Download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) – 2022, 2019, and Earlier Versions
Need to download SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) for Windows?
This guide covers all major versions — including SSMS 2022, 2019, and earlier — with direct links, version history, and practical tips.
1. What is SSMS?
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is Microsoft’s official tool for managing SQL Server databases. It provides a user-friendly interface for executing queries, managing databases, configuring security, and more. And yes — it's completely free!
2. SSMS Version Downloads
Below is a comprehensive table of major SSMS versions, build numbers, release dates, and official Microsoft download links.
💡 Looking for SSMS 2019 or SSMS 2022?
Here's how the version numbers map:
- SSMS 2019 = version 18.x → download 18.12.1
- SSMS 2022 = version 19.x → download 19.3
⚠️ Note: The “Download” links directly download the installer.
The download links have been taken directly from the official Microsoft SSMS release notes page: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ssms/release-notes-ssms.
| SSMS Version | Build Number | Release Date | Download |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20.2.1 | 20.2.37.0 | April 8, 2025 | [Download] |
| 20.2 | 20.2.30.0 | July 9, 2024 | [Download] |
| 20.1 | 20.1.10.0 | April 9, 2024 | [Download] |
| 20.0 | 20.0.70.0 | March 19, 2024 | [Download] |
| 19.3 | 19.3.4.0 | January 10, 2024 | [Download] |
| 18.12.1 | 15.0.18420.0 | June 21, 2022 | [Download] |
| 17.9.1 | 14.0.17289.0 | November 21, 2018 | [Download] |
| 16.5.3 | 13.0.16106.4 | January 30, 2017 | [Download] |
3. Why Is SSMS 18.x Referred to as “SSMS 2019”?
You might notice that SSMS 18.x is often referred to as “SSMS 2019”, even though the version number doesn't explicitly match the SQL Server year.
Here’s why:
- SSMS 18.0 was released in 2019, alongside SQL Server 2019.
- It was the officially recommended version for managing SQL Server 2019.
- As a result, SSMS 18.x is commonly known as “SSMS 2019” among developers and DBAs.
This version-numbering pattern is common and continues in both older and newer SSMS releases:
| SSMS Version | Release Year | Matches SQL Server | Common Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSMS 16.x | 2016–2017 | SQL Server 2016 | SSMS 2016 | First version decoupled from SQL Server installer |
| SSMS 17.x | 2017–2018 | SQL Server 2017 | SSMS 2017 | Enhanced UI and performance |
| SSMS 18.x | 2019–2022 | SQL Server 2019 | SSMS 2019 | Most widely used version pre-2022 |
| SSMS 19.x | 2022–2023 | SQL Server 2022 | SSMS 2022 | Official release for SQL Server 2022 |
| SSMS 20.x | 2024–Present | SQL Server 2022, 2025 | — | Latest version, backward compatible |
⚠️ Note:
SSMS 20.x is compatible with SQL Server 2022, and also includes support for the upcoming SQL Server 2025.
In short, it works with SQL Server 2022 — and is designed to support the next version as well.
4. Installation Tips
- In the table above, click the Download link for your desired version — it will take you directly to the corresponding section in Microsoft’s official release notes.
- From there, click the actual download link to get the installer.
- Once downloaded, run the
.exefile and follow the installation steps. - SSMS does not include the SQL Server engine — make sure you already have a SQL Server instance installed or available.
- When connecting to a server, you can choose either Windows Authentication or SQL Server Authentication.
5. Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Can I use SSMS without installing SQL Server?
A: No. SSMS is only useful when connected to a SQL Server instance.
Q: Is SSMS free to use?
A: Yes, it’s completely free and officially supported by Microsoft.
Q: Can I install multiple versions of SSMS?
A: You can install different major versions side-by-side (e.g., SSMS 18.x and 19.x), but not multiple versions within the same major release.
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7. Final Thoughts
SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) is an essential tool for any database developer or administrator working with SQL Server. With the table above, you can easily find and install the version that fits your needs. Bookmark this page for future updates, and feel free to share it with your team!