SQL Server Configuration Manager cannot be found

Question

After installing SQL Server 2008, I cannot find the SQL Server Configuration Manager in Start / SQL Server 2008 / Configuration Tools menu.

What should I do to install this tool?

Embayment

I have this tool on my machine and shortcut with target C:\Windows\SysWOW64\mmc.exe /32 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SQLServerManager10.msc. Do you have such *.msc file on your computer? – Gunyah

Yes, I have both these files on my computer. When running SQLServerManager10.msc, it showed the following message: MMC could not create the snap-in. The snap-in might not have been installed correctly. Name: SQL Server Configuration Manager CLID: {D52E5F54-75D9-4A93-91B7-2215EA5CBED2} – Embayment

Select repair option can fix the problem. – Embayment

superuser.com/a/1002999/2115 – Sarabia

Answer 1

If you happen to be using Windows 8 and up, here's how to get to it:

• The newer Microsoft SQL Server Configuration Manager is a snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console program.

• It is not a stand-alone program as used in the previous versions of Microsoft Windows operating systems.

• SQL Server Configuration Manager doesn’t appear as an application when running Windows 8.

• To open SQL Server Configuration Manager, in the Search charm, under Apps, type:

  SQLServerManager15.msc for [SQL Server 2019] or

  SQLServerManager14.msc for [SQL Server 2017] or

  SQLServerManager13.msc for [SQL Server 2016] or

  SQLServerManager12.msc for [SQL Server 2014] or

  SQLServerManager11.msc for [SQL Server 2012] or

  SQLServerManager10.msc for [SQL Server 2008], and then press Enter.

Text kindly reproduced from SQL Server Configuration Manager changes in Windows 8

---

Detailed info from MSDN: SQL Server Configuration Manager

Min

Thanks Leniel. This is absolutely ridiculous. Why in the world MS saw fit to hide a commonly used application is beyond me. Just another reason for me to despise Windows 8. – Capps

@Gizmo: yeah... they really do some crazy stuff beyond the rational thinking. :) – Min

I hope Windows 9 put SQL Server Configuration Manager back to its rightful place. – Pulido

@OldGeezer me too! BTW, I liked your profile message about what to know/don't know/should know... :D – Min

Same with Windows 10. FYI for SQL Server 2014 it is SQLServerManager12.msc; obvious I know... – Leu

WIN 10, found it in c/windows/system32/SQLServerManager but its useless, all settings are not accessible... – Cretic

Thanks alot. Wrote it in Windows 10 search bar and found it finally – Vish

Thank you Leniel. Just so you and the commentors know. I have two Windows 10 machines. The one shows it the other does not... – Gettysburg

As mentioned in the comments on the main post, a repair will more than likely fix the issue. It worked for me. It's found under the Maintenance section of the installer, as opposed to Installation – Shipmaster

Mine startup type is automatic but does not start on system reboot or startup. I am using win 10 and MS SQL Server 2012 – Reorder

Thanks, widows just did an update and I couldn't figure out how to start my server instance. – Enlightenment

If you get an error cannot connect to wmi provider use the workaround from this article (run in cmd with admin rights!): support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/956013/… – Selfaggrandizement

Answer 2

On windows 10 Control Panel→Administrative Tools→Computer Management

Lustrous

Thanks. If youre still having problems starting service - run configuration manager as administrator – Isadoraisadore

Just for the ease, you can open Computer Management by typing compmgmt.msc from run window or search panel. – Brundage

SQL Server Configuration still not found – Fourinhand

How awsome it is, I can open it even without SQLServerManager12.msc -- which I couldn't find. – Orcutt

I don't see it. – Diorama

Answer 3

I know this is old but you can directly browse it using this paths..

SQL Server 2019 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SQLServerManager15.msc

SQL Server 2017 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SQLServerManager14.msc

SQL Server 2016 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SQLServerManager13.msc

SQL Server 2014 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SQLServerManager12.msc

SQL Server 2012 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SQLServerManager11.msc

SQL Server 2008 C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SQLServerManager10.msc

source is from ms site https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms174212.aspx

One can also specify %systemroot% for the path of Windows directory. For example:

SQL Server 2019: %systemroot%\SysWOW64\SQLServerManager15.msc

Bobbyebobbysocks

How can it be accessed if it's not at this location? – Rede

@thnkwthprtls, I added an example for the installation agnostic location. – Peroxidase

The other answers didn't work for me, but this did, thanks! – Michaud

Answer 4

From SQL Server 2008 Setup, you have to select "Client Tools Connectivity" to install SQL Server Configuration Manager.

Pushing

This was installed in my instance (SQL 2014 on Windows 10) but the Configuration Manager was no where in the application list. Entering the full msc file name into the search does load it though – Shipmaster

A repair fixed my problem though – Shipmaster

Answer 5

This path worked for me. on a 32 bit machine.

C:\Windows\System32\mmc.exe /32 C:\Windows\system32\SQLServerManager10.msc

Crossstaff

@Slimshadddyyy: I don't agree with you. This does provide an answer ("where is the tool? I cannot find it"). It certainly was the right answer for me. – Sorus

Answer 6

If you don't have any version of SQLServerManagerXX.msc, then you simply do not have it installed. I noticed it does not come with SQL server management studio 2019.

It's available (client-connectivity tools) in the SQL Server Express edition or SQL Server Developer edition which is good for dev/test (non-production) usage.

Tyika

This is what I needed. SQL Server Management Studio version 18 just doesn't come with Configuration Manager. More detail on this is available on this Super User answer: superuser.com/a/1513757/1307460 – Gothicism

THANK YOU this saved me – Colis

Answer 7

you need to identify sql version.

SQLServerManager15.msc for [SQL Server 2019] or

SQLServerManager14.msc for [SQL Server 2017] or

SQLServerManager13.msc for [SQL Server 2016] or

SQLServerManager12.msc for [SQL Server 2014] or

SQLServerManager11.msc for [SQL Server 2012] or

SQLServerManager10.msc for [SQL Server 2008],

Step :1) open ssms

  2) select version

  3) select above command and run in cmd with admin right.

Wilds

Not quite sure why the downvote ... this does show where to find it, even if it shows a complete lack of having read the question. – Incertitude

Answer 8

For SQL Server 2017 it is : C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SQLServerManager14.msc

For SQL Server 2016 it is : C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SQLServerManager13.msc

For SQL Server 2016 it is :C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SQLServerManager12.msc

and to add it back to the start menu, copy it from the original location provided above and paste it to

C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Microsoft SQL Server 2017\Configuration Tools\

This would put back the configuration manager under start menu.

Source: How to open sql server configuration manager in windows 10?

Haemostat

Answer 9

SQL Server Configuration Manager is located at "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SQLServerManagerXX.msc".

So, to find it in your Windows Machine, put "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SQLServerManager" without "XX.msc" to the search box as shown below. *I could find "C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SQLServerManager15.msc" in my Windows Machine as shown below:

Bing

Answer 10

Paste this line in folder path url in file explore: C:\Windows\SysWOW64\SQLServerManager11.msc then press enter.

Rato

Answer 11

Go to this location C:\Windows\System32 and find SQLServerManager . Worked for me. Configuration manager was there but somehow wasn't showing up in search results.

Cotswold

Answer 12

You can also launch mmc.exe and choose the SQL Server Configuration Manager from Add Remove Snap-ins:

Cotsen

Answer 13

C:\Windows\System32\SQLServerManager15.msc

The version may be different

SQLServerManager<version>.msc

Janenejanenna

Answer 14

In our checklist at work forgot that you actually need to install SQL Server also, if you have a license you can download it from: https://my.visualstudio.com/

Rustication