Increase the size of a database

Applies to: SQL Server

This article describes how to increase the size of a database in SQL Server by using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL. The database is expanded by either increasing the size of an existing data or log file, or by adding a new file to the database.

Limitations

You can't add or remove a file while a BACKUP statement is running.

Permissions

Requires ALTER permission on the database.

Use SQL Server Management Studio

1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of the SQL Server Database Engine, and then expand that instance.

2. Expand Databases, right-click the database to increase, and then select Properties.

3. In Database Properties, select the Files page.

4. To increase the size of an existing file, increase the value in the Initial Size (MB) column for the file. You must increase the size of the database by at least 1 megabyte.

5. To increase the size of the database by adding a new file, select Add and then enter the values for the new file. For more information, see Add Data or Log Files to a Database.

6. Select OK.

Use Transact-SQL

1. Connect to the Database Engine.

2. From the Standard bar, select New Query.

3. Copy and paste the following example into the query window and select Execute.

   This example changes the size of the file test1dat3 to 200 MB.

   SQL

   USE master;
   GO
   
   ALTER DATABASE AdventureWorks2022
       MODIFY FILE (NAME = test1dat3, SIZE = 200 MB);
   GO
   

For more examples, see ALTER DATABASE (Transact-SQL) File and Filegroup Options.

Related content

• Add Data or Log Files to a Database
• Shrink a database