SQL Server® 2016, 2017, 2019 and 2022 Express full download

Question

All previous version of SQL Server Express were available in both web and full downloads. But I cannot find full download of SQL Server® 2016 Express. Does it exist?

Asked the same question on MSDN forums, not much luck: https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlexpress/thread/4bfaa080-ec3b-4677-b2b8-cd0b60dc9486/.

Duet

If you got the answer to your question, mark it as "accepted". You'll get some points too. – Mostly

I'm also looking for this 2016 version because I can tweak it to use the dark theme in Windows 7. – Tied

Answer 1

Microsoft added the possibility of downloading media in version 2022 directly to the installer:

If you need an older version and can't apply Juki's answer, you can use Fiddler to determine where the files are located after selecting the desired media version.

SQL Server 2019 Express Edition (English):

• Basic (~249 MB): https://download.microsoft.com/download/7/c/1/7c14e92e-bdcb-4f89-b7cf-93543e7112d1/SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe
• Advanced (~790 MB): https://download.microsoft.com/download/7/c/1/7c14e92e-bdcb-4f89-b7cf-93543e7112d1/SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe
• LocalDB (~53 MB): https://download.microsoft.com/download/7/c/1/7c14e92e-bdcb-4f89-b7cf-93543e7112d1/SqlLocalDB.msi

SQL Server 2017 Express Edition (English):

• Core (~275 MB): https://download.microsoft.com/download/E/F/2/EF23C21D-7860-4F05-88CE-39AA114B014B/SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe
• Advanced (~710 MB): https://download.microsoft.com/download/E/F/2/EF23C21D-7860-4F05-88CE-39AA114B014B/SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe
• LocalDB (~45 MB): https://download.microsoft.com/download/E/F/2/EF23C21D-7860-4F05-88CE-39AA114B014B/SqlLocalDB.msi

SQL Server 2016 with SP2 Express Edition (English):

• Core (~437 MB): https://download.microsoft.com/download/4/1/A/41AD6EDE-9794-44E3-B3D5-A1AF62CD7A6F/sql16_sp2_dlc/en-us/SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe
• Advanced (~1445 MB): https://download.microsoft.com/download/4/1/A/41AD6EDE-9794-44E3-B3D5-A1AF62CD7A6F/sql16_sp2_dlc/en-us/SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe
• LocalDB (~45 MB): https://download.microsoft.com/download/4/1/A/41AD6EDE-9794-44E3-B3D5-A1AF62CD7A6F/sql16_sp2_dlc/en-us/SqlLocalDB.msi

SQL Server 2016 with SP1 Express Edition (English):

• Core (~411 MB): https://download.microsoft.com/download/9/0/7/907AD35F-9F9C-43A5-9789-52470555DB90/ENU/SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe
• Advanced (~1255 MB): https://download.microsoft.com/download/9/0/7/907AD35F-9F9C-43A5-9789-52470555DB90/ENU/SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe
• LocalDB (~45 MB): https://download.microsoft.com/download/9/0/7/907AD35F-9F9C-43A5-9789-52470555DB90/ENU/SqlLocalDB.msi

And here is how to use Fiddler.

Forcible

Shame for Microsoft for Search/Catalogization – Taster

Is SQL Server 2016 Advanced is free? I can install only Open source or Licensed (purchased) software in my Client Machine. I want to install it in my client's machine. – Orvie

Yes, it's free. See details here: #2012216 – Forcible

Thanks a lot for sharing the direct links! For anyone who is still using Windows 7: SQL Server 2017 and newer won't work - use 2016 or older (see details) – Stowage

Thanks a lot for sharing the direct links!! Is there a spanish version of sql server 2017 or 2016?? – Coordinate

@AntonK: Only SQL Server 2016 LocalDB seems to install on Windows 7. 2016 Core version refuses to install. – Trista

Maybe my comment will not be very useful. But I have some questions. Is there a Spanish version of SQL Server 2016?? Why is not published on the answer? Why you published only English versions? Spanish versions are useful too. – Coordinate

Very helpful links, thank you. If you are able to update with 2016 SP3 that would be great. – Cadent

I can't edit right now, but this other comment is a very useful/easy way of getting the download links - eg download.microsoft.com/download/3/8/d/… – Cadent

Answer 2

Scott Hanselman put together a great summary page with all of the various SQL downloads here https://www.hanselman.com/blog/DownloadSQLServerExpress.aspx.

For offline installers, see this answer https://mcmap.net/q/182469/-sql-server-express-localdb-msi-offline-installer

Emancipator

It doesn't seem to include links to the full offline installers though... – Iraqi

This answer is helpful to me because I'm able to download the 2016 version and tweak it to use dark theme, also I can see after the installation that it adds SQL Profiler. – Tied

Answer 3

Once you start the web installer there's an option to download media, that being the full installation package. There's even download options for what kind of package to download.

Foskett

I need direct download link. – Duet

The fancy installer breaks on my machine so I needed direct link too ;) – Ganny

Answer 4

Download the developer edition. There you can choose Express as license when installing.

Shamus

This is very helpful, if you are working with so many applications and want to use both Developer and Express. This way you only need one download and can be use for both installs, saving hard drive space. – Instruct

Answer 5

Log in to https://my.visualstudio.com (it is free to register), navigate to Downloads, then search for the product you want to download. At this moment SQL Server 2019 and 2022 are available. Choose the edition, the format and the language, then press Download. This way you can get also the non-English installers.

Dipole