SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) Software: The Ultimate Download Guide

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is an indispensable integrated environment tailored for managing any SQL infrastructure, from on-premises SQL Servers to Azure SQL Databases, Azure SQL Managed Instances, Azure Synapse Analytics, SQL analytics endpoint in Microsoft Fabric, and Warehouse in Microsoft Fabric. This powerful Sql Server Management Studio Software provides a comprehensive suite of tools to configure, monitor, and administer your SQL Server instances and databases effectively. Whether you need to deploy, monitor, or upgrade data-tier components utilized by your applications, or construct intricate queries and scripts, SSMS is your go-to solution.

With sql server management studio software, you gain the ability to seamlessly query, design, and manage databases and data warehouses regardless of their location – be it on your local machine or in the cloud. For users seeking a cross-platform alternative to SSMS for managing SQL and other Azure databases, Azure Data Studio is a highly recommended companion tool.

For in-depth details and the latest updates in this release, refer to the Release notes for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 20.2. Information and download details for SQL Server Management Studio 21 Preview 1 are available at Install SQL Server Management Studio 21 Preview.

Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 20.2

SSMS 20.2 represents the most recent generally available (GA) version of this sql server management studio software. If you have a preview version of SSMS 20 already 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.

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. For any comments, suggestions, or issue reporting, the SSMS team encourages you to use 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 that installing the latest sql server management studio software will not remove older installations, allowing you to have multiple versions available on your system. However, if you are updating from a prior preview version of SSMS 20, uninstallation of the preview version is necessary before installing the GA release. You can verify if you have a preview version installed by navigating to Help > About within SSMS.

When multiple SSMS installations are present, ensure you are launching the correct version for your specific tasks. The latest version is clearly labeled as Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio v20.2.

Important Note: For SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3, Azure Data Studio was automatically bundled with the SSMS installation. This integration allowed users of sql server management studio software to leverage the innovative features present in Azure Data Studio. Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform and open-source desktop tool designed for various environments, whether cloud-based, on-premises, or hybrid.

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

Language Availability

This version of SSMS, a leading sql server management studio software, is available in multiple languages to cater to a global audience.

SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 Languages:

If you are viewing this page in a non-English language and wish to access the most current content, simply select Read in English at the top of the page. To download SSMS in different languages, please refer to the available languages section.

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

What’s New in SSMS 20.2

For a comprehensive overview of the new features and enhancements included in this release of sql server management studio software, consult the Release notes for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).

Accessing Previous SSMS Versions

This article primarily focuses on the latest SSMS release. To download and utilize previous versions of this sql server management studio software, please visit Previous SSMS releases.

Important: 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 necessary to upgrade to SSMS 18.6 or later.

Connectivity to Azure Analysis Services via Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication requires SSMS 18.5.1 or later.

Unattended Installation of SSMS

For automated deployments, sql server management studio software supports unattended installation through PowerShell.

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

Launch PowerShell as an administrator.
Execute the following command, customizing the paths as needed:

$media_path = "<path to SSMS-Setup-ENU.exe>"
$install_path = "<desired SSMS installation root directory>"
$params = " /Install /Quiet SSMSInstallRoot=$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 installation.

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 the installation log file located in %TEMP%SSMSSetup.

Uninstalling SSMS

The uninstallation process for sql server management studio software is straightforward. However, be aware that SSMS may install shared components if they are not already present on the system. These shared components are not automatically uninstalled when you uninstall SSMS itself.

Shared Components:

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 deliberately not uninstalled automatically because they might be shared with other applications on your system. Removing them could potentially cause instability or malfunction in other software.

Azure Data Studio Integration with SSMS (Versions 18.7 – 19.3)

For SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3, Azure Data Studio was included in the default installation. However, SSMS 20.0 and later versions do not include Azure Data Studio in the installation package.
If a compatible or newer version of Azure Data Studio is already installed, the SSMS installer will skip the Azure Data Studio installation.
The specific version of Azure Data Studio bundled with SSMS can be found in the release notes.
The Azure Data Studio installer necessitates the same security permissions 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.
Localization for Azure Data Studio is achieved through Language Pack extensions available in the extension marketplace.
For SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3, the Azure Data Studio installation can be skipped by launching the SSMS installer with the command-line flag DoNotInstallAzureDataStudio=1.

Supported SQL Server Offerings

This version of sql server management studio software is compatible with SQL Server 2014 (12.x) and later versions, including SQL Server 2016, SQL Server 2017, SQL Server 2019, and SQL Server 2022. It offers optimal support for leveraging the latest cloud-based features within Azure SQL Database, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Microsoft Fabric.

Furthermore, SSMS 20.x can coexist with previous SSMS versions such as 19.x, 18.x, 17.x, and 16.x on the same machine.

Regarding 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 respective SQL Server version. For instance, use SSMS 16.x to connect to the legacy SQL Server 2016 (13.x) Integration Services service. Note that SSMS 17.x and SSMS 16.x can be installed side-by-side. Since SQL Server 2012 (11.x), the SSIS Catalog database (SSISDB) has been the recommended method for managing, storing, running, and monitoring Integration Services packages. For more details, consult SSIS Catalog.

SSMS System Requirements

The current release of this sql server management studio software supports the following 64-bit Windows platforms 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 privileges are necessary for SSMS installation and updates.
Running SSMS within a virtual machine environment requires a full Windows operating system.
Windows containers are not supported.
SSMS is not supported in application virtualization environments such as Microsoft App-V, MSIX for Windows, or third-party app virtualization technologies.

Note: To install sql server management studio software on Windows Server Core, you must enable the Server Core App Compatibility Feature on Demand.

Supported Hardware:

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

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

Get Help for SQL Tools

For comprehensive assistance and troubleshooting related to sql server management studio software and other SQL tools, Microsoft provides extensive documentation and community resources.

Related Resources

Explore these related resources for more in-depth information and tutorials on using SQL Server Management Studio and related technologies.

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For more information on how to participate, see Edit Microsoft Learn documentation.