SQL Server Management Studio 2022 Download: Your Comprehensive Guide

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) remains the cornerstone for database professionals managing SQL Server and Azure SQL Database environments. This integrated environment equips you with the necessary tools to configure, monitor, and administer SQL instances and databases, whether on-premises or in the cloud. SSMS simplifies deployment, monitoring, and upgrading data-tier components, alongside robust query and script building capabilities.

For those seeking a cross-platform solution complementary to SSMS, Azure Data Studio offers management across SQL and other Azure databases. However, for deep SQL Server administration and feature-rich capabilities on Windows, SSMS 20.2 is the generally available (GA) and recommended version.

To discover the latest enhancements and features, refer to the Release notes for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 20.2. For users interested in exploring upcoming features, Install SQL Server Management Studio 21 Preview provides access to the preview version.

Downloading SQL Server Management Studio 20.2

Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 20.2

SSMS 20.2 represents the most recent generally available release. If you are currently using a preview version of SSMS 20, it’s crucial to uninstall it before proceeding with the installation of SSMS 20.2. Notably, installing SSMS 20.2 will not upgrade or replace any existing SSMS 19.x or earlier versions, allowing for side-by-side installations.

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 feedback, suggestions, or issue reporting, the SSMS Developer Community site provides the optimal channel to connect with the SSMS team.

SSMS 20.x installations are designed to coexist with previous versions like SSMS 19.x and earlier. This side-by-side installation ensures that upgrading to the newest version does not disrupt your existing workflows dependent on older SSMS versions. However, users with prior preview versions of SSMS 20 must uninstall them to ensure a clean installation of the latest SSMS 20.2 release. To verify if you have a preview version installed, simply navigate to Help > About within SSMS.

In environments with multiple SSMS installations, it’s vital to launch the correct version tailored to your specific requirements. The latest version, SSMS 20.2, is clearly labeled as Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio v20.2.

Important to note for users of SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3: Azure Data Studio was automatically bundled with SSMS. This integration allowed SSMS users to leverage the innovative features of Azure Data Studio, a cross-platform and open-source tool suitable for cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments. For more insights into Azure Data Studio, explore What is Azure Data Studio or the FAQ.

Language Availability

SSMS 20.2 supports installation in a variety of languages:

SQL Server Management Studio 20.2: [List of supported languages to be added here based on official documentation if available].

If you are accessing this page from a non-English locale and wish to view 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, if specified in the original article or documentation.

It is worth mentioning that the SQL Server PowerShell module is distributed separately through 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, improvements, and bug fixes included in this release, consult the dedicated Release notes for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). This section typically details enhancements to query editor, object explorer, and various management functionalities.

Accessing Previous SSMS Versions

This article focuses exclusively on the latest SSMS version. To download earlier releases of SSMS, visit Previous SSMS releases. Access to older versions may be necessary for compatibility with legacy SQL Server instances or specific feature requirements not present in newer versions.

A critical update for users of older SSMS versions: as of December 2021, SSMS versions prior to 18.6 no longer support authentication to Database Engines using Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication (MFA). Continued use of MFA mandates upgrading to SSMS 18.6 or later. Similarly, connecting to Azure Analysis Services via Microsoft Entra MFA requires SSMS 18.5.1 or later.

Performing Unattended Installations

SSMS installation can be automated using PowerShell for silent or unattended deployments.

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

Initiate PowerShell with administrator privileges.

Execute the following command, adjusting 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

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

Replacing /Quiet with /Passive will display the setup UI while still automating the installation process.

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

Uninstalling SSMS

SSMS may install shared components if they are not present on the system during installation. It’s important to note that uninstalling SSMS does not automatically remove these shared components as they might be utilized by other applications.

The 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 to prevent potential disruption of other software that may depend on them. Manual uninstallation of these components should only be performed if you are certain they are no longer required by any other application.

Azure Data Studio Integration Details (SSMS 18.7 – 19.3)

For SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3, Azure Data Studio was included in the installation package. However, SSMS 20.0 and later versions do not bundle Azure Data Studio.

The Azure Data Studio installation is skipped if a compatible or newer version is already present on the system.
The specific Azure Data Studio version bundled with SSMS is documented in the release notes for each SSMS version.
Azure Data Studio installation inherits the security permissions of the SSMS installer.
Default Azure Data Studio installation options are applied, which include creating a Start Menu folder and adding Azure Data Studio to the system PATH. A desktop shortcut is not created, and file type associations are not configured.
Azure Data Studio localization is managed via Language Pack extensions available in the extension marketplace.
In SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3, Azure Data Studio installation can be bypassed by launching the SSMS installer with the command-line flag DoNotInstallAzureDataStudio=1.

Supported SQL Server Offerings

This version of SSMS is compatible with SQL Server 2014 (12.x) and all subsequent versions, including SQL Server 2022. It offers optimal support for the latest cloud-based features in Azure SQL Database, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Microsoft Fabric.

Furthermore, SSMS 20.x can be installed concurrently with SSMS 19.x, SSMS 18.x, SSMS 17.x, and SSMS 16.x.

Regarding SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS), SSMS 17.x and later versions do not facilitate 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 respective SQL Server version. For instance, SSMS 16.x is required 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 managing, storing, 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 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 necessitates .NET Framework 4.7.2.

Additional Requirements:

Administrator privileges are required for SSMS installation and updates.
Virtual machine environments require a full Windows operating system.
Windows containers are not supported.
Application virtualization solutions like Microsoft App-V, MSIX for Windows, or third-party virtualization technologies are not supported for SSMS.

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.

SSMS is exclusively available as a 32-bit application for Windows. For cross-platform tools, Azure Data Studio is recommended. Visit Azure Data Studio for more information.

Need Help with SQL Tools?

For assistance and troubleshooting related to SQL tools, various resources are available online, including forums, community sites, and official Microsoft documentation.

Related Resources

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