How to Install SQL Server 2022 Standard: Step-by-Step Guide

SQL Server 2022 Setup asks many questions, and a few of them are hard to change later. This guide walks through each page of the Installation Wizard for a typical small-business install of SQL Server 2022 Standard: one stand-alone instance running the Database Engine. It then covers the setup steps that come after the wizard: updates, management tools, network access and the firewall.

Still deciding on an edition or licensing model? Read SQL Server 2022 Express vs Developer vs Standard and SQL Server 2022 Licensing Explained first, then come back here.

Before you start: requirements checklist

Microsoft’s minimum requirements for SQL Server 2022 on Windows:

Item	Requirement
Operating system	Windows 10 version 1607 or later, or Windows Server 2016 or later
.NET Framework	4.7.2
Processor	x64 only; minimum 1.4 GHz, 2.0 GHz or faster recommended
Memory (Standard)	1 GB minimum; at least 4 GB recommended, and more as your databases grow
Disk	At least 6 GB free on the system drive for Setup, plus room for your data

Which Windows can run Standard? Microsoft’s support table lists SQL Server 2022 Standard on Windows Server 2016, 2019, 2022 and 2025 (Standard, Datacenter and Essentials), and on Windows 11 and Windows 10 Pro, Home and Enterprise. See Windows Server 2025 Standard vs Datacenter if you’re choosing a Windows Server host.

Also have ready:

• An administrator account on the machine. Microsoft requires Setup to run as an administrator for local installs.
• Your installation media and product key. For Standard and Enterprise, Microsoft says the media comes from your software vendor. With an order from us, your license details and download or setup instructions arrive by email. Our Delivery & Activation page explains what to expect.
• A plan for where data and backups will live, ideally on a different drive from Windows.
• Not a domain controller. For security reasons, Microsoft says not to install SQL Server on a domain controller.
• No pending restart. Restart Windows and install Windows updates first so Setup’s rule checks pass.

Step 1: Launch SQL Server Setup

1. Mount or extract the installation media and run setup.exe as administrator.
2. The SQL Server Installation Center opens. Select Installation on the left.
3. Select New SQL Server standalone installation or add features to an existing installation.

Step 2: Edition page (enter your product key)

You get three choices:

• Specify a free edition: Evaluation or Developer. Don’t pick this for a production Standard install.
• Use pay-as-you-go billing through Microsoft Azure: needs an Azure subscription. Skip it if you bought a license.
• Enter the product key: choose this and type your SQL Server 2022 Standard key.

Below the key box, select the checkbox that matches your license. I have a SQL Server license only fits most single license purchases. The other box is for licenses that include Software Assurance or a SQL Software Subscription. Select Next.

If the key isn’t accepted, check that it’s a SQL Server 2022 Standard key and that it was typed exactly. Then contact our support team and we’ll fix it.

Step 3: License terms, updates and rules checks

1. License Terms: read and accept the license terms and privacy statement, then select Next.
2. Global Rules, Microsoft Update and Product Updates: Setup checks your system and can include the latest critical updates. Including them is a good idea.
3. Install Setup Files, then Install Rules: Setup checks for problems. If a rule fails, select it in the Status column to see why. Fix the problem and select Re-run.

Step 4: Azure Extension for SQL Server

This page is new in SQL Server 2022, and the option is selected by default. It connects the instance to Azure services such as Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Purview, and it needs an Azure subscription. If you aren’t using Azure, unselect Azure Extension for SQL Server and select Next. You can connect to Azure later if you need to.

Step 5: Feature Selection

For a standard business database, select Database Engine Services. Add other features only if you need them:

• Full-Text and Semantic Extractions for Search: for full-text search in your apps.
• Analysis Services, PolyBase, machine learning and similar features: for specific workloads only. They add pages to Setup and use extra disk space.

The default install path is C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\. Microsoft says the shared-component path can’t be compressed, encrypted or on a mapped drive.

Step 6: Instance Configuration

• Default instance: named MSSQLSERVER. This is the simplest choice for a single install.
• Named instance: you must use a named instance if a default instance already exists on the machine.

Step 7: Server Configuration (service accounts and collation)

• Service Accounts tab: the defaults work for most single-server installs. Microsoft recommends giving each service its own least-privilege account. Set SQL Server Agent to Automatic if you’ll use scheduled jobs such as backups. If you use custom accounts, never use a blank password.
• Grant Perform Volume Maintenance Task privilege: select this box. It lets the Database Engine use instant file initialization.
• Collation tab: keep the default unless your application vendor specifies one. Check your app’s documentation first.

Step 8: Database Engine Configuration

This is the most important page. Take your time with each tab:

• Server Configuration:
  • Use Windows Authentication when every user and app signs in with a Windows or domain account.
  • Mixed Mode adds SQL Server logins. Choose it only if an application needs them, and set a strong password for the sa account.
  • Select Add Current User, and add any admin group, so at least one administrator can manage the instance.
• Data Directories: point user databases, logs and backups to the drives you planned, ideally not the Windows drive.
• TempDB: the defaults are a sensible start.
• MaxDOP: keep the value Setup calculates.
• Memory: choose Recommended so SQL Server leaves memory for Windows, especially if other software runs on the same server.
• FILESTREAM: leave it off unless your application requires it.

Step 9: Install and confirm

1. Review the Ready to Install summary and select Install.
2. When the Complete page appears, it links to the summary log, which is the first place to look if anything failed.
3. Restart if Setup asks you to.

After installation: five setup steps not to skip

1. Install the latest cumulative update. Microsoft’s Latest updates and version history for SQL Server page lists the current update for SQL Server 2022.
2. Install SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). SSMS isn’t part of SQL Server Setup. The current version, SSMS 22, downloads as vs_SSMS.exe and installs through the Visual Studio Installer. It works with SQL Server 2014 and later.
3. Check network protocols. On a new Standard install, Microsoft enables TCP/IP by default. Express and Developer installs have it disabled. Open SQL Server Configuration Manager (SQLServerManager16.msc for SQL Server 2022), go to SQL Server Network Configuration > Protocols for [instance], and confirm TCP/IP is enabled. Restart the SQL Server service after any change.
4. Open the firewall if other PCs connect. A default instance listens on TCP 1433. Named instances also need UDP 1434 for the SQL Server Browser service. Microsoft’s example PowerShell rule for the default instance is:
   New-NetFirewallRule -DisplayName "SQLServer default instance" -Direction Inbound -LocalPort 1433 -Protocol TCP -Action Allow
5. Set up backups. Create a backup job in SQL Server Agent or a maintenance plan, and test a restore.

Already running Express or Developer? Upgrade the edition in place

You don’t have to reinstall. For stand-alone installs, Microsoft supports edition upgrades from SQL Server 2022 Express, Developer and Evaluation to Standard:

1. Run Setup and open the SQL Server Installation Center.
2. Select Maintenance > Edition Upgrade.
3. Enter your SQL Server 2022 Standard product key, accept the license terms, and pick the instance.
4. Select Upgrade. The services restart to apply the new edition.

Check your licensing too. Our licensing guide explains Per Core versus Server + CAL.

Frequently asked questions

Get SQL Server 2022 Standard, or let us install it

Ready to license your server? See Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Standard, browse all SQL Server products, or pair it with a Windows Server license for the host. If you’d rather not work through Setup yourself, Pro Install: Remote Software Installation & Activation has a technician do it with you remotely.

• Questions or help with an install: email support@solveditservices.com (fastest), or call (447) 223-5297. If Setup or your product key gives you trouble, contact support and we’ll fix it.
• Multiple servers, CALs or Enterprise questions: request a quote.
• More answers are on our FAQ page.

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