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Asked: 2024-09-26T17:45:22+05:30 In:

how to reset sa password in sql server

I hope you can help me with a frustrating issue I’m facing with SQL Server. Recently, I’ve been unable to access my database because I’ve forgotten the sa (system administrator) password, and it seems like I’m locked out of everything. I’ve tried the usual methods to reset it using the SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and other tools, but nothing seems to work. I’m using SQL Server 2019, and I understand that there might be different methods depending on the setup, but I’m worried about potentially losing access to my important data.

I also read somewhere that I might need to use the SQL Server Configuration Manager to start SQL Server in single-user mode or even use some commands in the Command Prompt to reset the password. However, I’m not entirely sure how to do this safely and effectively without causing other issues. Could you please guide me through a step-by-step process to reset the sa password? I want to make sure I get this right and regain access without too much hassle. Thanks in advance for your assistance!

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    2 Answers

    1. How to Reset SA Password in SQL Server

      So, you want to reset the SA password, huh? Don’t worry, it’s not super complicated, but it can feel like it if you are new to this stuff.

      First off, you need to open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). If you don’t have it, you might wanna get it because it’s super handy for managing SQL Server.

      Once you’ve got SSMS open, you’ll see a window where you can connect to your server. Now, here’s the thing: to reset the SA password, you need to log in as an admin because regular users can’t change it.

      If you can actually connect as an admin, good for you! Then follow these steps:

      1. In the Object Explorer panel, find the “Security” folder and expand it.
      2. Look for the “Logins” folder in there, and expand it too.
      3. Now, find “sa” in the list. Right-click on it and select “Properties”.
      4. In the window that pops up, you should see a place to enter a new password. Just type in the new password you want.
      5. Make sure you type it again to confirm, then hit “OK”.

      If you can’t log in as an admin, you might need to start SQL Server in single-user mode to reset the SA password. This part is a bit trickier, but here’s a super basic rundown:

      1. Stop the SQL Server service (you can do this in the Services app).
      2. Open Command Prompt as an admin.
      3. Navigate to where SQL Server is installed (usually in “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.xx.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\Binn”).
      4. Run the command: 
        sqlservr.exe -m

        This starts SQL in single-user mode.

      5. Open another Command Prompt window and connect to SQL Server using: 
        sqlcmd -S .\SQLEXPRESS -U sa -P old_password

        (if you don’t remember it, you might need to do another hack).

      6. Now you can run: 
        ALTER LOGIN sa WITH PASSWORD = 'new_password';

        to actually change it.

      7. Don’t forget to close the single-user mode. Just open the Services again and start SQL Server again.

      And there you go! You’ve changed the SA password. Just remember to write it down somewhere safe or use a password manager because forgetting it again would be a total bummer!


    2. To reset a SQL Server password, you should have sufficient privileges, typically as a member of the `sysadmin` fixed server role. Start by connecting to the SQL Server instance using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or any other SQL client. If you already have access, you can execute the following Transact-SQL (T-SQL) command. Replace ‘your_username’ with the actual username, and ‘new_password’ with your desired password. The command would look like this:

      “`sql
      ALTER LOGIN your_username WITH PASSWORD = ‘new_password’;
      “`

      If you do not remember the username or have lost all access to the account, you may need to start SQL Server in single-user mode to reset the password with the system admin account. To do this, stop the SQL Server service and restart it using the command prompt with the `-m` switch. After connecting, execute the same `ALTER LOGIN` command mentioned above. Ensure to exit single-user mode as soon as you have reset the password to restore normal operations. Remember to follow security best practices when managing passwords.

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