SQL Server Management Studio

SSMS v22.4.1: Copilot is GA. So What’s It Do Right Now?

Last Updated March 21, 2026

Copilot in SSMS has two parts. Usually people focus on the pop-out Copilot chat window, and that’s useful for sure, but honestly I think you’re going to get way more mileage out of the code completions feature, right away, because it blends in with your existing workflows. Let’s say that I’m working with the Stack…

Easier than gaining weight on a cruise ship

I Just Don’t Understand Why You Don’t Update SSMS.

Last Updated February 3, 2026

Brent Ozar

SQL Server Management Studio

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, SQL Server Management Studio was included as part of the SQL Server installer. Back then, upgrading SSMS was not only a technical problem, but a political one too. Organizations would say things like, “Sorry, we haven’t certified that cool new SQL Server 1982 here yet,…

Should There Be Ads in SSMS?

Last Updated January 8, 2026

Brent Ozar

SQL Server Management Studio

Some folks are seeing an ad at the top of their SSMS v22, like this one reported in the feedback site: Today, Microsoft’s using this to test ads for an upcoming conference. Interesting that they give deeper discounts to Reddit readers as opposed to SSMS users, but I digress. Tomorrow, they might be pushing SQL…

SSMS v22 Query Hint Recommendation Tool: The Invasion of the Query Hints

Last Updated October 14, 2025

Brent Ozar

SQL Server Management Studio

SQL Server Management Studio 22 Preview 3 is out, and it brings with it a new Query Hint Recommendation tool. Start by highlighting the query you want to test, then click Tools, Query Hint Recommendation Tool. It slides out a new pane on the right hand side: The maximum tuning time defaults to 300 seconds,…

Review: SSMS Copilot vs Other AI Tools

Last Updated May 28, 2025

Brent Ozar

SQL Server Management Studio

I use AI tools constantly in my work, so when the new SSMS v21 came out with Copilot support, I was excited to try it. The short story is that the user interface is fine, and it doesn’t feel buggy, but the advice is simply terrible compared to other LLMs due to the prompt Copilot is…

How I Configure SQL Server Management Studio v21

Last Updated May 21, 2025

Brent Ozar

SQL Server Management Studio

Several years ago, I wrote a post about how I configure older versions of SQL Server Management Studio, but now that SSMS v21 is out, it’s time to revisit that post. SSMS v21 is built on the Visual Studio shell, so it’s got a lot of cool new tricks. Let’s make sure you’re using ’em.…

How to Use Github in SSMS v21

Last Updated December 9, 2024

Brent Ozar

SQL Server Management Studio

SQL Server Management Studio v21 added native Git support, making it easier to use source control natively inside SSMS. This feature is for developers who are already used to working with Github to manage specific object changes as they work, and who are already accustomed to Git terminologies like branches, commits, pushes, and pulls. This…

The Way Developers and Users Interact is Broken.

Last Updated March 24, 2021

Brent Ozar

Azure Data Studio, SQL Server Management Studio

This month, to mark the 20th anniversary of BrentOzar.com, I’m stepping back and looking at the big picture rather than blogging about database problems & solutions like I usually do. Twenty years ago, I tried to switch to Linux. Again. That wasn’t my first attempt, nor was it my last – there were so many…

How I Configure SQL Server Management Studio

Last Updated August 2, 2018

Brent Ozar

SQL Server Management Studio

Ever go into Tools-Options? SSMS has a stunning number of options these days. Here are some of my favorites: Documents options On the Documents options, I uncheck “Check for consistent line endings on load” because I constantly get scripts with all kinds of wacko line endings. That warning is a pain in the butt. On…