---
title: "Installing Microsoft SQL Server Express"
---

# Installing Microsoft SQL Server Express

> <IUCard title="Installing Microsoft SQL Server Express" link="https://www.inductiveuniversity.com/video/installing-microsoft-sql-server-express/7.9" />

You need to download and install both the SQL Server 2014 Express and the SQL Management Studio before you connect to the database.

## To Download SQL Server 2014 Express

1. Go to [http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/products/sql-server/](http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/server-cloud/products/sql-server/).
2. Click **Products** and under **SQL Server** click on **SQL Server Editions**.
3. Choose the **Express** tab and click on **Download SQL Server 2014 Express**.
4. Click on the **SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe** file to run the executable.
5. On the **SQL Server Installation Center** window, click on the **New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation** link.
6. On the **License Terms** window, choose **I accept the license terms** and click **Next**.
7. On the **Product Updates** window, click **Next** to start installing the SQL Server.
8. On the **Feature Selection** window, stay with the default selections and click **Next**.
9. The **Instance Configuration** window shows **Named instance: SQL Express**, you can keep it or change it if you like, click **Next**.
10. On the **Server Configuration** window, choose **Automatic** from the dropdown under **Startup Type** for the **SQL Server Browser** service, and click **Next**.
11. On the **Database Engine Configuration** window, for **Authentication Mode** choose **Mixed Mode**, enter a **password**, and click **Next**.
12. On the next few windows, continue clicking **Next** until it shows installation is **Complete**.
The **SQL Server 2014 Express** is now installed.
Microsoft SQL Server Express installs with a **tempdb** that wipes its data whenever the computer is restarted.

## To Download SQL Management Studio

1. Go to [http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8961](http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8961).
2. Click on the **Download** button.
3. Click on the **SQLManagementStudio_x64_ENU.exe** file to run the executable.
4. On the **SQL Server Installation Center** window, click on the **New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation** link.
5. On the **Installation Type**, keep the defaults and click **Next**.
6. On the **License Terms** window, choose **I accept the license terms** and click **Next**.
7. On the **Product Updates** window, click **Next** to start installing the SQL Server.
8. On the **Feature Selection** window, stay with the default selection of **Management Tools** and click **Next**.
9. On the **Database Engine Configuration** window, for **Authentication Mode** choose **Mixed Mode**, enter a **password**, and click **Next**.
10. On the next few windows, continue clicking **Next** until it shows installation is **Complete**.
The **Management Tools** is now installed.
11. To run the program, go to **Start** > **Programs** > **Microsoft SQL Server** > **SQL Server Management Studio**.
12. Click on **Connect** to connect to the Microsoft SQL Server.
13. In **Object Explorer**, you can now see some databases under **Databases** > **System Databases**.
14. Right-click on **Databases** and select **New Databases...**.
The **New Databases** window is displayed.
15. In **Database name**, enter **test**, click **Add**, and then **OK**.
Now you can see the **test** database in the **Databases** folder and can connect Ignition to it, see [Connecting to Microsoft SQL Server Express](database-connections/connecting-to-databases/connecting-to-microsoft-sql-server-express.md).