If you're NOT using the default instance - MSSQLSERVER - you must enter in the server name and the instance name. Enter the following information: Settingįor Server type, select Database Engine (usually the default option).įor Server name, enter the name of your SQL Server (you can also use localhost as the server name if you're connecting locally). The Connect to Server dialog box appears. If it doesn't open, you can open it manually by selecting Object Explorer > Connect > Database Engine.

The first time you run SSMS, the Connect to Server window opens. To connect to your SQL Server instance, follow these steps: Install and configure a SQL Server instance.

To complete this quickstart, you need the following prerequisites: To learn more about SQL Server Management Studio, see Additional Tips and Tricks. To use Azure Data Studio, see connect and query SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Synapse Analytics. For Azure SQL, see Connect and query Azure SQL Database & SQL Managed Instance. This article covers connecting and querying an instance of SQL Server.

Use the query window table to verify your connection properties.

Query the new table and view the results.

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