How to find server name of SQL Server Management Studio

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I installed Microsoft SQL Server 2008.

When I start SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), I get the Connect to Server login window with a blank textbox for Server name. I have tried a lot of names, but I couldn't solve it.

How can I find / get the server name?

Damle answered 18/4, 2013 at 16:18 Comment(2)

See also: How can I query the name of the current SQL Server database instance? – Applicative 28/9, 2016 at 13:18

I you wanted to know to which SQL-Server you are connected inside ssms then see here How to view connection string from within ssms – Pinguid 7/2, 2023 at 11:52

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Open up SQL Server Configuration Manager (search for it in the Start menu). Click on SQL Server Services. The instance name of SQL Server is in parenthesis inline with SQL Server service. If it says MSSQLSERVER, then it's the default instance. To connect to it in Management Studio, just type . (dot) OR (local) and click Connect. If the instance name is different, then use .\[instance name] to connect to it (for example if the instance name is SQL2008, connect to .\SQL2008).

Also make sure SQL Server and SQL Server Browser services are running, otherwise you won't be able to connect.

Edit:

Here's a screenshot of how it looks like on my machine. In this case, I have two instances installed: SQLExpress and SQL2008.

enter image description here

Salami answered 18/4, 2013 at 17:7 Comment(9)

What do I do if the list on the right hand side of the screen is empty for me? – Discompose 17/7, 2015 at 18:58

@FilipB.Vondrášek That means you don't have a local instance installed on your computer. You'll need to rerun the setup.exe file to add a new instance. – Salami 20/7, 2015 at 1:34

Turns out I installed only Management Studio which doesn't come with a server. I downloaded a version with Advanced Tools and now everything works as supposed. :) – Discompose 20/7, 2015 at 10:2

@FilipVondrášek where did you install the advanced tools from? I just installed sql server 16 and 17 from here. I can't seem to get the local instance name – Postlude 17/12, 2017 at 16:46

@Postlude I'm afraid I won't be of much help here anymore, it's been a long time and I haven't used MS SQL Server for quite a long time as well now. :) – Discompose 2/1, 2018 at 21:25

@FilipVondrášek that okay. I installed different versions of SQL server hoping to get an option to install the server. Finally worked when I installed SQL express, there was an option to create servers as well. Now it's working. Microsft, ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ – Postlude 3/1, 2018 at 7:5

@Filip Vondrášek it happens when you have only client-side like management studio but do not have SQL server express which has many services like creating an instance. – Subside 30/1, 2020 at 19:22

. worked with MSSQLSERVER 2019...THANKS – Dribble 2/11, 2021 at 1:15

I love how this is still not marked as the accepted answer lol. – Salami 28/4, 2022 at 17:21

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Run this Query to get the name

SELECT @@SERVERNAME

Thickhead answered 12/9, 2013 at 13:7 Comment(5)

If you cant login, You can use UserName <.> (Dot) and Password <password> to initial login after you can use SELECT @@SERVERNAME to find Server name :) – Thickhead 26/2, 2015 at 8:30

you cant run a query if you aren't loged in. – Divorcee 23/8, 2019 at 10:8

While this does not answer the exact question asked - it is exactly the answer I was looking for. I strongly suspect it will be useful to many others as well. In my case I have a Prod & Dev Server with very similar data, and at one point I was unsure which I was connected to c This was an elegant & clean way of finding out without disconnecting or closing my query window. Thanks! – Binkley 19/2, 2021 at 2:7

Error running query: column "servername" does not exist LINE 250: SELECT @@SERVERNAME ^ – Nagging 18/5, 2021 at 13:37

Surprisingly, doesn't work correctly. For me it returns DESKTOP-XXXXXXX which I think is the default PC name when I installed windows. The actual PC name is no longer that. So it's something to take into account. – Ignoramus 30/9, 2022 at 7:23

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Open cmd.exe (WINDOWS + R type cmd and press Enter)

and run this

SQLCMD -L

You will get list of SQL Server instance

3rd party edit

Denouement answered 6/11, 2014 at 4:36 Comment(4)

can you explain in cmd? – Matrimonial 21/4, 2016 at 11:36

I usually use Windows + R, type cmd and press Enter. Then use SQLCMD -L (You can use "osql -L" too at CMD) – Denouement 26/4, 2016 at 7:56

+1 Did it fo rme. Not sure why others are telling you to run a query when you can't without connecting to an instance... – Radiogram 22/8, 2017 at 18:37

Yes this is the only right method... remaining all others are not always works... Its not always as like this... many more toss goes... In my example,eventhough it shows MSSQLSERVER, but it wont work with that... instead it works with (local) – Iain 2/7, 2023 at 4:49

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Note: To connect to server on SQL Server Management Studio(SSMS), we must first install SQL Server.

So steps to proceed are as

Step 1 : Downloads and Install Microsoft SQL Server 2022

Step 2 : Downloads and Install SQL Server Management Studio

If still not able to see the Server name on SSMS, have a look at these three screen:

Lory answered 17/10, 2020 at 5:41 Comment(3)

Solved My Problem, Thanks – Forficate 27/5, 2021 at 5:28

I try to check it and my Local Servers is also Blank, what should I do? – Preiser 22/8, 2023 at 1:16

@MathewMagante try restarting the system – Lory 26/8, 2023 at 1:0

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the default server name is your computer name, but you can use "." (Dot) instead of local server name.

another thing you should consider is maybe you installed sql server express edition. in this case you must enter ".\sqlexpress" as server name.

Tati answered 18/4, 2013 at 16:37 Comment(1)

I have installed sqlexpress and adding ".\sqlexpress" in server name worked for me – Loquacity 13/1, 2020 at 11:35

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As mentioned by @Khaneddy2013, the cmd SQLCMD -L returns no server name when I run. Bcz I only have installed the SSMS (local db and server were not installed). After tried installing SqlLocaLDB and SQLEXPR32_x86_ENU(32 bit OS) I was able to connect. And now the cmd window shows the server names too.

Cookbook answered 23/6, 2017 at 19:27 Comment(2)

just because its an old question doesnt mean we cant add to it. i found this to be the answer i was looking for. – Equilibrate 14/3, 2018 at 0:1

Hi, can you explain more detail how server was installed. I already install localdb, sql server management studio and SQLEXPRADV_64_ENU (64 bit op). I still get no servername when execute command sqlcmd -L. – Denature 28/7, 2021 at 3:50

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There are many ways mentioned above. But I use rather simple way (well not simple as SELECT @@SERVERNAME). When you start SQL server management studio you will prompt below GUI

In there Server name is your server name (There may have multiple servers according to you dev environment choose correct one). Hope this helps :)

Geometrid answered 21/8, 2017 at 4:48 Comment(1)

Not always true. You can type an alias in here, e.g. one held by DNS, to go to a defined server name. However SELECT @@SERVERNAME will report the server's computer name, not the alias you typed into the connection manager. – Argol 19/12, 2018 at 14:41

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start -> CMD -> (Write comand) SQLCMD -L first line is Server name if Server name is (local) Server name is : YourPcName\SQLEXPRESS

Etsukoetta answered 29/2, 2016 at 18:21 Comment(1)

Worked like a charm to me. Thanks Mate. – Raquel 28/5, 2016 at 16:19

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given the following examples

SQL Instance Name: MSSQLSERVER
Port: 1433
Hostname: MyKitchenPC
IPv4: 10.242.137.227
DNS Suffix: dir.svc.mykitchencompany.com

here are your possible servernames:

localhost\MSSQLSERVER
localhost,1433\MSSQLSERVER
MyKitchenPC,1433\MSSQLSERVER
10.242.137.227,1433\MSSQLSERVER
MyKitchenPC.dir.svc.mykitchencompany.com,1433\MSSQLSERVER

Pestiferous answered 4/10, 2017 at 17:27 Comment(1)

The OP asked "How can I find / get the server name?" – Condensable 4/12, 2018 at 16:31

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Step1: Ensure SQLEXPRESS and LocalDB installed on your system Go to SQL SERVER Configuration Manager => SQL Server Service

If nothing listed for SQL Server services, install below components (for 64 bit OS) 1. SqlLocalDB 2. SQLEXPR_x64_ENU 3. SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU 4. SQLEXPRWT_x64_ENU

Step2: Open Management Studios Enter . (Dot) as server name and click on Connect [enter image description here][2] Else Enter .\SQLEXPRESS as server name and click on connect

Stephine answered 27/10, 2015 at 5:51 Comment(0)

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I also had this problem first time.

In the Connect to Server dialog box, verify the default settings, and then click Connect. To connect, the Server name box must contain the name of the computer where SQL Server is installed. If the Database Engine is a named instance, the Server name box should also contain the instance name in the format: computer_name\instance_name.

So for example i solved the problem like this: I typed in the server name: Alex-PC\SQLEXPRESS

Then it should work. for more see http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/25ffaea6-0eee-4169-8dd0-1da417c28fc6

Yeeyegg answered 11/12, 2013 at 20:3 Comment(0)

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Try using a . or localhost as server name, might work a few times.

Hairworm answered 14/2, 2022 at 15:57 Comment(0)

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simply type .\sqlexpress as the Server Name

Trickish answered 25/10, 2019 at 15:39 Comment(0)

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Typing sp_helpserver will give you a list. As others have noted, there are multiple ways, some with alias' and such. This stored proc may return multiple lines but could get you closer to your answer.

Mario answered 5/11, 2019 at 17:47 Comment(0)

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Make sure you have installed SQL Server.

If not, follow this link and download. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/sql-server-downloads

Once SQL server is installed successfully. You will get server name. Refer to the below picture:

Palladian answered 16/12, 2020 at 7:49 Comment(1)

How to open this window again? I just closed it and I don't know how to open this window again. – Yecies 12/8, 2022 at 16:38

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The game changer for me is just try the below exact servername

(LocalDb)\MSSQLLocalDB

That's it :)

Elect answered 27/12, 2023 at 17:31 Comment(0)

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1.you can run following command.

EXEC xp_cmdshell 'reg query "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\Instance Names\SQL"';
GO

you can read instance name using Registry. Ingore null values.

2.using inbuilt standard Report.

select instance--> right click->Reports-->Standard Reports-->server Dashbords

Facelifting answered 30/12, 2016 at 11:12 Comment(1)

and how you run it if u need the name before connecting to server? – Percussionist 25/10, 2018 at 9:45

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Please Install SQL Server Data Tools from link (SSDT)

You can also Install it when you are installing Visual Studio there is Option "Data Storage and Processing" you must be select while installing Visual Studio

Sultana answered 3/4, 2019 at 10:27 Comment(0)

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On installing the sql server 2019 management studio the default server name will be : localhost\SQLEXPRESS default connection string is : Server=localhost\SQLEXPRESS;Database=master;Trusted_Connection=True;

Impatience answered 1/7, 2022 at 15:17 Comment(0)

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only right method is by checking "SQLCMD -L" in cmd prompt... remaining all others are not always works... many more toss goes... In my example,eventhough it shows MSSQLSERVER in configuration manager, but it wont work with that... instead it works with (local) as per sqlcmd -L

Iain answered 2/7, 2023 at 4:52 Comment(0)

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my problem was that when connecting to SQL Database in the add reference wizard, to find the SERVERNAME. i found it by: running a query(SELECT @@SERVERNAME) inside SQL management studio and the reusl was my servername. I put that in my server name box and it worked all fine.

Onder answered 22/7, 2015 at 9:5 Comment(1)

This answer does not add anything to this answer. – Cisco 22/7, 2015 at 9:16

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