Release history for SQL Server Management Studio

SQL Server Management Studio is updated regularly to provide new features, performance and reliability improvements, security updates, and bug fixes.

SQL Server Management Studio 21 introduces Preview and Release channels to provide customers the flexibility and control to determine when they adopt feature updates. The latest release on each channel is always, by definition, the most secure, so we highly encourage customers to stay up to date regardless of what channel they choose to get updates from.

For more information, see:

• SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) support policy
• Channels for SQL Server Management Studio

Release notes

Here are the release notes for different versions of SQL Server Management Studio:

• SQL Server Management Studio 21 release notes
• SQL Server Management Studio 20 release notes

Update your installation to a specific release

If you need to install or update to a specific release of SSMS, you can find the available bootstrapper in the Evergreen bootstrapper table.

Uninstall SSMS to go back to an earlier release

If you need to install an earlier release of SQL Server Management Studio 21, you must uninstall your current installation and use one of the links later in this article to reinstall the version that you prefer.

1. On Windows, open the Visual Studio Installer.
2. Uninstall all instances of SQL Server Management Studio 21 listed in the Visual Studio Installer.
3. From Programs and Features in the Control Panel, find SQL Server Management Studio 21, and uninstall it.

If you need to install an earlier release of SQL Server Management Studio 20.x and earlier for a major version (for example, to downgrade from SSMS 20.2 to SSMS 19.3), then you must uninstall your current installation and use one of the links later in this article to reinstall the version that you prefer.

1. On Windows, from Programs and Features in the Control Panel, find your version of Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio and uninstall it.

Before attempting to install a previous version of SQL Server Management Studio, refer to our support policy. Microsoft doesn't guarantee support outside of this policy.

If you're unable to follow the previous steps due to a corrupted install, follow the steps to remove SQL Server Management Studio with the InstallCleanup.exe tool.

Uninstalling SSMS doesn't remove standalone products and components such as .NET and Visual C++ Redistributables. These components might need to be removed manually from Apps and Features in Windows Settings.

Release dates and build numbers

This section provides links to the publicly released bootstrappers for SQL Server Management Studio. The bootstrappers initiate Visual Studio's installation process. Only the latest release is supported.

To verify what version a given bootstrapper installs, right-click on the bootstrapper vs_SSMS.exe, choose Properties > Details, and look at the Product Version information. The version number should always be read as latest of that version. A bootstrapper with a Product Version of 21.0 would install the latest 21.0.x servicing release that is available.

Evergreen bootstrapper

The bootstrapper in the following table always installs the latest release of SSMS from its respective channel.

Fixed version installers

This table lists latest build numbers of publicly released versions of SQL Server Management Studio, the release date, and download link.

Related content

• Channels for SQL Server Management Studio
• SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) support policy