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What is SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)?

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is an integrated environment for managing any SQL infrastructure. Use SSMS to access, configure, manage, administer, and develop all components of SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines, SQL database in Microsoft Fabric, and Azure Synapse Analytics. SSMS provides a single comprehensive utility that combines a broad group of graphical tools with many rich script editors to provide access to SQL Server for developers and database administrators of all skill levels.

Screenshot of SQL Server Management Studio.

SSMS components

Description Component
Use Object Explorer to view and manage all objects in one or more instances of SQL Server. Object Explorer
Use Template Explorer to build and manage files of boilerplate text that you use to speed the development of queries and scripts. Template Explorer
Use the deprecated Solution Explorer to build projects to manage administration items such as scripts and queries. Solution Explorer
Use the visual design tools included in SSMS to build queries, tables, and diagram databases. Visual Database Tools
Use the SSMS language editors to interactively build and debug queries and scripts. Query and text editors

SSMS for business intelligence

Use SSMS to access, configure, manage, and administer Analysis Services, Integration Services, and Reporting Services. Although all three business intelligence technologies rely on SSMS, the administrative tasks associated with each are slightly different.

Note

To create and modify Analysis Services, Integration Services solutions, and Reporting Services, use SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT), not SSMS. SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT) is a development environment that is based on Microsoft Visual Studio.

Manage Analysis Services solutions

SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) enables you to manage Analysis Services objects, such as performing back-ups and processing objects.

SSMS provides an Analysis Services Script project in which you can develop and save scripts written in Multidimensional Expressions (MDX), Data Analysis Expressions (DAX), Data Mining Extensions (DMX), and XML for Analysis (XMLA).

Use these scripts to perform management tasks, or recreate objects such as databases and instances on Analysis Services cubes. For example, you can develop an XMLA script in an Analysis Services Script project to create new objects directly on an existing instance. You can save these projects as part of a solution and integrate them with source code control.

Note

SSMS supports DAX and MDX, but you should consider the model you're working with and the type of queries you intend to run.

For more information about the Analysis Services Scripts Project in SSMS, see Analysis Services Scripts Project.

Manage Integration Services solutions

SSMS can manage, run, and monitor SQL Server Integration Services (SSIS) packages stored in the SSISDB database. You can import, export, and upgrade packages, and organize them into folders. You can access the SSIS catalog from Object Explorer.

The Import and Export Wizard in SSMS can generate basic SSIS packages, and serves as a good starting point for learning about SSIS. For designing and maintaining more complex solutions, use SQL Server Data Tools (SSDT).

Manage Reporting Services projects

Applies to: SQL Server 2022 (16.x) and earlier versions

SSMS provides an integrated environment for administering SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) in SQL Server 2022 (16.x) and earlier versions. You can manage the report server itself, its databases (ReportServer and ReportServerTempDB), roles, jobs, and shared schedules. The Shared Schedules folder provides direct access to scheduling tasks.

Note

Starting in SQL Server 2025 (17.x), on-premises reporting services is consolidated under Power BI Report Server. For more information, see Reporting Services consolidation FAQ.

SSMS also supports server-level operations, letting you enable and configure SSRS features, define defaults, and maintain roles and jobs.

If you migrate a report server database to a SQL Server instance, remember to create the RSExecRole in the master system database.

While SSMS delivers a solid set of tools for managing SSRS on SQL Server 2022 (16.x) and earlier versions, it doesn't replace Report Manager or the Reporting Services Configuration Manager.

For more information on related SSRS tasks, see:

Non-English language versions

The Visual Studio Installer selects a default language pack for SSMS that matches the language of your operating system. You can change the default language at any time. For more information, see Modify SQL Server Management Studio workloads, components, and language packs.

Support policy

The SQL Tools team has adopted the Microsoft Modern Lifecycle Policy.

Read the original Modern Lifecycle Policy announcement. For more information, see Modern Policy FAQs.

For diagnostic data collection and feature usage information, see the SQL Server privacy supplement and diagnostic data collection.

Get help

Contribute to SQL documentation

Did you know that you can edit SQL content yourself? If you do so, not only do you help improve our documentation, but you also get credited as a contributor to the page.

For more information, see Edit Microsoft Learn documentation.

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