How to Check Sql Server Version in Windows?

Do you need to check the version of your SQL Server running in Windows? Knowing the version of your SQL Server is important for keeping your system up to date and running smoothly. In this article, we’ll discuss how to check the version of SQL Server running on your Windows machine. We’ll go over the steps you’ll need to take in order to determine the version you’re running, and how to keep it up to date. Let’s get started!

How to Identify the Version of SQL Server on a Windows Machine

SQL Server is the most widely used relational database management system on the Windows platform. It is important to know the version of SQL Server that is installed on a Windows machine. This information is required to ensure that the correct updates and patches are installed and that the correct drivers are used for any applications that need to connect to the database. In this article, we will look at how to check the version of SQL Server installed on a Windows machine.

The easiest way to determine the version of SQL Server that is installed on a Windows machine is to use the Windows Registry. The registry contains information about all the software installed on the system, including the version of SQL Server. To access the registry, open the Run dialog box (Windows+R) and type “regedit” into the box. This will open the Registry Editor.

Searching for the Version of SQL Server

In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server. In this key, you will find a subkey for each version of SQL Server installed on the machine. The subkeys are named with the version number, such as “10.50.4000” or “11.00.2100”. This is the version of SQL Server that is installed on the machine.

If you need to know the exact edition of SQL Server that is installed, you can look in the “Edition” value in the same key. This value will contain the edition of SQL Server, such as “Express”, “Standard”, or “Enterprise”.

Using SQL Server Management Studio

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is a graphical user interface for managing SQL Server instances. It can be used to check the version of SQL Server that is installed on a machine. To do this, open SSMS and connect to the SQL Server instance you want to check. In the Object Explorer window, right-click on the instance name and select “Properties”. In the Properties window, you will see the version of SQL Server installed.

Using the Command Line

SQL Server also provides a command-line utility that can be used to check the version of SQL Server installed on a machine. To use this utility, open an elevated command prompt and type the following command:

sqlcmd -v

This will display the version of the SQL Server instance that is running.

Using Windows PowerShell

Windows PowerShell is a powerful scripting language that can be used to manage Windows systems. It can also be used to check the version of SQL Server installed on a machine. To do this, open an elevated PowerShell prompt and type the following command:

Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Microsoft SQL Server\Instance Names\SQL\*

This will display the version of the SQL Server instance that is running.

Top 6 Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: What is SQL Server?

A1: SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft. It is used to store and manage data in a secure and efficient manner. It provides tools for creating and managing databases, as well as tools for querying, analyzing, and reporting on data. SQL Server is available in both on-premises and cloud-based versions.

Q2: How do I check the version of SQL Server?

A2: To check the version of SQL Server, you can use the Windows Command Prompt. To open the Command Prompt, you can type “cmd” in the Windows search box. Once the Command Prompt is open, type “select @@version” and press Enter. This will display the version of SQL Server that is installed on your machine.

Q3: How do I check the version of SQL Server in Windows?

A3: To check the version of SQL Server in Windows, you can use the Windows Command Prompt. To open the Command Prompt, you can type “cmd” in the Windows search box. Once the Command Prompt is open, type “select @@version” and press Enter. This will display the version of SQL Server that is installed on your machine.

Q4: Are there any other ways to check the version of SQL Server?

A4: Yes, there are other ways to check the version of SQL Server. You can also check the version of SQL Server through the Windows Registry. To do this, open the Windows Registry Editor (regedit.exe), navigate to the “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\MSSQLServer” folder, and look for the “Version” string value. The version of SQL Server will be listed there.

Q5: What are the differences between the on-premises and cloud-based versions of SQL Server?

A5: The main difference between the on-premises and cloud-based versions of SQL Server is the deployment model. The on-premises version is installed and managed on-site, while the cloud-based version is hosted and managed in the cloud. Additionally, the cloud-based version typically has more features than the on-premises version, such as auto-scaling and managed backups.

Q6: What is the latest version of SQL Server?

A6: The latest version of SQL Server is SQL Server 2019. It was released in November 2019 and includes features such as always-on availability groups, support for big data applications, and improved query performance.

How to check SQL Server version

So, in conclusion, checking the version of your SQL Server is an important step in ensuring that your database is running efficiently and securely. With the steps outlined above, you can easily determine which version of SQL Server you have running on your Windows computer. With this information, you can take the necessary steps to ensure that your SQL Server is up to date and running smoothly.