How to Change Password in SQL Server for Dev

Welcome, Dev! In this article, we will discuss how to change password in SQL Server step by step. SQL Server is a popular database management system used by millions of developers worldwide. It is essential to keep your SQL Server password secure to prevent unauthorized access to your database. We will cover all the necessary information and provide examples to guide you throughout the article.

Understanding Password Policy in SQL Server

The first step in changing your SQL Server password is to understand the password policy. The password policy is a set of rules that define the requirements for creating and using passwords. In SQL Server, password policy includes various elements such as length, complexity, history, and expiration. It is important to follow these policies to ensure a strong password. Here are the details:

It is important to follow these policies to ensure a strong password. Otherwise, the SQL Server may reject your password change request.

Changing Password in SQL Server

Now that you understand the password policy, let’s dive into the steps to change your password in SQL Server.

Step 1: Open SQL Server Management Studio

To change the password, you need to have access to the SQL Server Management Studio. You can open it by following these steps:

1. Click on the Windows Start button.

2. Type “SQL Server Management Studio” in the search bar.

3. Click on the “SQL Server Management Studio” application to open it.

Step 2: Connect to the SQL Server Instance

After opening the SQL Server Management Studio, you need to connect to the SQL Server instance where your database is located. Follow these steps to connect:

1. In the “Connect to Server” dialog box, select the “Server type” as “Database Engine”.

2. In the “Server name” field, enter the name of the SQL Server instance.

3. Select the “Authentication” type as “Windows Authentication” or “SQL Server Authentication”.

4. If you select “SQL Server Authentication”, enter your SQL Server user name and password.

5. Click on the “Connect” button to connect to the SQL Server instance.

Step 3: Open Change Password Window

After connecting to your SQL Server instance, you need to open the Change Password window to change your password. Follow these steps to open it:

1. In the Object Explorer, expand the Security folder.

2. Right-click on the “Logins” folder and select “Properties”.

3. In the “Login – Properties” dialog box, select the “General” page.

4. Click on the “Change password” button.

Step 4: Enter New Password

After opening the Change Password window, you can enter your new password. Follow these steps to enter it:

1. In the “Change Password” dialog box, enter your new password.

2. Re-enter your new password in the “Confirm password” field.

3. Click on the “OK” button to change your password.

Step 5: Verify Password Change

After changing your password, you can verify it by connecting to the SQL Server instance with your new password. If the connection is successful, it means your password has been changed successfully.

FAQ

Q1. What happens if I forget my SQL Server login password?

If you forget your SQL Server login password, you can reset it by following these steps:

1. Stop the SQL Server instance.

2. Start the SQL Server instance in single-user mode by using the -m parameter.

3. Connect to the SQL Server instance using the sqlcmd utility.

4. Reset the password by using the ALTER LOGIN statement.

5. Restart the SQL Server instance normally.

Q2. Can I change the password policy in SQL Server?

Yes, you can change the password policy in SQL Server. Follow these steps to change it:

1. Open the SQL Server Management Studio.

2. Expand the Security folder and right-click on the “Login Policies” folder.

3. Select “Properties” from the context menu.

4. In the “Login Policies – Properties” dialog box, select the “Password Policy” page.

5. Change the password policy as per your requirements.

6. Click on the “OK” button to save the changes.

Conclusion

Changing the password in SQL Server is a simple and straightforward process. It is important to follow the password policy to ensure a strong password. We hope this article has provided you with all the necessary information to change your password in SQL Server. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to ask in the comments section below.