---
title: "Getting started with self-hosting"
section: "deploy-and-host/self-hosting"
platforms: ["android", "angular", "flutter", "javascript", "nextjs", "react", "react-native", "swift", "vue"]
gen: 2
last-updated: "2026-09-11T14:43:24.000Z"
url: "https://docs.amplify.aws/react/deploy-and-host/self-hosting/getting-started/"
---

In this guide, you will learn how to install the hosting package, configure your first `defineHosting()` definition, and deploy your frontend to your own AWS account.

## Prerequisites

> **Warning:** Before you begin, ensure that your AWS account has been bootstrapped with AWS CDK and that you have valid AWS credentials configured in your environment. Run `cdk bootstrap aws://ACCOUNT_ID/REGION` if you have not done so already.

You need an existing Amplify Gen 2 project with a backend already defined in `amplify/backend.ts`. If you do not have one yet, follow the [quickstart guide](/[platform]/start/quickstart/) first.

## Installing the hosting package

Add the `@aws-amplify/hosting` package to your project:

```bash title="Terminal"
npm add @aws-amplify/hosting
```

## Creating the hosting definition

Create a new file at `amplify/hosting.ts`. This file lives alongside your `amplify/backend.ts` but defines your frontend infrastructure separately.

```ts title="amplify/hosting.ts"
import { defineHosting } from '@aws-amplify/hosting';

export const hosting = defineHosting();
```

The framework is auto-detected from your `package.json`, so no framework configuration is required here. See [Supported frameworks](/[platform]/deploy-and-host/self-hosting/frameworks/) for the full list, and [Configure hosting](/[platform]/deploy-and-host/self-hosting/define-hosting/) if you need to override detection.

## Deploying your application

Run `ampx deploy` to synthesize and deploy both your backend and hosting stacks:

```bash title="Terminal"
npx ampx deploy --identifier production
```

The `--identifier` flag names your deployment environment. This command deploys everything: backend resources, the frontend build, and the hosting infrastructure (S3 bucket, CloudFront distribution, and compute layer).

Once complete, the CLI prints your CloudFront distribution URL where your application is live.

## Deploying only the frontend

If your backend is already deployed and you only need to update the frontend:

```bash title="Terminal"
npx ampx deploy --identifier production --frontend
```

This skips the backend stack and only rebuilds and deploys your frontend assets.

## Verifying your deployment

After deployment, the CLI outputs the distribution URL. Open it in a browser to confirm your application is serving correctly. You can also find the Amazon CloudFront distribution in the AWS Console under the Amazon CloudFront service.

## Next steps

- [Configure hosting](/[platform]/deploy-and-host/self-hosting/define-hosting/) to add custom domains, WAF, and CDN tuning
- [Add secrets and environment variables](/[platform]/deploy-and-host/self-hosting/secrets-and-environment-variables/) for your server-side code
- [Set up a CI/CD pipeline](/[platform]/deploy-and-host/self-hosting/define-pipeline/) with CodePipeline
- [Use an external CI/CD pipeline](/[platform]/deploy-and-host/self-hosting/external-pipelines/) with GitHub Actions or GitLab CI