Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Express & SSMS Installation

This article explains how to install Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Express and SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).

Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Express is available as a free download from Microsoft and supports up to 50GB of database capacity.

Environments with larger databases, higher user volume, additional reporting requirements, or longer data-retention needs may require Microsoft SQL Server Standard or another licensed edition.

Download SQL Server 2025 Express

Download Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Express from Microsoft:

Download SQL Server

Install SQL Server 2025 Express

1. Download SQL Server 2025 Express

Download the SQL Server 2025 Express installer.

2. Run the installer

Run the downloaded executable to begin the installation.

3. Select the installation type

Select Basic.

4. Accept the license terms

Review the license terms, then select Accept.

5. Select the installation location

Choose the installation location, then select Install.

6. Wait for the installation to complete

Allow SQL Server 2025 Express to finish installing.

7. Note the SQL Server instance name

When the SQL Server installation is complete, note the instance name.

For the default SQL Server Express installation, the instance name is typically:

SQLEXPRESS

This instance name may be needed later when configuring database connection settings, application settings, or the appsettings file.

Select Install SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio) to continue.

Install SQL Server Management Studio

8. Download the SSMS installer

Select Download SQL Server Management Studio 22 installer.

9. Run the SSMS setup

Run the downloaded SSMS Setup installer.

10. Continue through the Visual Studio Installer

Select Continue when prompted by the Visual Studio Installer.

11. Select the installation location