How to Download Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 2018
If you are looking for a powerful and versatile tool to manage your SQL Server databases, you might want to consider Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). In this article, we will show you what SSMS is, what are its benefits and features, and how to download and install it on your computer.
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What is Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)?
Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is an integrated environment for managing any SQL infrastructure, from SQL Server to Azure SQL Database. SSMS provides tools to configure, monitor, and administer instances of SQL Server and databases. You can use SSMS to deploy, monitor, and upgrade the data-tier components used by your applications, as well as build queries and scripts. You can also use SSMS to query, design, and manage your databases and data warehouses, wherever they are - on your local computer or in the cloud.
What are the benefits of using SSMS?
Some of the benefits of using SSMS are:
It supports a wide range of SQL Server versions and features, from SQL Server 2008 to SQL Server 2022.
It offers a user-friendly graphical interface that simplifies common tasks and operations.
It allows you to work with multiple servers and databases at the same time, using tabs and windows.
It provides rich tools for code editing, debugging, testing, performance tuning, and security management.
It integrates with other Microsoft products and services, such as Azure Data Studio, Visual Studio, PowerShell, and Azure DevOps.
What are the features of SSMS 2018?
SSMS 2018 is the latest general availability (GA) version of SSMS. It was released in May 2023 and has several new and improved features, such as:
A new flat user interface that matches the Visual Studio look and feel.
An enhanced query editor that supports IntelliSense, code snippets, syntax highlighting, error checking, and more.
A new query execution engine that improves performance and reliability.
A new Import Flat File wizard that simplifies importing data from CSV files.
A new XEvent Profiler that provides a live view of extended events sessions.
A new ShowPlan feature that displays query execution plans in a graphical format.
A new Vulnerability Assessment tool that scans your databases for potential security issues.
An automatic installation of Azure Data Studio alongside SSMS. Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform and open-source tool for data professionals that works with SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and Azure Synapse Analytics.
How to download SSMS 2018
To download SSMS 2018, you need to follow these steps:
Where to find the installation media
The download location for SSMS depends on the edition you want to install. There are three editions available: Enterprise, Standard, and Express. The Enterprise and Standard editions are licensed for production use and require a purchase or a subscription. The Express edition is free and suitable for development and production for desktop, web, and small server applications[^4^ ).
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You can download the Enterprise and Standard editions from the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) or the Microsoft Evaluation Center. You can download the Express edition from the Microsoft Download Center. Alternatively, you can use the following direct links to download SSMS 2018 for different editions and languages:
Edition
Language
Download Link
Enterprise
English
Standard
English
Express
English
Express
Chinese (Simplified)
Express
Spanish
Express
French
Express
German
Express
Japanese
How to choose the edition and language
The edition and language you choose depend on your needs and preferences. Here are some factors to consider:
The edition determines the features and functionalities you can access in SSMS. For example, the Enterprise edition supports advanced features such as Always On availability groups, data compression, encryption, and auditing. The Standard edition supports basic features such as backup and restore, replication, and log shipping. The Express edition supports only a subset of features and has some limitations, such as a maximum database size of 10 GB. You can compare the features of different editions .
The language determines the user interface and help content of SSMS. You can choose from 11 languages: English, Chinese (Simplified), Chinese (Traditional), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, and Spanish. You can change the language of SSMS after installation by using the Tools > Options > Environment > International Settings menu. You can also install multiple languages of SSMS on the same computer and switch between them by using the command line parameter /L or /Language. For example, to launch SSMS in French, you can use the command SSMS.exe /L 1036. You can find the language codes for SSMS .
The download size and installation time vary depending on the edition and language. The Enterprise and Standard editions are larger than the Express edition, and some languages are larger than others. For example, the English version of SSMS 2018 Express is about 500 MB, while the Japanese version is about 700 MB. The installation time also depends on your system configuration and network speed. Generally, it takes about 10 to 20 minutes to install SSMS 2018.
The license agreement and terms of use differ depending on the edition. The Enterprise and Standard editions require a valid license key or a subscription to use SSMS for production purposes. The Express edition is free to use for any purpose, but it is subject to the Microsoft Software License Terms. You should read and accept the license agreement before downloading and installing SSMS.
The support and updates depend on the edition and release date. The Enterprise and Standard editions are eligible for mainstream support for five years and extended support for another five years from the release date. The Express edition is eligible for mainstream support only for five years from the release date. You can check the support lifecycle of SSMS . You should also check for updates regularly to get the latest features, bug fixes, and security patches for SSMS. You can download the latest updates from the Microsoft Download Center or use the Tools > Check for Updates menu in SSMS.
How to run the setup wizard
Once you have downloaded the installation media for SSMS 2018, you can run the setup wizard by following these steps:
Double-click the SSMS-Setup-.exe file to launch the setup wizard. You might need to provide administrative permissions or confirm a security warning.
Read and accept the license agreement and privacy statement, and then click Install.
Wait for the setup wizard to extract and install the required files and components. This might take several minutes depending on your system configuration and network speed.
When the installation is complete, click Restart if prompted, or click Close to exit the setup wizard.
How to install SSMS 2018
To install SSMS 2018, you need to follow these steps:
What are the system requirements and considerations
Before you install SSMS 2018, you should check the system requirements and considerations to ensure a smooth and successful installation. Here are some of the main points:
The minimum operating system requirement for SSMS 2018 is Windows 10 version 1607 or higher, Windows Server 2016 or higher, or Windows 8.1 or Windows Server 2012 R2 (with Update) or higher. You can check your operating system version by using the Winver command or the Settings > System > About menu.
The minimum hardware requirement for SSMS 2018 is a 1.8 GHz or faster processor, 4 GB of RAM, and 6 GB of available hard disk space. However, for optimal performance, you should have a faster processor, more RAM, and more disk space. You can check your hardware specifications by using the Task Manager or the Settings > System > About menu.
The minimum screen resolution requirement for SSMS 2018 is 1024 x 768 pixels. However, for better readability and usability, you should have a higher resolution monitor. You can adjust your screen resolution by using the Settings > System > Display menu.
The minimum .NET Framework requirement for SSMS 2018 is .NET Framework 4.7.2 or higher. The setup wizard will install it automatically if it is not already installed on your computer. You can check your .NET Framework version by using the Registry Editor or the PowerShell command Get-ChildItem 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\NET Framework Setup\NDP\v4\Full'.
The minimum Visual Studio requirement for SSMS 2018 is Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9.11 or higher. The setup wizard will install it automatically if it is not already installed on your computer. You can check your Visual Studio version by using the Help > About Microsoft Visual Studio menu.
The minimum SQL Server requirement for SSMS 2018 is SQL Server 2008 or higher. However, some features of SSMS might not work with older versions of SQL Server. You can check your SQL Server version by using the SELECT @@VERSION command or the Help > About menu in SSMS.
The installation of SSMS 2018 does not affect any existing installations of previous versions of SSMS on your computer. You can have multiple versions of SSMS installed side by side and use them independently. However, you should be aware of some potential issues and conflicts that might arise from having multiple versions of SSMS, such as different behaviors, settings, extensions, and compatibility levels. You can find more information about side-by-side installations of SSMS .
How to configure the installation options
During the installation of SSMS 2018, you can configure some options to customize your experience and preferences. Here are some of the options you can choose from:
You can choose whether to install Azure Data Studio alongside SSMS or not. Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform and open-source tool for data professionals that works with SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and Azure Synapse Analytics. If you choose to install Azure Data Studio, you can launch it from the Tools > Azure Data Studio menu in SSMS.
You can choose whether to send usage data and feedback to Microsoft or not. This option helps Microsoft improve SSMS and provide better services and features. If you choose to send usage data and feedback, you can opt out later by using the Tools > Options > Environment > Customer Feedback Options menu in SSMS.
You can choose whether to enable automatic updates or not. This option allows SSMS to check for updates periodically and notify you when a new version is available. If you choose to enable automatic updates, you can change the frequency and mode of checking by using the Tools > Options > Environment > Updates menu in SSMS.
You can choose whether to enable telemetry or not. This option allows SSMS to collect and send anonymous data about your usage and performance of SSMS to Microsoft. This data helps Microsoft diagnose and fix issues, as well as improve SSMS and provide better services and features. If you choose to enable telemetry, you can disable it later by using the Tools > Options > Environment > Telemetry menu in SSMS.
How to verify the installation
After the installation of SSMS 2018, you can verify that it was successful by following these steps:
Launch SSMS 2018 from the Start menu or the desktop shortcut. You should see the SSMS splash screen and then the Connect to Server dialog box.
Enter the name and credentials of the SQL Server instance you want to connect to, and then click Connect. You should see the Object Explorer window and the Query Editor window in SSMS.
Check the version and build number of SSMS by using the Help > About menu. You should see something like this: Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 18.9 (GA) - 15.0.18386.0.
Check the functionality and features of SSMS by performing some common tasks and operations, such as creating a database, running a query, viewing a report, or launching a tool. You should be able to use SSMS without any errors or issues.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download and install Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 2018 on your computer. We have explained what SSMS is, what are its benefits and features, and how to configure and verify the installation options. We hope that this article has helped you get started with SSMS and that you will enjoy using it to manage your SQL Server databases.
If you want to learn more about SSMS, you can visit the following resources:
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about SSMS:
What are some alternatives to SSMS?
Some alternatives to SSMS are:
Azure Data Studio: A cross-platform and open-source tool for data professionals that works with SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and Azure Synapse Analytics.
Visual Studio: An integrated development environment (IDE) that supports various languages and platforms, including SQL Server Database Projects.
SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT): A set of tools that integrate with Visual Studio and enable database development, deployment, and management.
SQL Operations Studio: A deprecated tool that was replaced by Azure Data Studio.
How to update or uninstall SSMS?
To update SSMS, you can download the latest version from the Microsoft Download Center or use the Tools > Check for Updates menu in SSMS. The update process will overwrite the existing installation of SSMS with the new version. You do not need to uninstall the previous version of SSMS before updating.
To uninstall SSMS, you can use the Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features menu or the Settings > Apps > Apps & features menu on your computer. You can select Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 18 from the list of programs and click Uninstall. You might need to provide administrative permissions or confirm a security warning. The uninstall process will remove all the files and components of SSMS from your computer.
How to connect to a SQL Server instance using SSMS?
To connect to a SQL Server instance using SSMS, you can follow these steps:
Launch SSMS from the Start menu or the desktop shortcut.
In the Connect to Server dialog box, enter the name of the SQL Server instance you want to connect to in the Server name box. You can use a dot (.) for a local default instance, or a server name\instance name format for a remote or named instance.
Select the authentication mode you want to use in the Authentication box. You can use Windows Authentication if your Windows account has access to the SQL Server instance, or SQL Server Authentication if you have a SQL Server login and password.
If you use SQL Server Authentication, enter your login name and password in the Login and Password boxes.
Optionally, you can select the database you want to connect to in the Connect to database box. You can also select the connection options you want to use in the Options button.
Click Connect to establish the connection. You should see the Object Explorer window and the Query Editor window in SSMS.
How to use Azure Data Studio with SSMS?
Azure Data Studio is a cross-platform and open-source tool for data professionals that works with SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and Azure Synapse Analytics. You can use Azure Data Studio with SSMS to perform tasks and operations that are not supported or convenient in SSMS, such as:
Working with multiple platforms and operating systems, such as Windows, Linux, and macOS.
Working with multiple data sources and types, such as PostgreSQL, MySQL, MongoDB, and Apache Spark.
Working with notebooks, dashboards, widgets, and extensions that enhance your productivity and creativity.
Working with code editors, source control, and terminal integrations that support your development workflow.
To use Azure Data Studio with SSMS, you can follow these steps:
Install Azure Data Studio on your computer. You can download it from . If you have installed SSMS 2018, you can also launch Azure Data Studio from the Tools > Azure Data Studio menu in SSMS.
Launch Azure Data Studio from the Start menu or the desktop shortcut.
In the Connections pane, click New Connection to create a new connection to a SQL Server instance. You can use the same server name, authentication mode, login name, password, and database as you use in SSMS.
Click Connect to establish the connection. You should see the Servers pane and the Query Editor pane in Azure Data Studio.
You can now use Azure Data Studio to perform tasks and operations that are not supported or convenient in SSMS. For example, you can create a notebook to document your analysis, run a query to visualize your data, or install an extension to enhance your functionality. You can find more information about how to use Azure Data Studio .
How to get help and support for SSMS?
If you need help and support for SSMS, you can use the following resources:
The Help menu in SSMS. You can access the online documentation, tutorials, blog posts, forums, feedback channels, and support options from this menu.
The F1 key in SSMS. You can press this key to get context-sensitive help for the current window or dialog box in SSMS.
The Microsoft Docs website. You can visit this website to find comprehensive and updated information about SSMS and related topics.
The Microsoft Q&A website. You can visit this website to ask questions and get answers from experts and community members about SSMS and related topics.
The Microsoft Support website. You can visit this website to contact Microsoft support agents and get technical assistance for SSMS and related topics.
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