How to Install SQL Server 2025 on Windows 10/11

Setting Up Microsoft SQL Server and SQL Server Management Studio for Database Development

SQL Server database engine and relational database structure.

Learning SQL is an important step in becoming a data analyst, business intelligence professional, or database developer. However, before writing SQL queries, creating databases, or analysing structured data, you need a working database environment.

If you want an environment where you can practise SQL queries, create and manage databases, explore relational data, work with tables, and understand how database management works without depending entirely on an online platform.

In this guide, I will walk through how to install Microsoft SQL Server 2025 on Windows 10/11 and connect it to SQL Server Management Studio 22 (SSMS 22).

This is a practical, beginner-friendly walkthrough covering the installation process, configuration, connection, and initial database testing. Whether you are learning SQL for data analytics, business intelligence, or database administration, this guide will help you set up your local SQL development environment.

Understanding SQL Server and SSMS

Before beginning the installation, it is important to understand the two applications and why they are both necessary.

What is Microsoft SQL Server?

Microsoft SQL Server is a relational database management system (RDBMS) developed by Microsoft. It is designed to store, organise, retrieve, manage, and secure structured data. — Microsoft Learn

It allows users to work with data using Structured Query Language (SQL), particularly Microsoft’s implementation known as Transact-SQL (T-SQL).

For example, a business can use SQL Server to store:

• Customer information.
• Product and inventory records.
• Sales transactions.
• Employee details.
• Financial records.
• Operational and business performance data.

As a data analyst, SQL Server provides an environment where you can store datasets and use SQL queries to retrieve, filter, transform, aggregate, and analyse information.

What is SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)?

Microsoft SQL Server 2025 Enterprise (x64)

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is a graphical management tool used to interact with SQL Server. While SQL Server is responsible for storing and processing data, SSMS provides the interface through which users manage databases and execute SQL commands.

With SSMS, you can:

• Create and manage databases.
• Create tables and define relationships.
• Write and execute SQL queries.
• Import and export data.
• Manage database users and permissions.
• Create views and stored procedures.
• Monitor database activities.
• Explore database objects using Object Explorer.

One important thing I learned while setting up my SQL environment is that SQL Server and SSMS are two separate installations.

Installing SSMS alone does not install the SQL Server Database Engine. Similarly, installing SQL Server does not automatically give you the SSMS graphical interface.

You need both applications to follow this particular learning setup.

How SQL Server and SSMS Work Together

The relationship between both applications is straightforward.

• SQL Server hosts databases and processes SQL queries.
• SSMS connects to a SQL Server instance.
• A user writes a SQL query inside the SSMS query editor.
• SSMS sends the query to the SQL Server Database Engine.
• SQL Server processes the query and returns the results.
• SSMS displays the results to the user.

For example, when you execute:

SELECT *
FROM Customers;

SSMS sends the command to SQL Server, which retrieves the records from the Customers table and returns the results.

This is the basic interaction you will use when practising SQL.

What You Need Before Installation

Before installing SQL Server 2025 and SSMS 22, ensure that your computer meets the necessary requirements.

System requirements

According to Microsoft’s SQL Server 2025 documentation, the following are important requirements:

• Windows 10 or later, including Windows 11.
• A supported 64-bit Intel or AMD processor.
• At least 1 GB of RAM for editions other than Express, with 4 GB or more recommended.
• At least 6 GB of available storage space for installation.
• .NET Framework 4.7.2.
• Administrator privileges to install the applications.

For a smoother learning experience, I recommend having at least 8 GB of RAM if your computer supports it, particularly when working with larger datasets alongside Power BI or other applications.

Applications to download

You will need two applications:

• SQL Server 2025 Developer Edition: This is the free edition intended for development, testing, and learning. It provides extensive SQL Server functionality but is not licensed for production use.
• SQL Server Management Studio 22: This is the graphical interface used to connect to and manage your SQL Server installation.

You can download both directly from Microsoft’s official websites.

• Download SQL Server 2025
• Download SQL Server Management Studio 22

Important: SQL Server Developer is free for non-production use. Do not use it to host a live production business database.

Installing Microsoft SQL Server 2025 on Windows 10/11

The first part of the process involves installing the SQL Server Database Engine.

Download SQL Server 2025 Developer Edition

• Open the official Microsoft SQL Server Downloads page.
• Locate the SQL Server 2025 Developer Edition section.
• Select the free Developer Edition download option.
• Choose the Standard Developer or Enterprise Developer edition, depending on the features you intend to explore. This can be used for practice.
• Save the downloaded installer to your computer.

My recommendation: Start with Developer Edition. It gives you a suitable environment for practising SQL, exploring database objects, and developing your database skills without purchasing a production licence.

Launch the SQL Server installer

Getting Started with SQL Server 2025 Public Preview: A Step-by-Step Installation Guide

• Navigate to your Downloads folder.
• Locate the downloaded SQL Server installer.
• Right-click the installer and select Run as administrator if necessary.
• Allow the application to make changes to your device.
• Read and accept the applicable licence terms.
• Continue to the installation options.

Depending on the installer package, you may see options such as Basic, Custom, and Download Media.

For this walkthrough, use the Custom installation route because it gives you greater control over the database engine and instance configuration.

Choose the installation type

If you are using the full SQL Server installation wizard:

• Select the Installation option from the SQL Server Installation Center.
• Choose New SQL Server standalone installation or add features to an existing installation.
• Allow the setup wizard to check the installation requirements.
• Continue when the required checks have passed.

Getting Started with SQL Server 2025 Public Preview: A Step-by-Step Installation Guide

Select the SQL Server edition

• Select the free edition option where applicable.
• Choose Developer Edition.
• Proceed to the licence terms.
• Read and accept the licence agreement.
• Select Next.

The installer will perform preliminary checks and install the necessary setup files.

Select the features to install

On Azure Extension for SQL Server, uncheck and click next.

Then move to the Feature selection

How to Install and Configure SQL Server 2025 in Windows

This is an important stage of the installation.

SQL Server provides several components, but as someone learning SQL for data analytics, you do not need to install every available feature.

Under Feature Selection:

• Select Database Engine Services.
• Leave other features unselected unless you have a specific reason to install them.
• Review the installation directory.
• Select Next.

The Database Engine is the primary component responsible for storing, processing, and managing relational databases.

For your initial SQL learning environment, this is the essential feature.

Configure the SQL Server instance

Installing Microsoft SQL Server 2025

An SQL Server instance is an installation of the SQL Server Database Engine running on your computer.

You may encounter two options:

• Default Instance.
• Named Instance.

For installing SQL Server for the first time, the Default Instance is a straightforward choice.

• Select Default Instance.
• The default instance name is MSSQLSERVER.
• Leave the default instance ID unchanged.
• Select Next.

If you already have a default SQL Server instance installed, you may need to create a named instance instead. In that case, remember the name because you will need it when connecting through SSMS.

Configure Server Services

Installing Microsoft SQL Server 2025

The Server Configuration section controls how SQL Server services operate.

For a local installation:

• Review the SQL Server Database Engine service.
• Keep the recommended service account configuration.
• Set the Database Engine startup type to Automatic if you want it to start automatically with Windows.
• Avoid changing service accounts unless you understand the security implications.
• Select Next.

This configuration allows SQL Server to run as a Windows service.

Configure Database Engine Authentication

Database Engine Configuration

This is one of the most important configuration stages.

SQL Server provides two major authentication options.

Windows Authentication

This uses your Windows user account to authenticate your connection to SQL Server.

Mixed Mode Authentication

This supports both Windows Authentication and SQL Server Authentication. You can also configure a password for the built-in sa account.

For a local learning environment, Windows Authentication is a convenient option because you can connect using your Windows account without creating a separate SQL Server login.

Follow these steps:

• Select Windows Authentication Mode.
• Select Add Current User.
• Confirm that your Windows account appears in the SQL Server administrators list.
• Select Next.

If you choose Mixed Mode, create a strong password and keep it secure.

Begin the SQL Server installation

Server Installation

You are almost done.

• Review the configuration summary.
• Confirm that Database Engine Services is included.
• Select Install.
• Allow the setup wizard to complete the installation.
• Review the installation status.

Once the installation is successful, you should see a completion message indicating that the selected SQL Server components were installed.

Select Close to exit the wizard.

If Windows requests a restart, restart your computer before proceeding.

Installing SQL Server Management Studio 22

Now that the SQL Server Database Engine has been installed, the next step is to install SQL Server Management Studio.

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Remember that SSMS 22 is installed separately from SQL Server 2025.

Download SSMS 22

• Visit the official SSMS installation page.
• Locate the Download SQL Server Management Studio 22 installer link.
• Download the installer file named vs_SSMS.exe.
• Save it to your Downloads folder.

Launch the SSMS installer

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) 22

• Open your Downloads folder.
• Locate vs_SSMS.exe.
• Double-click the file.
• Allow the installer to make changes to your computer.
• Accept the required licence and privacy prompts.
• Wait for Visual Studio Installer to open.

Although the installer uses Visual Studio Installer technology, you do not need to install Visual Studio separately to use SSMS.

Configure the SSMS installation

• Review the available installation options.
• Select any additional components you specifically need.
• For a standard SQL learning environment, you can proceed with the default SSMS installation.
• Choose your preferred installation location if necessary.
• Select Install.

The installer will download and configure the necessary files.

Depending on your internet connection and computer performance, installation may take some time.

Once the installation is complete, launch SQL Server Management Studio 22 from the Windows Start menu.

Microsoft confirms that SSMS 22 is compatible with SQL Server 2014 and later, including SQL Server 2025.

Connecting SSMS 22 to SQL Server 2025

Installing both applications is not the final step. You must establish a connection between SSMS and the SQL Server Database Engine.

This is where you confirm that your installation is working correctly.

Launch SQL Server Management Studio

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

• Open the Windows Start menu.
• Search for SQL Server Management Studio 22.
• Launch the application.

• Wait for the Connect to Server window to appear like the above.

You should see several connection fields.

Configure the connection settings:

• Server type: Database Engine.
• Server name: localhost (for a default instance).
• Authentication: Windows Authentication.
• User name: Your Windows account, which should be populated automatically.

If you installed a named instance, enter its name using this format:

localhost\SQLEXPRESS

Replace SQLEXPRESS with the actual instance name you selected during installation.

- Select Connect.

If the connection is successful, SSMS will open its main interface.

Understanding the SSMS interface

When SSMS opens successfully, you will find different sections of the interface.

Object Explorer

Object Explorer is located on the left-hand side. It displays the SQL Server instance and its associated database objects.

You can expand it to view:

• Databases.
• Security.
• Server Objects.
• Replication.
• Management.

Query Editor

The Query Editor is where you write and execute SQL statements.

You can open a new query window by selecting New Query from the toolbar.

Results Pane

The Results Pane displays the output of your SQL queries.

It typically provides two views:

• Results: Displays query output in a grid.
• Messages: Displays execution messages, errors, and other information.

Understanding these sections will make it easier to navigate SSMS as you begin practising SQL.

Testing Your SQL Server Installation

After connecting SSMS to SQL Server, the next thing I recommend is running a simple SQL query.

This helps confirm that the Database Engine is accessible and responding to commands.

Run your first SQL query

• Select New Query from the toolbar.
• Enter the following SQL statement:

SELECT @@VERSION AS SQL_Server_Version;

• Select Execute or press F5.

If everything is configured correctly, SQL Server will return information about the installed version.

You should see details identifying Microsoft SQL Server 2025.

This is your first confirSQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)mation that the database engine is running and responding to queries.

Check the current database

Run the following command:

SELECT DB_NAME() AS Current_Database;

This displays the name of the database associated with your current query context.

For a new connection, the result will commonly be master.

Create your first database

Now that the connection is working, let’s create a database.

A database is a structured collection of related information stored and managed by SQL Server.

Execute the following command:

CREATE DATABASE MyFirstDatabase;

You should receive a successful execution message.

To confirm that the database exists, execute:

SELECT name
FROM sys.databases;

You should find MyFirstDatabase among the returned database names.

Create your first table

A database contains tables, and tables store records in rows and columns.

Let’s create a simple customer table.

USE MyFirstDatabase;

CREATE TABLE Customers
(
    CustomerID INT PRIMARY KEY,
    CustomerName VARCHAR(100),
    City VARCHAR(50),
    Country VARCHAR(50)
);

Execute the query.

Next, insert some sample records.

INSERT INTO Customers
(
    CustomerID,
    CustomerName,
    City,
    Country
)
VALUES
(1, 'Adeola James', 'Lagos', 'Nigeria'),
(2, 'Michael Brown', 'London', 'United Kingdom'),
(3, 'Grace Williams', 'Accra', 'Ghana');

Now retrieve the records:

SELECT *
FROM Customers;

If the three customer records appear in the Results pane, congratulations! You have successfully created a database, created a table, inserted records, and retrieved data using SQL.

Connecting SQL Server to Power BI

Another practical application of installing SQL Server locally is the ability to connect your databases to Microsoft Power BI.

As someone developing skills in business intelligence and data analytics, this is an important part of building an end-to-end analytical workflow.

How to use Power BI desktop to view and customise visual report?

Power BI can connect directly to SQL Server databases, allowing you to retrieve data for reporting and visualisation.

To establish the connection:

• Open Power BI Desktop.
• Select Get Data.
• Search for SQL Server.
• Select SQL Server Database.
• Enter localhost as the server name if you installed a default instance.
• Enter MyFirstDatabase as the database name.
• Select Windows authentication where appropriate.
• Select Connect.
• Choose the tables you want to import.

You can then load your data into Power BI and begin building reports and dashboards.

For example, you can use the Superstore dataset to analyse:

• Total sales.
• Profit performance.
• Product category performance.
• Regional sales.
• Customer purchasing patterns.
• Monthly sales trends.

This demonstrates how SQL Server and Power BI can work together in a practical business intelligence workflow.

Common SQL Server Installation and Connection Issues

Even when you follow the installation instructions carefully, you may encounter a few challenges.

Here are some issues worth understanding.

SQL Server is not connecting

You may encounter an error stating that SQL Server cannot connect to the server.

Possible causes include:

• SQL Server Database Engine was not installed successfully.
• The SQL Server service is not running.
• You entered the wrong instance name.
• Your Windows account does not have the required permissions.

How to troubleshoot:

• Open Windows Services.
• Search for SQL Server services.
• Locate SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER) for a default instance or SQL Server (your instance name) for a named instance.
• Check whether the service is running.
• Start it if necessary.
• Return to SSMS and try connecting again.

Server name is incorrect

If you installed a named instance but attempt to connect using only localhost, the connection may fail.

Use the correct format:

localhost\InstanceName

For example:

localhost\SQLEXPRESS

Login failed for the user

This can happen when the Windows account you are using has not been added as a SQL Server administrator or does not have the required database permissions.

Check your authentication configuration and ensure the correct Windows account has the necessary access.

SSMS opens, but no databases appear

Remember that SSMS is a management application, not the Database Engine itself.

If the Databases folder is empty or the expected database is missing:

• Confirm that you connected to the correct server instance.
• Check that SQL Server Database Engine is installed and running.
• Refresh the Databases folder in Object Explorer.
• Confirm that you created the database successfully.

Installation fails

If the SQL Server installation fails:

• Review the installation error message.
• Check available disk space.
• Confirm that your Windows account has administrator privileges.
• Review the SQL Server setup logs.
• Check Microsoft’s official troubleshooting documentation before attempting another installation.

For additional guidance, consult the Microsoft SQL Server installation documentation.

Final Thoughts

Installing SQL Server 2025 and SQL Server Management Studio 22 is an important starting point for anyone looking to develop practical SQL skills.

The installation process might initially seem technical, particularly when you encounter terms such as Database Engine, instances, authentication modes, and database configuration. However, once you understand what each component does, the process becomes much easier to follow.

My recommendation to anyone starting their SQL journey is to spend time practising after installation. Create databases, import datasets, write queries, explore relationships, and gradually work towards more advanced SQL concepts.

Do not stop at installing the software. The real learning begins when you start working with data.

Your SQL learning environment is ready. Now it is time to practise!

Useful Microsoft Learning Resources

• SQL Server 2025 Downloads
• SQL Server 2025 Installation Guide
• SQL Server 2025 System Requirements
• SQL Server Management Studio 22 Installation Guide
• SQL Server Documentation

About the author

Adeyemi Adenuga is a Data Analytics Professional, Power BI Developer, and Data Analytics Educator with an interest in business intelligence, database management, and practical data-driven solutions.

She shares practical learning experiences, technical guides, and insights to help aspiring data professionals develop their analytical and technical skills.