Easy-to-use graphical management tool for managing SQL Server

SQL Server Management Studio

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SQL Server Management Studio

  -  473 MB  -  Freeware
Free Download

Security Status

  • Latest Version

    SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 LATEST

  • Review by

    Daniel Leblanc

  • Operating System

    Windows XP / Vista / Windows 7 / Windows 8 / Windows 10 / Windows 11

  • User Rating

    Click to vote

  • Author / Product

    Microsoft Corporation / External Link

  • Filename

    SSMS-Setup-ENU.exe

Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMS) is a free, integrated environment for accessing, configuring, managing, administering, and developing all components of SQL Server, as well as combining a broad group of graphical tools and rich script editors that provide access to the Server to developers and administrators of all skill levels. 

Originally introduced to the public as the part of the Microsoft SQL Server 2005, this app enabled professional users to easily manage, administer and configure all components of the Microsoft SQL Server Platform, with access to tools such script editors, graphical tools and everything needed to interact with objects and database features.

The latest version of this app managed to completely integrate itself with all the features and additions that were introduced with the arrival of the SQL Server 2012, enabling users from all around the world to easily manage both their old and new database-related projects of all shapes and sizes.

Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE) is an integrated environment for accessing, configuring, managing, administering, and developing all components of the Server.

The software combines a broad group of graphical tools with a number of rich script editors to provide access to SQLServer to developers and administrators of all skill levels.

Developers get a familiar experience, and database administrators get a single comprehensive utility that combines easy-to-use graphical tools with rich scripting capabilities.

Supported SQL offerings

This version of SSMS supports SQL Server 2014 (12.x) and later, with extensive compatibility for cloud features like Azure SQL Database, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Microsoft Fabric.

Key highlights:

Parallel Installations: SSMS 20.x can coexist with earlier versions, including SSMS 19.x, 18.x, 17.x, and 16.x.

Integration Services (SSIS):
  • SSMS 17.x and later don't support connections to legacy SQL Server Integration Services services. For earlier versions, use the corresponding SSMS version (e.g., SSMS 16.x for SQL Server 2016 Integration Services).
  • Since SQL Server 2012, the recommended method for managing SSIS packages is the SSIS Catalog database (SSISDB).
Uninstall

SSMS might install shared components if it determines they're missing during SSMS installation. SSMS doesn't automatically uninstall these components when you uninstall SSMS.

The shared components are:
  • 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
System Requirements

The current release of SSMS supports the following 64-bit platforms when used with the latest available service pack:

Supported operating systems:
  • Windows 11 (x64)
  • Windows 10 (x64) version 1607 (10.0.14393) and later versions
  • 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.
Supported hardware:

1.8 GHz or faster x86 (Intel, AMD) processor. Dual-core or better recommended

2 GB of RAM; 4 GB of RAM recommended (2.5 GB minimum if running on a virtual machine)

Hard disk space: Minimum of 3 GB up to 10 GB of available space

Additional requirements:
  • Administrator rights are required to install or update SSMS.
  • Running in a virtual machine environment requires a full Windows operating system.
  • Windows containers are not supported.
  • SSMS is not supported in application virtualization solutions such as Microsoft App-V or MSIX for Windows, or third-party app virtualization technologies.
PROS
  • Intuitive user interface
  • Robust debugging tools
  • Excellent query performance tuning
  • Advanced reporting features
  • Wide integration support
CONS
  • High system resource usage
  • Limited cross-platform compatibility
  • Occasional lag with large databases
  • Expensive licensing for enterprise
Note: Requires .NET Framework.

Download SQL Server Management Studio Latest Version

  • SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 Screenshots

    The images below have been resized. Click on them to view the screenshots in full size.

    SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 Screenshot 1
  • SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 Screenshot 2
  • SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 Screenshot 3
  • SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 Screenshot 4
  • SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 Screenshot 5

What's new in this version:

New:
- Introduced support for temporal tables
- Introduced logging for the Always Encrypted wizard to facilitate troubleshooting
- Updated SSMS to use the latest driver version for MSOLEDBSQL (18.7.4). The inclusion of this new version could require users who also have older versions of the driver to reboot after installing SSMS 20.2. For more information, review the release notes for the Microsoft OLE DB driver
- Removed HADOOP files from SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) installation files, this addresses CVE-2022-25168
- Updated DacFx to version 162.3.566
- Updated Server Management Objects (SMO) to version 171.36.0
- Removed the Microsoft Visual C++ 2013 Redistributable (x86) from the SSMS installation. Upgrading from a previous version of 20.x does not remove the files
- Introduced support for a simplified link failover experience

Fixed:
- Added accessibility support for Expand/Collapse in Database Properties
- Improved accessibility of radio buttons in the Restore Database dialog using arrow or tab keys
- Fixed labels for radio button controls in the Files page of Database Properties
- Fixed an issue with focus control in the Data Classification page
- Addressed issues with incomplete or unnecessary screen reader announcements in the Data Classification page
- Fixed error "Object reference not set to an instance of an object", which occurred when trying to create a Column Master Key after signing out of Azure
- Addressed an issue with truncated authentication methods in the Connection dialog when using Russian locale
- Fixed incorrect length of dropdown lists after changing the engine type
- Resolved error "The certificate chain was issued by an authority that is not trusted" when creating or modifying an Integration Services job step in SQL Agent. See SSMS 20 - certificate error when viewing or editing Agent jobs that run SSIS packages
- Resolved a problem where SQL Server endpoint certificates were not loaded for the Managed Instance
- Updated the script generated for external file formats to include the FIRST ROW property
- Added Table-Valued Functions node within the Programmability > Functions node for Synapse
- Updated lock icons in the query editor toolbar to be color-aware
- Addressed error “Unable to query transaction count. The SQL text editor window will close without committing any open transactions" when closing an unsaved editor with either SHOWPLAN_ALL or SHOWPLAN_XML enabled, and the option Check for open transactions before closing T-SQL query windows enabled
- Reduced the number of characters in the Description of an execution plan to 1000. The full query is available using the ellipses
- Addressed an issue where the Queries With Forced Plans report generated the error "Couldn’t connect to database", see Query Store report 'Queries with Forced Plans' fails trying to sort by last execution time
- Fixed Tracked Queries report to correctly display the metric selected in the Configure dialog
- Removed unnecessary border around options within the Configure dialog
- Fixed an issue where no metric was selected in the Configure dialog for the Tracked Queries report
- Addressed behavior where drop down menus in the report for Metric and Statistic were not updated after they were changed in the Configure dialog
- Fixed an issue where Replication Conflict Viewer was inaccessible when using Mandatory or Optional encryption, see SSMS 20.0 (Replication - View Conflicts) bug

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