Missing S3 Bucket

If you can see your S3 buckets in S3 Storage Lens but can't access them or they don't appear active, there are several potential reasons for this issue:

1. Account mismatch: Ensure you're signed into the correct AWS account where the buckets were originally created. S3 bucket names are globally unique across all AWS accounts, so the buckets may exist in a different account.

2. Permissions issue: Check that your IAM user or role has the necessary permissions to list, view, and access S3 buckets. You may have permission to view bucket metrics in Storage Lens but not to access the buckets directly.

3. Region visibility: Although S3 buckets are typically visible in the S3 console regardless of their region, double-check that you're looking in the correct region where the buckets were created.

4. Recent deletion: If the buckets were recently deleted, they might still appear in some metrics or logs but no longer be accessible.

5. Block Public Access settings: Verify both the account-level and bucket-level Block Public Access settings. These could prevent access even if other permissions are set correctly.

To make the buckets active and accessible:

1. Review and adjust your IAM permissions to ensure you have the necessary access to the S3 service and specific buckets.

2. Check the bucket policies and Access Control Lists (ACLs) to make sure they allow the required access.

3. If using S3 access points, ensure they are properly configured.

4. Verify that the buckets haven't been accidentally deleted by checking CloudTrail logs for DeleteBucket events.

5. If the buckets are meant to be public (which is not recommended for most use cases), ensure that the Block Public Access settings are appropriately configured.

If you're still unable to access the buckets after these checks, it would be advisable to contact AWS Support for further assistance, as they can provide more detailed information about your account's resources and help resolve any underlying issues.
Sources
Cannot find new s3 bucket | AWS re:Post
s3 bucket not showing my data | AWS re:Post
Is my bucket publicly accessible? | AWS re:Post

AWS S3 buckets are active by default. Maybe there is a confusion with the term "Active Bucket" in storage lens. Active buckets simply refers to the buckets that has data. It could be that the buckets are created but no objects / files have been uploaded. Upload files and the status to the buckets and the active status will update.
https://docs.aws.amazon.com/AmazonS3/latest/userguide/storage_lens_metrics_glossary.html

I added access to the IAM user but still can't see the buckets in S3, just in Storage lens.
Any suggestion on who access one that is listed would be appreciated