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SQL SERVER – Check for Update in SSMS

Pinal Dave
SQL Tips and Tricks
3 Comments

How to check for an update in SSMS depends on the installed generation. My fintech-customer walkthrough showed SSMS 18 settings.

A removable inspection tool is maintained beside a separate larger workshop machine.

Historical SSMS 18 update settings.
Historical SSMS 18 update settings.
Historical SSMS 18 update notification.
Historical SSMS 18 update notification.

SSMS 22 uses the Visual Studio Installer. Locate the specific SSMS installation and check its update status. Read release notes before completing an approved update. Schedule any required Windows restart separately.

Updating SSMS doesn’t patch the Database Engine. Check engine compatibility against the client release. My old promise of flawless compatibility with every previous engine was too broad.

Use current official installation and release-history pages. Save work before maintenance and test the workflow afterward. The older screenshots and related tips provide historical context.

Reference: Current SSMS update procedure.

Related reading

A client update is not an engine patch, it is maintenance of a separate tool with its own compatibility requirements.

Published by Pinal Dave on SQLAuthority. More of my work at pinaldave.com.

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3 Comments. Leave new

  • Albert van Biljon
    September 18, 2019 1:43 pm

    Perhaps it is worth mentioning that for SQL Server Management Studio 18.0, Windows 10 is required. If you’re on Windows 7 like me, I unfortunately have to miss out on that until the company upgrades!

    Reply
  • Trinity Rolling
    November 15, 2019 2:43 am

    I know it’s strongly encouraged to have automatic updates enabled. Has anyone discovered a way to disable automatic updates for v18.x? We do controlled releases of software updates to workstations.

    Reply
  • Günter Wagner
    April 23, 2024 7:30 pm

    Late to the party… Found this article while searching for an option to DISABLE auto-update.

    Reason for this: auto-update always recommends the latest version, which is of now SSMS 20. SSMS 20 brings a lot of changes, especially security related, which I do not want on the servers yet

    Reply

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