Create Your First Website on Azure: A Beginner-Friendly Guide

Aim of This Guide

In this guide, I will walk you through the process of creating and publishing a simple website on Azure using Azure App Service (Free Tier). This is the best first practical step after setting up Azure for Students.

What You Will Learn

1. How Azure works

2. What a Resource Group is

3. What Azure App Service is

4. How to open a live website on the internet

5. How to avoid credit usage

   
   

Cost

₹0 / $0 (Free Tier)

Step 1: Login to Azure Portal

1. Open your browser.

2. Go to 👉 https://portal.azure.com.

3. Log in with your Azure for Students account.

   
   

You should see the Azure dashboard.

Step 2: Create a Resource Group

1. In the search bar at the top, type: Resource groups.

2. Click on Resource groups.

3. Click on + Create.

   
   

Fill in the Details:

1. Subscription: Azure for Students

2. Resource group name: rg-first-practical

3. Region: Central India (or the nearest region)

4. Click on Review + Create.

5. Click on Create.

   
   

Your resource group is now created!

Step 3: Create a Web App (Website)

1. In the search bar, type: App Services.

2. Click on App Services.

3. Click on + Create.

4. Select Web App.

   
   

Step 4: Fill in Web App Basic Details (IMPORTANT)

On the Basics tab, fill in ONLY this:

• Subscription: Azure for Students

• Resource Group: rg-first-practical

• Name: myfirstazureweb123 (must be unique – change the number if needed)

• Publish: Code

• Runtime stack: HTML

• Operating System: Windows

• Region: Central India

  
  

Step 5: Choose FREE Hosting Plan (MOST IMPORTANT STEP)

Scroll down to the Pricing Plan section.

1. Click on Change size.

2. Select F1 – Free.

3. Click on Apply.

   
   

Do NOT choose any paid plan.

Step 6: Create the Web App

1. Click on Review + Create.

2. Azure will validate your settings.

3. Click on Create.

   
   

Wait for 1–2 minutes while Azure sets up your web app.

Step 7: Open Your Live Website

After the deployment completes:

1. Click on Go to resource.

2. At the top, click the URL (it looks like https://myfirstazureweb123.azurewebsites.net).

   
   

Congratulations! Your first Azure website is now LIVE on the internet.

Step 8: Customize Your Website

Now that your website is live, it's time to make it your own. You can add content, images, and styles to personalize your site.

Adding Content

To add content, you can use HTML files. Simply upload your HTML files through the Azure portal or use FTP to transfer files directly.

Using Azure's Features

Azure offers many features to enhance your website. You can integrate databases, use Azure Functions for serverless computing, and even set up custom domains.

Conclusion

Creating your first website on Azure is an exciting step into the world of web development. By following these steps, you've not only learned how to set up a website but also gained insights into Azure's powerful features.

If you want to dive deeper into Azure and explore more advanced topics, consider checking out additional resources. The world of cloud computing is vast and full of opportunities. Happy coding!

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This guide is designed to help you get started with Azure and is perfect for tech enthusiasts and curious learners. Enjoy your journey into web development!