Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) for Free

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) stands as the quintessential environment for managing your entire SQL infrastructure, encompassing everything from SQL Server to Azure SQL Database. This powerful toolset empowers you to configure, monitor, and administer SQL Server instances and databases with unparalleled efficiency. Whether you need to deploy, monitor, or upgrade data-tier components for your applications, or craft intricate queries and scripts, SSMS is your go-to solution.

SSMS provides the versatility to query, design, and manage your databases and data warehouses, irrespective 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 offers a robust and adaptable solution.

To delve deeper into the latest features and enhancements 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 Your SQL Server Management Studio Download

Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 20.2

SSMS 20.2 represents the most recent Generally Available (GA) release. If you currently 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.

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

By choosing to download and use SQL Server Management Studio, you automatically agree to the associated license terms and privacy statement. For any feedback, suggestions, or issue reporting, the SSMS team encourages you to utilize the SSMS Developer Community site.

The installation process for SSMS 20.x is designed to coexist with previous versions of SSMS. This means SSMS 20.x will install alongside SSMS 19.x and earlier versions, allowing you to have multiple versions available on your system. However, if you have a prior preview version of SSMS 20 installed, you must uninstall it prior to installing the latest SSMS 20 release. To check for a preview version, simply navigate to Help > About within SSMS.

When operating with side-by-side installations of SSMS, it’s vital to ensure you launch the correct version for your specific task. The latest version is clearly labeled as Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio v20.2.

Important Note: For SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) versions 18.7 through 19.3, Azure Data Studio is automatically bundled and installed alongside SSMS. This integration allows SSMS users to leverage the innovative features and capabilities of Azure Data Studio, a cross-platform and open-source desktop tool suitable for cloud, on-premises, or hybrid environments.

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

Language Options for Your SSMS Download

This SSMS release offers installation in a variety of languages.

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, select Read in English at the top of the page. To download SSMS in different languages, refer to the available languages section.

Note: The SQL Server PowerShell module requires a separate installation via the PowerShell Gallery. For further details, see Install the SQL Server PowerShell module.

What’s New in the Latest SSMS?

For a comprehensive overview of the new features and improvements in this release, refer to the Release notes for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).

Accessing Previous SSMS Versions

This article specifically addresses the latest SSMS version. To download earlier versions of SSMS, please visit Previous SSMS releases.

Important Update: As of December 2021, SSMS versions prior to 18.6 no longer support authentication to Database Engines using Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication (MFA). To maintain MFA functionality, it is necessary to use SSMS 18.6 or later.

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

Unattended SSMS Installation

SSMS can be installed silently using PowerShell for automated deployments.

Follow these steps for a background installation of SSMS without any graphical user interface prompts:

Launch PowerShell with administrator privileges.
Execute the following command, customizing the $media_path and $install_path variables 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

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

Alternatively, replace /Quiet with /Passive to observe the setup UI during installation.

Upon successful installation, SSMS can be found at %systemdrive%SSMStoCommon7IDESsms.exe (based on the example path). In case of errors, examine the returned error code and consult the log file located at %TEMP%SSMSSetup.

SSMS Uninstallation Considerations

During SSMS installation, certain shared components may be installed if they are not already present on the system. However, these shared components are not automatically removed 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 uninstalled automatically because they might be shared with other applications. Removing them could potentially disrupt the functionality of other software on your system.

SSMS Integration with Azure Data Studio

SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3 include Azure Data Studio in their default installation. However, SSMS 20.0 and later versions do not include Azure Data Studio.
- If a compatible or newer version of Azure Data Studio is already installed, the Azure Data Studio installation by SSMS will be skipped.
- The specific version of Azure Data Studio included can be found in the release notes.
The Azure Data Studio installer requires 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.
Azure Data Studio localization is achieved through Language Pack extensions, downloadable from the extension marketplace.
For SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3, the installation of Azure Data Studio can be bypassed by running the SSMS installer with the command-line flag DoNotInstallAzureDataStudio=1.

SQL Offerings Supported by SSMS

This SSMS version is compatible with SQL Server 2014 (12.x) and later. It offers optimal support for utilizing the latest cloud capabilities within Azure SQL Database, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Microsoft Fabric.
Furthermore, SSMS 20.x can be installed alongside SSMS 19.x, SSMS 18.x, SSMS 17.x, and SSMS 16.x on the same machine.
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 connect to older legacy Integration Services versions, use the SSMS version that aligns with the 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 computer. Since SQL Server 2012 (11.x), the SSIS Catalog database (SSISDB) is the recommended approach for managing, storing, running, and monitoring Integration Services packages. Refer to SSIS Catalog for more information.

SSMS System Requirements

The current SSMS release supports the following 64-bit platforms, when used with the most recent service pack:

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 or updates.
Running SSMS in a virtual machine environment requires a full Windows operating system.
Windows containers are not supported.
SSMS is not supported in 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) processor. Dual-core or better recommended.
RAM: 2 GB of RAM; 4 GB recommended (2.5 GB minimum in a virtual machine).
Hard Disk Space: Minimum 3 GB up to 10 GB of available space.

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

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