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Start, stop, or pause the SQL Server Agent service

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Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Managed Instance

Important

On Azure SQL Managed Instance, most, but not all SQL Server Agent features are currently supported. See Azure SQL Managed Instance T-SQL differences from SQL Server for details.

This article describes how to start, stop, or restart the SQL Server Agent Service in SQL Server by using SQL Server Management Studio.

You can configure the SQL Server Agent service to start automatically when the operating system starts, or you can start it manually when you need to complete jobs. You can stop or pause the SQL Server Agent service to suspend jobs, operator notifications, and alerts.

Limitations

Microsoft SQL Server Agent must be running as a service in order to automate administrative tasks. For more information, see Configure SQL Server Agent.

Object Explorer only displays the SQL Server Agent node if you have permission to use it.

Permissions

To perform its functions, SQL Server Agent must be configured to use the credentials of an account that is a member of the sysadmin fixed server role in SQL Server. The account must have the following Windows permissions:

  • Log on as a service (SeServiceLogonRight)
  • Replace a process-level token (SeAssignPrimaryTokenPrivilege)
  • Bypass traverse checking (SeChangeNotifyPrivilege)
  • Adjust memory quotas for a process (SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege)

For more information about the Windows permissions required for the SQL Server Agent service account, see Select an account for the SQL Server Agent service and Configure Windows service accounts and permissions.

Use SQL Server Management Studio

  1. In Object Explorer, select the plus sign to expand the server where you want to manage SQL Server Agent Service.

  2. Right-click SQL Server Agent, and then select either Start, Stop, or Restart.

  3. In the User Account Control dialog box, select Yes.

  4. When prompted if you want to perform the action, select Yes.

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