Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS): Your Comprehensive Guide

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) stands as the quintessential integrated environment for managing your entire SQL infrastructure. Whether you’re working with SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure Synapse Analytics, SQL analytics endpoint in Microsoft Fabric, or Warehouse in Microsoft Fabric, SSMS provides the robust tools you need. It empowers you to configure, monitor, and administer SQL Server instances and databases efficiently. Leverage SSMS to deploy, monitor, and seamlessly upgrade data-tier components powering your applications, and to construct intricate queries and scripts with ease.

SSMS is your go-to solution for querying, designing, and managing databases and data warehouses, regardless of their location – be it on your local machine or in the cloud. It offers a centralized platform to interact with your data estate, ensuring smooth operations and optimal performance.

For users seeking a cross-platform alternative to SSMS, especially for managing SQL and other Azure databases, Azure Data Studio presents a compelling option.

For in-depth information on the latest features and enhancements in this release, refer to the Release notes for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 20.2.

If you’re interested in exploring the cutting-edge features of SQL Server Management Studio 21 Preview 1, detailed information and download instructions are available in Install SQL Server Management Studio 21 Preview.

Getting Started: Downloading SSMS

Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 20.2

SSMS 20.2 is the most current Generally Available (GA) release. If you have a preview version of SSMS 20 installed, it’s crucial to uninstall it before proceeding with the installation of SSMS 20.2. It’s important to note that installing SSMS 20.2 will not upgrade or replace any existing SSMS 19.x or earlier versions. This allows you to maintain different versions side-by-side if needed.

Here are the key details for the latest release:

Release Number: 20.2
Build Number: 20.2.30.0
Release Date: July 9, 2024

By downloading and utilizing SQL Server Management Studio, you automatically agree to the associated license terms and privacy statement. Your feedback is invaluable! To share comments, suggestions, or report any issues, the SSMS team encourages you to use the SSMS Developer Community site.

SSMS 20.x is designed to install alongside previous versions like SSMS 19.x and earlier. This means you can have multiple versions of SSMS installed on the same machine, providing flexibility in managing different SQL Server environments. However, if you’re upgrading from a prior preview version of SSMS 20, ensure you uninstall it before installing the latest GA release to avoid potential conflicts. You can easily check if you have a preview version installed by navigating to Help > About within SSMS.

When running multiple SSMS installations concurrently, it’s vital to verify that you are launching the correct version for your intended task. The latest version, SSMS 20.2, is clearly labeled as Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio v20.2.

[!IMPORTANT]
For users of SQL Server Management Studio versions 18.7 through 19.3, Azure Data Studio is automatically included in the installation. This integration allows SSMS users to benefit from the innovative features and cross-platform capabilities of Azure Data Studio. Azure Data Studio is a versatile, open-source desktop tool designed to work seamlessly across cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments.

To delve deeper into Azure Data Studio, explore What is Azure Data Studio or consult the FAQ.

Language Options

This version of SSMS offers broad language support, allowing you to work in your preferred language.

SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 Languages:

If you’re accessing this page in a non-English language and wish to view the most up-to-date information, simply select Read in English at the top of the page. For downloading SSMS in different languages, please refer to the available languages section within the download page.

[!NOTE]
The SQL Server PowerShell module is distributed separately through the PowerShell Gallery. For detailed instructions on installation, see Install the SQL Server PowerShell module.

What’s New in SSMS 20.2?

To explore the exciting new features and improvements incorporated in this release, make sure to review the Release notes for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). This document provides a comprehensive overview of all the updates and enhancements.

Accessing Previous SSMS Versions

This article focuses on the latest SSMS version. If you require downloading older versions of SSMS, please visit Previous SSMS releases. This section contains links to downloads for prior versions, providing access to the specific SSMS release you might need for compatibility or legacy system management.

[!NOTE]
As of December 2021, SSMS versions older than 18.6 no longer support authentication to Database Engines via Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication (MFA). To continue utilizing MFA, upgrading to SSMS 18.6 or a later version is necessary.

Connectivity to Azure Analysis Services through Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication mandates the use of SSMS 18.5.1 or later. Ensure your SSMS version meets these requirements for seamless authentication.

Unattended Installation of SSMS

For automated deployments and streamlined installations, SSMS supports unattended installation via PowerShell.

Follow these steps to perform a silent background installation of SSMS, eliminating GUI prompts:

Launch PowerShell with Administrator Privileges: Open PowerShell as an administrator to ensure the necessary permissions for installation.

Execute the Installation Command: Type and execute the following PowerShell command, customizing the paths as needed:

$media_path = "<path to SSMS-Setup-ENU.exe file>"
$install_path = "<root location where SSMS files will be installed>"
$params = " /Install /Quiet SSMSInstallRoot=$install_path"
Start-Process -FilePath $media_path -ArgumentList $params -Wait

Example:

$media_path = "C:InstallersSSMS-Setup-ENU.exe"
$install_path = "$env:SystemDriveSSMSto"
$params = "/Install /Quiet SSMSInstallRoot=`"$install_path`""
Start-Process -FilePath $media_path -ArgumentList $params -Wait

Alternatively, replace /Quiet with /Passive to display the setup UI during the installation process for a semi-attended installation.

Verification: Upon successful installation, SSMS will be located at %systemdrive%SSMStoCommon7IDESsms.exe based on the example path. In case of errors, examine the returned error code and consult the installation logs found in %TEMP%SSMSSetup for troubleshooting.

Uninstalling SSMS

SSMS may install shared components if they are not already present on your system during the installation process. However, these shared components are not automatically uninstalled when you uninstall SSMS.

These shared components include:

Microsoft OLE DB Driver 18 for SQL Server
Microsoft ODBC Driver 17 for SQL Server
Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable (x86)
Microsoft Visual C++ 2017 Redistributable (x64)
Microsoft Visual Studio Tools for Applications 2019

These components are intentionally not removed during SSMS uninstallation because they might be shared with other applications. Uninstalling them could potentially disrupt the functionality of other software relying on these shared components. You will need to uninstall these components separately if desired.

Azure Data Studio Integration with SSMS

SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3 include Azure Data Studio in their default installation. However, SSMS 20.0 and later versions do not automatically install Azure Data Studio.
- The SSMS installer intelligently skips the Azure Data Studio installation if a version of Azure Data Studio equal to or higher than the bundled version is already installed on the system.
- The specific version of Azure Data Studio bundled with SSMS is detailed in the release notes for each SSMS version.
The Azure Data Studio system installer necessitates the same security privileges as the SSMS installer.
Azure Data Studio is installed with its default settings, which include creating a Start Menu folder and adding Azure Data Studio to the system PATH environment variable. A desktop shortcut is not created, and Azure Data Studio is not set as the default editor for any file types during this automated installation process.
Localization for Azure Data Studio is managed through Language Pack extensions. To localize Azure Data Studio, install the relevant language pack from the extension marketplace.
For SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3, you can bypass the Azure Data Studio installation by launching the SSMS installer with the command-line flag DoNotInstallAzureDataStudio=1. This provides flexibility for users who do not require or already have Azure Data Studio installed.

SQL Server Offering Compatibility

This version of SSMS is compatible with SQL Server 2014 (12.x) and later versions, ensuring broad compatibility across different SQL Server deployments. It delivers optimal support for leveraging the latest cloud features within Azure SQL Database, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Microsoft Fabric.
Furthermore, SSMS 20.x can coexist with previous SSMS versions, including SSMS 19.x, SSMS 18.x, SSMS 17.x, and SSMS 16.x. This allows you to maintain different versions for managing various SQL Server environments or legacy systems.
For SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), SSMS 17.x and later versions do not support connections to the legacy SQL Server Integration Services service. To manage earlier versions of the legacy Integration Services, utilize the SSMS version that aligns with the specific SQL Server version. For example, use SSMS 16.x to connect to the legacy SQL Server 2016 (13.x) Integration Services service. SSMS 17.x and SSMS 16.x can be installed concurrently on the same machine. Since SQL Server 2012 (11.x), the SSIS Catalog database (SSISDB) is the recommended approach for storing, managing, executing, and monitoring Integration Services packages. Refer to SSIS Catalog for comprehensive details.

SSMS System Requirements

The current SSMS release supports the following 64-bit platforms when used with the latest available service pack, ensuring compatibility with modern operating systems.

Supported Operating Systems:

Windows 11 (x64)
Windows 10 (x64) version 1607 (10.0.14393) and later versions
Windows Server 2022 (x64)
Windows Server Core 2022 (x64)
Windows Server 2019 (x64)
Windows Server Core 2019 (x64)
Windows Server 2016 (x64)¹

¹ SSMS requires .NET Framework 4.7.2. Ensure this prerequisite is met before installation.

Additional Requirements:

Administrator rights are mandatory for installing or updating SSMS.
Running SSMS within a virtual machine environment necessitates a full Windows operating system.
Windows containers are not supported for running SSMS.
SSMS is not supported in application virtualization solutions like Microsoft App-V or MSIX for Windows, or any third-party app virtualization technologies.

[!NOTE]
To install SSMS on Windows Server Core, you must install the Server Core App Compatibility Feature on Demand. This feature is essential for providing the necessary components for SSMS to function correctly in a Server Core environment.

Supported Hardware:

Processor: 1.8 GHz or faster x86 (Intel, AMD) processor. Dual-core or better is recommended for optimal performance.
RAM: 2 GB of RAM minimum; 4 GB of RAM is recommended for enhanced performance, especially when working with larger databases or in demanding environments. A minimum of 2.5 GB of RAM is required if running on a virtual machine.
Hard Disk Space: A minimum of 3 GB up to 10 GB of available disk space may be required, depending on the installed features and configuration.

[!NOTE]
SSMS is exclusively available as a 32-bit application for Windows operating systems. If you require a database management tool that operates on other operating systems, Azure Data Studio is highly recommended. Visit Azure Data Studio for comprehensive information.

Get Help with SQL Tools

For further assistance, comprehensive documentation, and community support, Microsoft provides extensive resources to help you effectively utilize SQL Server tools. Explore the official SQL Server documentation and community forums for troubleshooting, best practices, and expert guidance.

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