Question: How do you download the latest SQL Server container image? Use docker pull with Microsoft’s registry address and the version family you intend to use.
When I wrote this in 2019, I was enjoying how quickly containers let me try SQL Server builds without repeating a full installation. The original example selected the 2019 family. That command still describes 2019; it does not automatically select the newest major version.
# Original 2019 image family, retained for this historical question.
docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2019-latest
# SQL Server 2025 image family, current update as of September 2026.
docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/mssql/server:2025-latestThese are shell commands, not T-SQL. Run the one you need in a terminal connected to a suitable Docker host. Microsoft’s Linux-container support requirements apply; this isn’t a promise that every Windows Docker configuration is a supported SQL Server host.
As of September 2026, Microsoft’s current quickstart uses the 2025-latest image. A tag ending in -latest tracks that major-version family’s published image. It is mutable, so use a specific published tag or digest when you need reproducible deployments.
Pulling downloads an image. It does not start SQL Server, upgrade a running container or preserve its data for you. Those are separate steps, and durable database files belong in deliberately configured persistent storage.
The original related articles still explain those different jobs: getting started with containers, volumes and persistent data, and running without a separate pull step.
Published by Pinal Dave on SQLAuthority. More of my work at pinaldave.com.
Discover more from SQL Authority with Pinal Dave
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
