How to Download and Use AWS Kiro IDE for Free: Complete Guide (No Waitlist Required)

About 4 min

How to Download and Use AWS Kiro IDE for Free: Complete Guide (No Waitlist Required)

Amazon's Kiro IDE has emerged as a revolutionary agentic development environment that's transforming how developers approach coding. Unlike traditional IDEs, Kiro combines spec-driven development with AI-powered automation to help you go from prototype to production faster than ever. The best part? You can download and use it for free right now, without waiting for the waitlist.

What Is AWS Kiro IDE?

AWS Kiro IDE is an agentic integrated development environment that leverages artificial intelligence to streamline the development process. Built on Code OSS (the same foundation as VS Code), Kiro introduces several groundbreaking features:

Spec-driven development: Turn natural language prompts into detailed specifications, then into working code, documentation, and tests
Agentic automation: AI agents work in the background to handle repetitive tasks like documentation generation and unit testing
Multimodal context: Incorporate screenshots, diagrams, and schemas directly into your development workflow
Enterprise-grade security: Built-in data encryption, IAM integration, and comprehensive audit logs
VS Code compatibility: Import your existing settings, themes, and plugins for a familiar experience

Can You Download AWS Kiro IDE for Free?

Yes! AWS Kiro IDE is completely free during its preview period. Unlike many AI-powered development tools that require paid subscriptions or have restrictive free tiers, Kiro offers full access to its features without any cost limitations during the preview phase.

Key Benefits of Kiro's Free Access:

No waitlist required: Download directly from official sources
Full feature access: All capabilities available during preview
No AWS account needed: Sign in with Google, GitHub, or your organization's identity
Cross-platform support: Available for Windows, macOS (Intel & Apple Silicon), and Linux
170MB download size: Lightweight installation

How to Download AWS Kiro IDE (Bypass Waitlist)

Method 1: Direct Download from TechSpot (Recommended)

The fastest way to get Kiro IDE is through TechSpot's verified download page, which offers certified clean downloads:

Download Links by Platform:

Windows: Download Kiro for Windows
macOS (Apple Silicon): Download Kiro for macOS ARM
macOS (Intel): Download Kiro for macOS Intel
Linux: Download Kiro for Linux

Method 2: Direct AWS Download Links

For users who prefer direct AWS links:

Platform	Direct Download Link
macOS (ARM)	`https://prod.download.desktop.kiro.dev/releases/202507161958-Kiro-dmg-darwin-arm64.dmg`
macOS (Intel)	`https://prod.download.desktop.kiro.dev/releases/202507162010-Kiro-dmg-darwin-x64.dmg`
Windows	`https://prod.download.desktop.kiro.dev/releases/202507162021-Kiro-win32-x64.exe`

Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Step 1: Download the Installer

Choose your platform from the download links above
Save the installer file to your computer
Verify the file size (approximately 170MB)

Step 2: Install Kiro IDE

For Windows:

Double-click the .exe file
Follow the installation wizard
Accept the AWS Customer Agreement and Intellectual Property License
Choose installation location (default recommended)
Select start menu and desktop shortcut options
Click "Install" and wait for completion

For macOS:

Open the downloaded .dmg file
Drag Kiro to your Applications folder
Launch Kiro from Applications

For Linux:

Extract the downloaded package
Run the installation script
Follow platform-specific instructions

Step 3: First-Time Setup

Sign In: Use Google, GitHub, AWS Builder ID, or your organization's identity
Import VS Code Settings (Optional): Bring over your extensions, keybindings, and themes
Choose Theme: Select between Kiro Dark or Kiro Light
Setup Shell Integration: Enable terminal integration for seamless workflow
Start Coding: Open a local or remote workspace

Key Features and Capabilities

Spec-Driven Development

Kiro's spec system transforms vague requirements into structured, actionable development plans. Instead of "vibe coding," you create detailed specifications that guide AI agents to better implementations.

Hooks and Automation

Event-driven automations trigger AI agents to:

Generate documentation automatically
Create unit tests
Refactor code
Complete boilerplate tasks
Catch potential issues

Steering Files

Maintain project consistency through .kiro/steering/ markdown files that define:

Coding conventions
Library preferences
Architecture patterns
Team standards

Agentic Chat

Natural language interactions with your codebase:

Ask questions about complex logic
Request feature implementations
Debug issues
Automate repetitive tasks

MCP (Model Context Protocol) Support

Extend Kiro's capabilities by connecting to specialized servers for:

AWS documentation access
Custom tools and integrations
Enhanced context awareness

Supported Programming Languages

Kiro supports a comprehensive range of programming languages:

Web Development: JavaScript, TypeScript, HTML, CSS
Backend: Python, Java, C#, Go, Rust, PHP, Ruby
Mobile: Kotlin, Swift
Systems: C, C++
Data: SQL, Scala
Configuration: JSON, YAML, HCL
Scripting: Shell scripts, PowerShell

Tips for Optimal Usage

1. Leverage Spec-Driven Development

Start with detailed requirements
Let Kiro generate specifications
Review and refine before implementation
Document decisions for team collaboration

2. Use Hooks Effectively

Set up automatic documentation generation
Configure test creation on file save
Enable code quality checks
Automate deployment workflows

3. Import Your VS Code Setup

Transfer your favorite extensions
Maintain familiar keybindings
Keep your preferred themes
Preserve workspace settings

4. Explore MCP Integrations

Connect AWS documentation servers
Integrate with your development tools
Set up custom automation workflows
Enhance AI context with domain-specific knowledge

Cost Management and Future Pricing

Current Free Access

Preview Period: Completely free with full feature access
No Limitations: All capabilities available
No Time Restrictions: Use as long as preview lasts

Future Pricing (Coming Soon)

Pro Tier: Advanced features for individual developers
Pro+ Tier: Enterprise features for teams
Pricing Details: Available at kiro.dev/pricing

Comparison with Alternatives

Feature	Kiro IDE	Cursor	VS Code
AI Integration	Agentic, Spec-driven	GPT-4 powered	Limited
Automation	Event-driven hooks	Manual triggers	Extensions required
Cloud Integration	Native AWS support	Third-party	Manual setup
Free Tier	Full access	Limited usage	Completely free
Learning Curve	Moderate	Low	Low

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Installation Problems

Windows: Ensure you have administrator privileges
macOS: Check Gatekeeper settings for unsigned apps
Linux: Verify package dependencies

Performance Issues

Close unnecessary applications during installation
Ensure adequate disk space (minimum 500MB)
Check system requirements

Authentication Issues

Try different sign-in methods (Google, GitHub, AWS Builder ID)
Clear browser cache if using web version
Contact AWS support for account-specific issues

Conclusion

AWS Kiro IDE represents a significant leap forward in AI-powered development environments. By offering free access during its preview period and providing multiple download options that bypass waitlists, Amazon has made this powerful tool accessible to developers worldwide.

The combination of spec-driven development, agentic automation, and seamless VS Code compatibility makes Kiro an excellent choice for both individual developers and teams looking to accelerate their development workflow.

Ready to get started?

Choose your platform from the download links above
Follow the installation guide
Import your existing VS Code settings
Start exploring Kiro's AI-powered features

For the latest updates and community support, visit the official Kiro website or join the AWS developer community forums.

Last updated: July 2025 | File size: 170MB | Downloads: 17,280+ | User rating: 3.8/5 stars