SQL Server Tips

[3 step process] How to Check for Updates in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

Updated June 23, 20261 min read

Written byMark Varnas

Several years ago, Microsoft decided to peel off SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) product from SQL Server engine itself. So today you can get more frequent software updates to SSMS without waiting for a new version SQL Engine, which comes out every few years.

But that’s history.

Today new SSMS versions come out periodically, often on monthly basis.

It is a good practice to keep your SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) healthy by updating it when new update is available.

How to check for SSMS update manually

  1. Open SSMS
  2. Click on Tools
  3. Select “Check for Updates…”
  4. A new window will pop up, displaying the current version of SQL Server Management Studio and the latest version available.
  5. Enable the "Automatically check for updates for SQL Server Management Studio" while you at it. Thats what I do, anyways.
Figure 1 - Check updates on SSMS
Figure 1 - Check updates on SSMS

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