How to Download, Install, and Activate Microsoft SQL Server 2019

Microsoft SQL Server 2019 is a robust and scalable relational database management system designed for data professionals and developers. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced user, this guide will walk you through the complete process of downloading, installing, and activating SQL Server 2019 on your Windows PC.

Minimum System Requirements for Microsoft SQL Server 2019

Step 1: Download Microsoft SQL Server 2022

SQL Server 2019 is available in five different editions.

1. Developer Edition
2. Express Edition
3. Enterprise Edition
4. Standard Edition
5. Web Edition

If you are a developer and intended to use it to learn/develop/test a database application, then you should use the developer edition.

If you are an end-user and intended to use the SQL server in a production environment and size of your database is less than 10GB, then you can use the express edition.

For all other scenarios, you can use the Trial Version of Enterprise/Standard. To download the trial version, you need to provide your name, address and company details, etc

Click on download link to download the files : SQL Server Downloads | Microsoft

How to Install SQL Server 2019

After downloading SQL Server 2019, you can start to install it. Continue to read this part to get the details.

Step 1: Doble-click the SQL Server 2019 exe file to run it.

Step 2: After launching it, you need to choose an installation type – Basic, Custom, and Download Media.

• Basic option – It installs only the essential features of SQL Server. It only asks for the License agreement and installation path.
• Custom option – It allows you to choose the features you want to install.
• Download Media option – It allows you to download all the installations to a local folder. You install the SQL Server 2019 later without the Internet.

Step 3: Here, we take choosing Basic as an example. Then, the License Terms page will appear and you need to click Accept.

Step 4: Next, you need to sepecify the SQL Server 2019 install location by click the Broswse option. After choosing the path, you need to click Install.

Step 5: Then, it will start to download install package. Once the download is successful, the installation process will begin.

Step 6: After installing SQL Server 2019, you can start to use it. You can also choose Connect Now or Install SSMS into your system.

Step 7: With the SQL Server 2019 now setup, you can use it to connect it to your applications and other software.

Install SQL Server 2019 Developer Edition

Now that we have installation media, we can start the installation of the SQL Server. Let’s see how to install SQL Server step by step.

Step 1.Run install media file (ISO file) downloaded in above section by double-clicking on it. It will extract/mount all the contents in a new temporary drive.

Step 2. Once extraction is completed, double click on the setup.exe file and you will see the below screen. Click on the Installation option in the left panel and then click on New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation option from the right panel.

Step 3. Now you will see the Product Key window. Select the Developer option from the dropdown and click on the Next button.

Step 4. Now you will see the License Terms window. Just select the checkbox and click on the Next button.

Step 5. Now you will see the Microsoft Update window. It is not compulsory to check for the latest updates but it is recommended. So, select the checkbox and click the Next button.

Step 6. Now it will check for updates and install them if any.

Step 7. After that, it will check some rules or prerequisites for the installation of SQL Server. Once all the rules passed, click on the Next button. Sometimes you may face an error at this stage. You can find some known errors at the end of this article.

Step 8. On the Feature Selection window, select features as shown in the below screenshot. You can also change the location for SQL Server instance installation but I will go with the default location. After feature selection please click the Next button.

Step 9: Choose Default (connect using server name only) or Named Instance (server + instance name). Select Named Instance.

Step 10: Set SQL Server services’ Startup Type to Automatic. Choose collation as needed.

Step 11:

• Set authentication to Mixed Mode and add your Windows user as admin.
• Specify data and backup file locations (avoid OS drive).
• Configure TempDB files (match logical processors).
• Adjust MaxDOP and memory settings if needed.
• Leave FILESTREAM disabled.

Step 12: Review settings and click Install.

Step 13: Wait for installation to complete.

Step 14: Check installation status and finish.

Congratulations! We have successfully installed SQL Server 2019 Developer edition on Windows machine. 

Don’t Have A Product Key Yet? Purchase Yours Conveniently By Clicking Here.