SQL Server Express Download: Your Guide to SSMS

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is an indispensable integrated environment designed to manage your entire SQL infrastructure, spanning from SQL Server on-premises to Azure SQL Database in the cloud. Whether you’re using the robust editions of SQL Server or the streamlined SQL Server Express, SSMS provides the essential tools to configure, monitor, and administer your SQL Server instances and databases effectively. With SSMS, you can effortlessly deploy, monitor, and upgrade the data-tier components powering your applications, as well as craft intricate queries and scripts to interact with your data.

SSMS empowers you to query, design, and manage databases and data warehouses regardless of their location – be it on your local machine or within a cloud environment. For users seeking a cross-platform alternative to SSMS for managing SQL and various Azure databases, Azure Data Studio is an excellent option to consider.

For a comprehensive understanding of 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 the upcoming version, download and install SQL Server Management Studio 21 Preview for a sneak peek.

Download the Latest SSMS Version

Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 20.2

SSMS 20.2 represents the most recent Generally Available (GA) release. If you are currently running a preview version of SSMS 20, it’s crucial to uninstall it before proceeding with the installation of SSMS 20.2. Importantly, installing SSMS 20.2 will not upgrade or replace any existing SSMS 19.x or earlier versions you may have installed. This allows for seamless side-by-side usage if needed.

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 development team encourages you to utilize the SSMS Developer Community site.

The installation process for SSMS 20.x is designed to coexist with previous versions like SSMS 19.x and earlier. This means SSMS 20.x installs alongside these older versions, ensuring that both are accessible on your system. However, if you have a prior preview version of SSMS 20 installed, you must uninstall it before installing the latest SSMS 20 release to avoid conflicts. You can easily verify if you have a preview version installed by navigating to the Help > About window within SSMS.

In environments with multiple side-by-side SSMS installations, it’s vital to confirm that you are launching the correct version tailored to your specific requirements. The most recent version is clearly labeled as Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio v20.2.

Important Note: From SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 18.7 up to 19.3, Azure Data Studio was bundled and automatically installed alongside SSMS. This integration allowed SSMS users to leverage the innovative features available in Azure Data Studio. Azure Data Studio is a versatile, cross-platform, and open-source desktop tool adaptable to various environments, whether cloud-based, on-premises, or hybrid. However, this bundling is not present in SSMS 20.0 and later versions.

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

Language Options

SSMS 20.2 offers broad language support, allowing installation in the following languages:

SQL Server Management Studio 20.2:

If you are accessing this page from a localized version and wish to view the most current content, simply select Read in English located at the top of the page. For downloading SSMS in different languages, please refer to the available languages section.

Note: The SQL Server PowerShell module is distributed and installed separately through the PowerShell Gallery. For detailed instructions, see Install the SQL Server PowerShell module.

What’s New in SSMS 20.2?

For detailed information regarding the new features, improvements, and bug fixes included in this release, please consult the comprehensive Release notes for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).

Accessing Previous SSMS Versions

This guide primarily focuses on the latest SSMS version. To download and utilize previous versions of SSMS, please visit Previous SSMS releases for a complete archive.

Important Note: As of December 2021, SSMS versions older than 18.6 no longer support authentication to Database Engines using Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication (MFA). To maintain MFA functionality, it is essential to upgrade to SSMS 18.6 or a later version.

Similarly, connectivity to Azure Analysis Services via Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication necessitates SSMS 18.5.1 or later.

Unattended Installation of SSMS

For streamlined deployment in enterprise environments or automated setups, SSMS supports unattended installation via PowerShell.

Follow these steps to perform a silent background installation of SSMS without any graphical user interface prompts:

Launch PowerShell with administrator privileges.
Execute the following command, modifying the $media_path and $install_path variables to match your environment:

$media_path = "<path to ssms-setup-enu.exe>"
$install_path = "<desired ssms install location>"
$params = " /Install /Quiet SSMSInstallRoot=$install_path"
Start-Process -FilePath $media_path -ArgumentList $params -Wait

For 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 installation while still automating the process.

Upon successful installation, SSMS will be located at %systemdrive%SSMStoCommon7IDESsms.exe based on the example paths. In case of errors, examine the returned error code and consult the detailed log file located at %TEMP%SSMSSetup.

Uninstalling SSMS

During SSMS installation, certain shared components may be installed if they are not already present on the system. However, SSMS uninstallation does not automatically remove these shared components.

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 uninstalled automatically as they may be shared with other applications. Removing them could potentially cause instability or malfunction in other software relying on these shared components.

Integration with Azure Data Studio (Versions 18.7 – 19.3)

For SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3, Azure Data Studio was automatically installed alongside SSMS by default. This integration is not included in SSMS 20.0 and later.
- If a compatible or newer version of Azure Data Studio is already detected on the system, the Azure Data Studio installation by SSMS is skipped.
- The specific version of Azure Data Studio bundled with SSMS can be found in the release notes.
The Azure Data Studio system installer requires the same administrative privileges as the SSMS installer.
Azure Data Studio is installed with its default configuration options, 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.
Localization for Azure Data Studio is managed through Language Pack extensions. To localize Azure Data Studio, install the appropriate language pack from the extension marketplace.
In SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3, the Azure Data Studio installation can be bypassed by launching the SSMS installer with the command-line flag DoNotInstallAzureDataStudio=1.

Compatibility with SQL Server Editions, Including SQL Server Express

This SSMS version is compatible with SQL Server 2014 (12.x) and later versions, including all editions such as SQL Server Express, SQL Server Standard, and SQL Server Enterprise. It offers optimal support for the latest cloud-based features within Azure SQL Database, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Microsoft Fabric. For users of SQL Server Express, SSMS provides a powerful and free tool to manage your databases. The SQL Server Express download provides the database engine, and SSMS is the ideal companion for management and administration.
Furthermore, SSMS 20.x can be installed concurrently with SSMS 19.x, SSMS 18.x, SSMS 17.x, and SSMS 16.x, allowing you to maintain compatibility with older SQL Server versions if needed.
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 legacy Integration Services versions, utilize the SSMS version aligned with the specific SQL Server version. For instance, 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 coexist 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 further details.

SSMS System Requirements

The current SSMS release supports the following 64-bit operating systems when used with the latest service packs:

Supported Operating Systems:

Windows 11 (x64)
Windows 10 (x64) version 1607 (10.0.14393) and later
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.

Additional Requirements:

Administrator rights are necessary for SSMS installation or updates.
Running SSMS in a virtual machine environment mandates a full Windows operating system.
Windows containers are not supported.
SSMS is not supported within application virtualization solutions like Microsoft App-V, MSIX for Windows, or third-party app virtualization technologies.

Note: To install SSMS on Windows Server Core, the Server Core App Compatibility Feature on Demand must be installed.

Supported Hardware:

Processor: 1.8 GHz or faster x86 (Intel, AMD). Dual-core or better is recommended.
RAM: 2 GB of RAM; 4 GB recommended (2.5 GB minimum if running in a virtual machine).
Hard Disk Space: Minimum of 3 GB up to 10 GB of available space.

Note: SSMS is exclusively available as a 32-bit application for Windows. For users requiring a tool compatible with operating systems other than Windows, Azure Data Studio is recommended. Visit Azure Data Studio for more information.

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