Create a Cognito User Pool

Create a Cognito User Pool

In this section, you will create a Cognito User Pool using two methods:

  1. AWS Management Console (GUI)
  2. AWS CLI (Command Line Interface)

Choose either method depending on your preference or environment.

1. Create User Pool via AWS Console

This is the standard method using the AWS web interface.

Step 1 — Open Cognito Console

Go to:

https://console.aws.amazon.com/cognito

Step 2 — Create a New User Pool

hosted zone

  • Click Create user pool
  • Under Define your application, choose
    Traditional web application

Step 3 — Configure User Pool Details

  • User Application name:
    My web app - Cognito

Step 4 — Sign-in Options

hosted zone

Select: Email (Users will log in using email addresses)

Step 5 — Required Attributes

Required attributes:

email

Step 6 — Create User Pool

Click Create user directory to fin

2. Create User Pool via AWS CLI

This option is useful if:

  • You want automation,

  • You are building IaC pipelines,

  • Or you prefer command-line setup.

Step 1 Open powershell on AWS web and Create User Pool

aws cognito-idp create-user-pool \
  --pool-name "my-userpool" \
  --auto-verified-attributes email \
  --username-attributes email

This command will:

  • Create a new user pool named my-userpool

  • Enable email as the username

  • Enable email auto-verification

Step 2 — Create an App Client

Run:

aws cognito-idp create-user-pool-client \
  --user-pool-id <YOUR_USERPOOL_ID> \
  --client-name "my-app-client" \
  --generate-secret \
  --no-prevent-user-existence-errors \
  --allowed-o-auth-flows-user-pool-client \
  --allowed-o-auth-flows code \
  --allowed-o-auth-scopes "email" "openid" \
  --callback-urls "http://localhost:3000" \
  --logout-urls "http://localhost:3000"

Replace:

<YOUR_USERPOOL_ID>

with the value returned from Step 1.

Step 3 — Output Example

A successful creation returns JSON:

{
  "UserPool": {
    "Id": "ap-southeast-1_AbCdEf123",
    "Name": "my-userpool"
  }
}

And:

{
  "UserPoolClient": {
    "ClientId": "4ab5exampleid123",
    "ClientSecret": "xyzexamplesecret"
  }
}

Completed

You now have a fully configured Cognito User Pool created via:

  • AWS Console, or

  • AWS CLI

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