SQL Server Download: Get SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) for Free

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) stands as the cornerstone for managing your SQL infrastructure, whether you’re operating on-premises SQL Servers, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure Synapse Analytics, SQL analytics endpoint in Microsoft Fabric, or Warehouse in Microsoft Fabric. This powerful, integrated environment equips you with all the necessary tools to configure, monitor, and administer your SQL Server instances and databases effectively. From deploying and upgrading data-tier components to crafting intricate queries and scripts, SSMS is indispensable for anyone working with Microsoft’s SQL ecosystem.

With SSMS, you gain the ability to seamlessly query, design, and manage your databases and data warehouses, irrespective of their location – be it your local machine or the cloud. It offers a unified platform that simplifies complex database management tasks, enhancing productivity and ensuring optimal performance.

For users seeking a cross-platform alternative to SSMS, especially for managing SQL and other Azure databases across different operating systems, Azure Data Studio is an excellent choice. However, for deep, comprehensive SQL Server management on Windows, SSMS remains the industry-standard tool.

To discover the latest enhancements and features in the current release, be sure to check out the Release notes for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 20.2. And if you are interested in exploring upcoming features, you can also find details and download information for SQL Server Management Studio 21 Preview 1 at Install SQL Server Management Studio 21 Preview.

Downloading SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

Ready to get started with SSMS? The latest generally available (GA) version is readily accessible for Sql Server Download through the link below.

Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 20.2

SSMS 20.2 represents the most recent and stable release, ensuring you benefit from the latest features and improvements. If you happen to have a preview version of SSMS 20 installed, it’s crucial to uninstall it before proceeding with the installation of SSMS 20.2 to avoid any conflicts. Notably, installing SSMS 20.2 will not upgrade or replace any existing SSMS 19.x or earlier versions, allowing you to maintain multiple versions side-by-side if needed.

Here are the key details for the current release:

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

By proceeding with the sql server download and installation of SQL Server Management Studio, you automatically agree to the associated license terms and privacy statement. Microsoft values user feedback; if you have any comments, suggestions, or encounter issues, the SSMS team encourages you to reach out through the SSMS Developer Community site. This direct line of communication helps improve the tool for everyone.

It’s important to reiterate that SSMS 20.x installations are designed to coexist with older versions (SSMS 19.x and earlier). This side-by-side installation approach means that installing the latest version won’t remove your previous SSMS installations. However, if you’re updating from a preview version of SSMS 20, uninstallation of the preview is necessary before installing the GA release to ensure a clean and stable environment. You can easily check if you have a preview version by navigating to Help > About within SSMS.

When running multiple SSMS installations on the same machine, always verify that you are launching the intended version for your current task. The latest version, SSMS 20.2, is clearly labeled as Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio v20.2, making it easy to identify.

Important Consideration: For users of SQL Server Management Studio versions 18.7 through 19.3, Azure Data Studio was bundled and automatically installed alongside SSMS. This integration aimed to introduce SSMS users to the innovative features of Azure Data Studio. However, this is not the case with SSMS 20.0 and later versions, where Azure Data Studio is no longer automatically included. If you wish to use Azure Data Studio, it must be downloaded and installed separately.

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

Language Options for SSMS Download

This version of SSMS offers broad language support, allowing you to install it in your preferred language.

SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 Available Languages:

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If you are accessing this page in a non-English language and wish to ensure you are viewing the most current information, simply select Read in English at the top of the page. For sql server download in different languages, you can usually find language selection options associated with the download link or on the download page itself.

Note on PowerShell Module: The SQL Server PowerShell module is distributed and installed separately through the PowerShell Gallery. For those who leverage PowerShell for SQL Server management, detailed instructions can be found at Install the SQL Server PowerShell module. This separation allows for independent updates and version management of the PowerShell components.

What’s New in SSMS 20.2

To get a comprehensive understanding of the new features, enhancements, and bug fixes included in this release, it’s recommended to review the detailed Release notes for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). These release notes provide valuable insights into the improvements made and can help you leverage the latest capabilities of SSMS effectively.

Accessing Previous SSMS Versions

This article focuses on the latest SSMS version. However, if you require older versions for compatibility or specific needs, you can find them by visiting Previous SSMS releases. Microsoft maintains an archive of previous releases to accommodate various environments and requirements.

Important Note Regarding Older Versions and MFA: As of December 2021, SSMS versions prior to 18.6 no longer support authentication to Database Engines using Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication (MFA). To continue utilizing MFA for secure access, upgrading to SSMS 18.6 or later is mandatory. Similarly, connecting to Azure Analysis Services via Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication necessitates SSMS 18.5.1 or later. This highlights the importance of using recent versions for enhanced security and compatibility with modern authentication methods.

Unattended Installation of SSMS

For automated deployments and scripting, SSMS supports unattended installation via PowerShell. This allows for silent installations without user interaction.

Follow these steps to perform a silent sql server download and install of SSMS:

Launch PowerShell as Administrator: Ensure you open PowerShell with elevated administrative privileges.

Execute Installation Command: Use the following PowerShell command structure, customizing the $media_path and $install_path variables to match your environment.

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

You can replace /Quiet with /Passive if you prefer to observe the setup UI during the installation process without requiring interaction.

Verification and Troubleshooting: Upon successful installation, SSMS will be located at %systemdrive%SSMStoCommon7IDESsms.exe based on the example paths. If installation issues arise, examine the error code returned by the PowerShell command and consult the installation logs found in %TEMP%SSMSSetup for detailed troubleshooting information.

Uninstalling SSMS

When you uninstall SSMS, it’s important to be aware that certain shared components installed alongside SSMS might not be automatically removed.

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 retained because they might be utilized by other applications on your system. Uninstalling them could potentially disrupt the functionality of other software. If you wish to remove these shared components, you must do so manually through the Windows Control Panel or Settings app after uninstalling SSMS.

SSMS and Azure Data Studio Coexistence

As mentioned earlier, SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3 included Azure Data Studio as part of their installation package. However, this is no longer the case for SSMS 20.0 and later.

For SSMS versions 18.7-19.3, Azure Data Studio installation was skipped if a compatible or newer version was already present on the system.
The version of Azure Data Studio bundled with specific SSMS versions can be found in the respective SSMS release notes.
Azure Data Studio’s installer operates with the same security permissions as the SSMS installer.
The Azure Data Studio installation used default settings, which include creating a Start Menu folder and adding Azure Data Studio to the system PATH environment variable. It does not create a desktop shortcut, nor does it register Azure Data Studio as the default editor for any file types.
Azure Data Studio localization is managed through Language Pack extensions, downloadable from the extension marketplace.
For SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3, the installation of Azure Data Studio could be bypassed by launching the SSMS installer with the command-line flag DoNotInstallAzureDataStudio=1.

SQL Server Offerings Supported by SSMS

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

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 different versions for various compatibility needs.
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 older legacy Integration Services, utilize the SSMS version aligned with the specific SQL Server version. For instance, SSMS 16.x is required to connect to SQL Server 2016 (13.x) Integration Services. Remember 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 method for managing SSIS packages. Refer to SSIS Catalog for further details.

SSMS System Requirements

The current SSMS release is designed for 64-bit platforms and requires 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

Go to footnote ¹ SSMS requires .NET Framework 4.7.2.

Additional Requirements:

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

Note for Windows Server Core: 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 (minimum 2.5 GB in a virtual machine).
Hard Disk Space: Minimum 3 GB up to 10 GB of available space.

Important Note on Architecture: SSMS is exclusively available as a 32-bit application for Windows. For users needing a cross-platform tool, Azure Data Studio is recommended. Visit Azure Data Studio for more information.

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