Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS): Your Comprehensive Guide

Sql Server Management Studio (SSMS) stands as a cornerstone tool for anyone working with SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, and beyond. This integrated environment provides a rich set of tools to manage, configure, and administer your entire SQL infrastructure, whether it resides on-premises or in the cloud. From database administrators to developers, SSMS empowers you to deploy, monitor, and upgrade data-tier components, construct intricate queries, and develop robust scripts with ease.

Whether you are managing databases and data warehouses locally or in the cloud, SSMS offers a unified platform to design, query, and oversee your data assets efficiently. For users seeking cross-platform compatibility alongside similar functionalities, Azure Data Studio serves as an excellent companion tool.

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

Get the Latest SSMS: Download Version 20.2

Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 20.2

Version 20.2 represents the most current Generally Available (GA) release of SSMS. If you are currently using a preview iteration of SSMS 20, it is recommended to uninstall it prior to installing SSMS 20.2 to ensure a stable experience. 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.

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

By downloading and utilizing SQL Server Management Studio, you are agreeing to the associated license terms and privacy statement. For feedback, suggestions, or to report any issues, the dedicated SSMS Developer Community site is the most effective channel to connect with the SSMS team.

SSMS 20.x is designed to coexist with previous versions such as SSMS 19.x and older. This means you can have multiple versions installed on the same machine, providing flexibility in managing different SQL Server environments. However, users with prior preview versions of SSMS 20 must uninstall them before installing the GA release of SSMS 20.2. You can easily verify if you have a preview version by navigating to Help > About within SSMS.

When multiple SSMS installations are present, it’s crucial to confirm you are launching the correct version tailored to your specific task. The most recent version is clearly labeled as Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio v20.2.

Important Note:

From SSMS 18.7 through 19.3, Azure Data Studio was bundled and automatically installed alongside SSMS. This integration allowed SSMS users to leverage the innovative features present in Azure Data Studio. Azure Data Studio is a versatile, cross-platform, and open-source tool suitable for cloud, on-premises, and hybrid environments. However, this bundling is not present in SSMS 20.0 and later versions.

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

Language Options for SSMS 20.2

SSMS 20.2 offers broad language support to cater to a global audience.

SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 Languages:

If you are accessing this page in a non-English language and wish to view the most current information, select Read in English at the page’s top. To download SSMS in different languages, please refer to the available languages section, typically found within the download page or installer.

Note:

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

What’s New in the Latest SSMS?

For a detailed breakdown of the new features, improvements, and bug fixes included in this release, consult the Release notes for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). These release notes provide a comprehensive overview of all changes, enabling you to fully understand the enhancements in SSMS 20.2.

Accessing Previous SSMS Versions

This article focuses on the latest SSMS version. To download earlier versions of SSMS, visit Previous SSMS releases. Accessing previous versions can be crucial for compatibility with older SQL Server instances or specific project requirements.

Important Compatibility 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 essential to use SSMS 18.6 or a later version.

Furthermore, connecting to Azure Analysis Services via Microsoft Entra multifactor authentication necessitates SSMS 18.5.1 or later. Ensuring you are using a compatible version is vital for secure and seamless access to Azure services.

Unattended Installation of SSMS via PowerShell

For automated deployments and silent installations, SSMS can be installed using PowerShell, eliminating the need for graphical prompts.

Follow these steps for a silent, background installation:

1. Launch PowerShell with administrator privileges.

2. Execute the following command, customizing the paths as needed:

   $media_path = "<path to your ssms-setup-enu.exe file>"
   $install_path = "<desired root installation location 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

   Alternatively, replace /Quiet with /Passive to display the setup UI during installation, while still automating the process.

3. 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 consult the installation log file located at %TEMP%SSMSSetup for troubleshooting.

Uninstalling SSMS and Shared Components

When you uninstall SSMS, it’s important to note that certain shared components installed during SSMS setup are not 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 deliberately retained as they may be shared with other applications on your system. Uninstalling them could potentially disrupt the functionality of other software. Manual removal of these components is necessary if desired and you are certain no other applications depend on them.

Integration with Azure Data Studio (Versions 18.7 – 19.3)

For SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3, Azure Data Studio was automatically included in the installation package. However, this is no longer the case for SSMS 20.0 and later.

• The automatic installation of Azure Data Studio was designed to skip if a compatible or newer version was already present on the system.
• The specific version of Azure Data Studio bundled with each SSMS release is detailed in the release notes for that SSMS version.
• The Azure Data Studio installer operates under the same security permissions as the SSMS installer.
• Azure Data Studio’s installation uses 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 by default, and Azure Data Studio is not set as the default editor for any file types during this bundled installation.
• Azure Data Studio localization is managed through Language Pack extensions. To localize Azure Data Studio, install the appropriate language pack from the extension marketplace.
• For users of SSMS versions 18.7 through 19.3 who wished to prevent the automatic installation of Azure Data Studio, the SSMS installer could be launched with the command-line flag DoNotInstallAzureDataStudio=1.

Compatibility with SQL Server Offerings

This version of SSMS exhibits broad compatibility, working seamlessly with SQL Server 2014 (12.x) and all subsequent versions. It is especially optimized to support the latest cloud-based features within Azure SQL Database, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Microsoft Fabric, ensuring you can leverage the newest advancements in Microsoft’s data platform.

Moreover, SSMS 20.x is designed for side-by-side installation compatibility with SSMS 19.x, SSMS 18.x, SSMS 17.x, and SSMS 16.x. This allows you to maintain different versions for managing various SQL Server environments or for specific compatibility needs.

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 older legacy Integration Services instances, utilize the SSMS version that aligns with the SQL Server version. For example, SSMS 16.x is appropriate for managing legacy SQL Server 2016 (13.x) Integration Services. 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) has been the recommended approach for managing, storing, running, and monitoring Integration Services packages. For detailed information, refer to SSIS Catalog.

SSMS System Requirements

The current SSMS release is compatible with the following 64-bit Windows platforms, assuming the latest service packs are installed:

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 on Windows Server 2016.

Additional Requirements:

• Administrator privileges are necessary for SSMS installation and updates.
• Running SSMS within a virtual machine environment necessitates a full Windows operating system installation.
• Windows containers are not supported for SSMS.
• Application virtualization solutions such as Microsoft App-V, MSIX for Windows, or third-party application virtualization technologies are not supported for SSMS.

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 is recommended.
• RAM: 2 GB of RAM; 4 GB recommended (minimum 2.5 GB if running in a virtual machine).
• Hard Disk Space: Minimum of 3 GB up to 10 GB of available disk space.

Note:

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

Getting Help with SQL Tools

For comprehensive assistance and support related to SQL tools, Microsoft provides various resources. The official Microsoft SQL Server documentation is an invaluable source of information, offering tutorials, reference materials, and troubleshooting guides. Additionally, the SQL Server community forums and Stack Overflow are excellent platforms for seeking help from peers and experts, and resolving specific issues.

Contribute to SQL Documentation

Did you know you can contribute to the improvement of SQL documentation directly? By contributing, you not only enhance the documentation for the benefit of the wider community but also receive recognition as a contributor to the page.

For more information on how to participate, see Edit Microsoft Learn documentation. Your contributions are valuable in making SQL Server documentation more accurate and helpful for everyone.