Can database created in SQL Server 2017 be used in SQL Server 2022?

Question

Can databases created in SQL Server 2017 be used in 2022?

If I use SQL Server 2022, Do I have to set ?

Is there anything I should be careful about?

Answer 1

Yes, databases created in SQL Server 2017 can be used in SQL Server 2022. SQL Server 2022 (16.x) is designed to be backward compatible with earlier versions of SQL Server. However, it is recommended to test your applications and databases for compatibility before upgrading to a new version of SQL Server. As for any precautions, it is always a good practice to back up your databases before performing any upgrades or migrations.

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References:

• Editions and supported features of SQL Server 2022
• Using SQL Server in Windows - Summary

Answer 2

Is there anything I should be careful about?

Once the database is attached to a newer SQL Server version, the database gets's automatically upgrade, then you can't go with it back to an earlier version.

Best way to transfer is backup&restore and keep the backup for a while.

Answer 3

Adding to the AI-provided answer:

When you upgrade the database to SQL 2022, the database will stay in compatibility level 140. I would recommend that you turn on Query Store and the keep the database in compat level 140 for a week or two. Then you run

ALTER DATABASE db SET COMPATIBILITY_LEVEL = 160

This will give you access to optimizer enhancements in SQL 2019 and SQL 2022, so you could expect better performance. However, optimization is based to estimates from statistics that is often sampled and these improvements may backfire, and you could have a query that seriously degrades in performance. If this happens, you can use Query Store to force the old plan, to quickly get out of the situation.

SSMS offers support for this strategy. Select Tasks from the context menu for the database, and at the bottom of this submenu, you find Database Upgrade.