---
title: 'SQL Server on Windows (local)'
metaTitle: 'SQL Server on Windows'
metaDescription: 'Set up and configure SQL Server on Windows.'
---

:::info Quick summary
Learn how to set up and configure Microsoft SQL Server locally on Windows for use with Prisma ORM.
:::


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To run a Microsoft SQL Server locally on a Windows machine:

1. If you do not have access to an instance of Microsoft SQL Server, download and set up [SQL Server 2019 Developer](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/sql-server-downloads).

1. Download and install [SQL Server Management Studio](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/ssms/download-sql-server-management-studio-ssms?view=sql-server-ver15).

1. Use Windows Authentication to log in to Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (expand the **Server Name** dropdown and click **&lt;Browse for more...&gt;** to find your database engine):

![The New Query button in SQL Server Management Studio](/img/orm/connect-sql-server.png)

</TopBlock>

## Enable TCP/IP

Prisma Client requires TCP/IP to be enabled. To enable TCP/IP:

1. Open SQL Server Configuration Manager. (Search for "SQL Server Configuration Manager" in the Start Menu, or open the Start Menu and type "SQL Server Configuration Manager".)

1. In the left-hand panel, click **SQL Server Network Configuration** > **Protocols for MSSQLSERVER**

1. Right-click **TCP/IP** and choose **Enable**.

## Enable authentication with SQL logins (Optional)

If you want to use a username and password in your connection URL rather than integrated security, [enable mixed authentication mode](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/configure-windows/change-server-authentication-mode?view=sql-server-ver15&tabs=ssms) as follows:

1. Right-click on your database engine in the Object Explorer and click **Properties**.

1. In the Server Properties window, click **Security** in the left-hand list and tick the **SQL Server and Windows Authentication Mode** option, then click **OK**.

1. Right-click on your database engine in the Object Explorer and click **Restart**.

### Enable the `sa` login

To enable the default `sa` (administrator) SQL Server login:

1. In SQL Server Management Studio, in the Object Explorer, expand **Security** > **Logins** and double-click **sa**.

1. On the **General** page, choose a password for the `sa` account (untick **Enforce password policy** if you do not want to enforce a policy).

1. On the **Status** page, under **Settings** > **Login**, tick **Enabled**, then click **OK**.

You can now use the `sa` account in a connection URL and when you log in to SQL Server Management Studio.

> **Note**: The `sa` user has extensive permissions. You can also [create your own login with fewer permissions](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/security/authentication-access/create-a-login?view=sql-server-ver15).
