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Install and Configure SQL Server 2025 Express

Limitations

SQL Server 2025 Express Edition is limited to a maximum database size of 50 GB. If you want to use more than 50GB, you need to migrate to a higher edition or Microsoft Azure SQL Database. For more information about SQL Server 2025 Express Edition limitations, please refer to the following page.
Teach me about the limitations of SQL Server Express.

Downloading SQL Server 2025 Express Edition

  1. Access the following URL and click the "Download Now" link for "SQL Server 2025 Express".
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/sql-server-downloads
    The SQL Server download page, with the "Download Now" link for "SQL Server 2025 Express"
  2. Double-click the downloaded file.
    The downloaded installer file shown in Explorer
  3. If "User Account Control" appears, click the "Yes" button.
    The "User Account Control" dialog shown when the downloaded installer is started
  4. Click "Download Media".
    The first screen of the SQL Server 2025 Express installer, where "Download Media" can be selected
  5. Select "English", check "Express Core (714 MB)", and click the "Download" button.
    The media download screen with "English" and "Express Core (714 MB)" selected
  6. Wait until the download is complete.
    Progress screen while the media is downloading
  7. When "Download successful!" is displayed, click the "Open folder" button.
    The screen showing "Download successful!", with an "Open folder" button

Installing SQL Server 2025 Express Edition

  1. Double-click "SQLEXPR_x64_JPN".
    The download folder opened in Explorer, containing "SQLEXPR_x64_JPN"
  2. If "User Account Control" appears, click the "Yes" button.
    The "User Account Control" dialog shown when "SQLEXPR_x64_JPN" is started
  3. When the "Select directory for extracted files" dialog appears, click the "OK" button.
    The "Select directory for extracted files" dialog
  4. Wait until the extraction preparation is complete.
    Progress screen while the files are being extracted
  5. Click "New SQL Server standalone installation or add features to an existing installation".
    The installation type screen listing the new standalone installation option
  6. Check "I accept the license terms and Privacy Statement", then click the "Next" button.
    The license terms screen with the "I accept the license terms and Privacy Statement" checkbox
  7. The "Global Rules" screen will be skipped. If it is not skipped, follow the on-screen instructions.
    The "Global Rules" screen of the SQL Server 2025 Express installer
  8. Check "Use Microsoft Update to check for updates (recommended)", then click the "Next" button.
    The update screen with the Microsoft Update check option
  9. On the "Install Rules" screen, click "Next".
    The "Install Rules" screen listing the results of the pre-installation checks
  10. Depending on your environment, the following screen may be displayed. If it appears, disable "Azure Extension for SQL Server" and click the "Next" button.
    The screen where "Azure Extension for SQL Server" can be disabled
  11. Check only "Database Engine Services" and "Full-Text and Semantic Extractions for Search", then click the "Next" button.
    The feature selection screen with "Database Engine Services" and full-text extraction checked
  12. Check "Default instance" and click the "Next" button.
    The instance configuration screen with "Default instance" selected
  13. Click the "Next" button.
    The settings screen shown after choosing the instance
  14. Check "Mixed Mode (SQL Server authentication and Windows authentication)" and set any password. Please note the password you set, as it will be used during Pleasanter installation. Then click the "Next" button. The installation will begin.
    The authentication mode screen where "Mixed Mode" is selected and a password is set
  15. Wait until the installation is complete.
    Progress screen while the installation is running
  16. Confirm that the installation was successful and click the "Close" button.
    The installation completion screen listing the result for each feature

Configuring SQL Server 2025 Express Edition

  1. Click the "Start" button, then launch "All" - "Microsoft SQL Server 2025" - "SQL Server 2025 Configuration Manager".
  2. If "User Account Control" appears, click the "Yes" button.
  3. In the left pane, click "SQL Server Network Configuration" - "Protocols for MSSQLSERVER". Then, in the right pane, right-click "TCP/IP" and click "Enable".
    SQL Server 2025 Configuration Manager, right-clicking "TCP/IP" to choose "Enable"
  4. If a warning appears, click the "OK" button.
    The warning dialog shown after enabling TCP/IP
  5. In the left pane, click "SQL Server Services". Then, in the right pane, right-click "SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)" and click "Restart".
    SQL Server 2025 Configuration Manager, right-clicking "SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)" to choose "Restart"
  6. Once the restart is complete, this procedure is finished.