Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) for Efficient SQL Server Management

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) stands as the cornerstone for managing your entire SQL infrastructure, encompassing everything from on-premises SQL Servers to cloud-based Azure SQL Databases and beyond. This powerful, integrated environment provides a comprehensive suite of tools designed to configure, monitor, and administer SQL Server instances and databases with unparalleled efficiency.

Whether you’re deploying new data-tier components, meticulously monitoring performance, or orchestrating seamless upgrades for your applications, SSMS equips you with the necessary capabilities. Its robust query and scripting features empower database professionals and developers alike to interact with their data in a highly productive manner.

SSMS offers a unified platform to query, design, and manage databases and data warehouses irrespective of their location – be it on your local machine or distributed across the cloud. This flexibility makes it an indispensable tool for modern data management strategies.

For users seeking a cross-platform alternative to SSMS, especially for managing SQL and diverse Azure databases, Azure Data Studio is an excellent companion, offering flexibility across different operating systems.

To delve into the latest enhancements and features incorporated in this release, refer to the Release notes for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 20.2.

For detailed information and download options for SQL Server Management Studio 21 Preview 1, consult Install SQL Server Management Studio 21 Preview.

Get Started: Download SSMS Now

Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 20.2
Click to download the latest generally available version of SQL Server Management Studio.

SSMS 20.2 represents the most current Generally Available (GA) release. If you have a preview iteration of SSMS 20 already installed, it’s crucial to uninstall it prior to installing SSMS 20.2 to avoid potential conflicts. Importantly, installing SSMS 20.2 will not automatically upgrade or replace any existing SSMS 19.x or earlier versions, allowing for side-by-side installations.

Version 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 Developer Community site is the most direct channel to reach the development team.

The installation process for SSMS 20.x is designed to coexist with previous versions like SSMS 19.x and earlier. This side-by-side installation ensures that both new and older versions can be used on the same machine. However, if you’re updating from a prior preview version of SSMS 20, uninstallation of the preview version is necessary before installing the latest SSMS 20 release. You can easily verify if you have a preview version by navigating to the Help > About section within SSMS.

In environments with multiple SSMS installations, it’s vital to confirm that you are launching the correct version tailored to your specific tasks. The latest version is clearly identified as Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio v20.2.

Important Note:

For users of SQL Server Management Studio versions 18.7 through 19.3, Azure Data Studio was automatically bundled with the SSMS installation. This integration allowed SSMS users to leverage the innovative features of Azure Data Studio. Azure Data Studio is a versatile, cross-platform, and open-source desktop tool suitable for diverse environments, including cloud, on-premises, or hybrid setups. Starting with SSMS 20.0 and later, Azure Data Studio is no longer automatically included in the SSMS installation.

To explore Azure Data Studio further, consult What is Azure Data Studio or the comprehensive FAQ.

Language Options

This SSMS release supports installation in a variety of languages, catering to a global user base.

SQL Server Management Studio 20.2:

If you are viewing this page in a non-English language and wish to access the most current 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.

Note:

The SQL Server PowerShell module is distributed separately through the PowerShell Gallery. For detailed instructions, refer to Install the SQL Server PowerShell module.

What’s New in SSMS 20.2?

For a detailed overview of the new features, improvements, and changes incorporated in this release, please see the Release notes for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). This document provides a comprehensive guide to the latest updates.

Accessing Previous SSMS Versions

This article specifically addresses the latest SSMS version. To download earlier versions of SQL Server Management Studio, please visit Previous SSMS releases. This section maintains an archive of downloadable links for prior SSMS versions.

Important Compatibility Updates:

In December 2021, older SSMS versions prior to 18.6 lost the ability to authenticate to Database Engines using Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication (MFA). To maintain MFA functionality, upgrading to SSMS 18.6 or a later version is essential.

Similarly, connectivity to Azure Analysis Services via Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication requires SSMS 18.5.1 or later. Ensure your SSMS version meets these requirements for uninterrupted service.

Unattended Installation of SSMS

For automated deployments and scripting, SSMS supports unattended installation through PowerShell.

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

Initiate PowerShell with administrator privileges.

Execute the following command, adjusting the paths as necessary for your environment:

$media_path = "<path to ssms-setup-enu.exe>"
$install_path = "<installation root for ssms files>"
$params = " /Install /Quiet SSMSInstallRoot=$install_path"
Start-Process -FilePath $media_path -ArgumentList $params -Wait

For instance:

$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

Using /Passive instead of /Quiet will display the setup UI while still automating the installation.

Upon successful installation, SSMS will be located at %systemdrive%SSMStoCommon7IDESsms.exe (based on the example paths). If issues arise, examine the returned error code and consult the log file located in %TEMP%SSMSSetup for troubleshooting.

Uninstalling SSMS

During installation, SSMS may install shared components if they are not already present on the system. However, these shared components are not automatically removed when SSMS is uninstalled.

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 preserved because they might be shared with other applications. Uninstalling them could potentially disrupt the functionality of other software relying on these shared resources.

SSMS and Azure Data Studio Coexistence

SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3 included Azure Data Studio as part of the default installation. However, this bundle is not included in SSMS 20.0 and subsequent releases.
If a compatible or newer version of Azure Data Studio is already installed, the SSMS installer will skip the Azure Data Studio installation.
The Azure Data Studio version included with specific SSMS versions is detailed in the release notes.
The Azure Data Studio installer requires the same security privileges as the SSMS installer.
Azure Data Studio is installed with its default settings: creating a Start Menu folder and adding Azure Data Studio to the system PATH environment variable. It does not create a desktop shortcut, nor is it set as the default editor for any file types.
Azure Data Studio localization is managed through Language Pack extensions available in the extension marketplace. Install the relevant language pack to localize Azure Data Studio.
For SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3, the installation of Azure Data Studio can be bypassed by launching the SSMS installer with the command-line flag DoNotInstallAzureDataStudio=1.

Compatibility with SQL Server Offerings

This SSMS version is compatible with SQL Server 2014 (12.x) and all later versions, including SQL Server 2016, SQL Server 2017, SQL Server 2019, and SQL Server 2022. It is specifically optimized to provide robust support for the latest cloud-based features within Azure SQL Database, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Microsoft Fabric.
SSMS 20.x can be installed alongside SSMS 19.x, SSMS 18.x, SSMS 17.x, and SSMS 16.x, offering flexibility for users managing different SQL Server environments.
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 Integration Services, utilize the SSMS version that aligns with the specific SQL Server version. For instance, SSMS 16.x is required to connect to the legacy SQL Server 2016 (13.x) Integration Services service. Note that 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 managing Integration Services packages. Refer to SSIS Catalog for more information.

SSMS System Requirements

The current SSMS release supports the following 64-bit Windows platforms, requiring the latest service packs for optimal performance:

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 necessitates .NET Framework 4.7.2.

Additional System Requirements:

Administrator rights are mandatory for SSMS installation and updates.
Running SSMS within a virtual machine environment requires a full Windows operating system installation.
Windows containers are not supported.
SSMS is not supported on 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.

Minimum Hardware Specifications:

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

Note:

SSMS is exclusively available as a 32-bit application for Windows. For users requiring a cross-platform tool, Azure Data Studio is highly recommended. Visit Azure Data Studio for further details.

Need Assistance with SQL Tools?

Explore Related Resources

Contribute to SQL Documentation

Did you know you can contribute to SQL documentation directly? By doing so, you not only enhance the documentation for the community but also receive recognition as a contributor.

For more information, see Edit Microsoft Learn documentation.