Cheat Sheet 2026

Azure CLI AKS & Kubernetes Cheat Sheet is the complete quick-reference of Azure CLI AKS & Kubernetes commands grouped by function. Copy any command with one click and find what you need with Ctrl+F in under 3 seconds.

AKS & Kubernetes

Action Command Useful flags
List AKS clusters 
az aks list --resource-group <resource_group>
 --resource-group
Create a new AKS cluster 
az aks create --resource-group <resource_group> --name <name> --node-count <count> --node-vm-size <size>
 --resource-group --name --node-count --node-vm-size
Delete an AKS cluster 
az aks delete --resource-group <resource_group> --name <name>
 --resource-group --name
Get the access credentials for an AKS cluster 
az aks get-credentials --resource-group <resource_group> --name <name>
 --resource-group --name
Get the upgrade versions available for an AKS cluster 
az aks get-upgrades --resource-group <resource_group> --name <name>
 --resource-group --name

⚠️ Dangerous / Destructive Commands

These commands are irreversible. Verify your environment (dev/staging vs prod) before running them.

Action Command Warning
⚠️ Delete 
az aks delete --resource-group <resource_group> --name <name>
 Irreversible — verify the target before running

FAQ — Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between AKS & Kubernetes and the other groups?

Each group in this Azure CLI cheat sheet covers a distinct area. AKS & Kubernetes focuses on its specific scope, while the other groups and the remaining groups cover networking, storage, security and diagnostics respectively.

How do I check the installed Azure CLI version?

Run the version command (usually az version or az --version). The output shows the client and, when applicable, the server version.

Why does Azure CLI return ‘permission denied’?

A ‘permission denied’ error in Azure CLI usually means the current user lacks sufficient privileges or credentials are not configured. Check: (1) assigned IAM/RBAC roles, (2) an active authentication context via the corresponding login command.

How do I filter Azure CLI output by status or name?

Use flags such as --filter, --selector or --query depending on the tool. You can also pipe into grep or jq to process JSON: 

az list | grep RUNNING

What is the fastest way to debug a Azure CLI error?

Add the verbose flag (--verbose, -v or --debug) to the failing command. This reveals the underlying HTTP/API calls and the full error response body.

Official sources & references

Commands cross-checked against vendor documentation and high-authority repositories: