Login into SQL Server using Windows Authentication.
In Object Explorer, open Security folder, open Logins folder. Right Click on SA account and go to Properties.
Change SA password, and confirm it. Click OK.
Make sure to restart the SQL Server and all its services and test new password by log into system using SA login and new password.
Reference : Pinal Dave (https://darkslategrey-bat-805937.hostingersite.com)
UPDATE : There has been discussion about restarting the SQL Server and all its services. Please read all of them before making final decision for your scenario.
262 Comments. Leave new
Mahenra,
I see no point discussing this topic as Pinal has posted update in original article. As well, people are unnecessary stuck on this one topic. Everybody just try to see other articles, they are EXTREMELY WONDERFUL.
Pinal Dave Hats Off to you. I accept you as authority.
Ronald (MCITP, MCSE)
Mahendra asked “Has anybody tested the theory what is being claimed?” I have done so. I changed the sa password and could immediately logon with the new password and not the old one. I repeated the test and obtained the same results. At no point did I restart the SQL Server service or any other service. This conflicts with what Mahendra reported.
I’d like to put this issue to rest as quickly and constructively as possible. To that end, I ran the following query and tested the password change:
select @@version
This revealed I am running:
SQL Server 2005 SP2 Developer Edition (64-bit) version 9.00.3054.00
Let’s get some other people to follow the steps described in the article and report the results along with the SQL Server version being used as report by the above query.
Just to make sure I am not misinterpreted, I am stating that after changing the password, SQL Server should not be restarted.
hi,
i want nobody open my quary window ,how i do for it.
Unbelievable the comments and posts from these people. Here’s my suggestion…don’t restart sql. Here’s my second suggestion…restart sql. Take your pick and move on.
I totally agree with vermontmike.
Yeah the best suggestion.
Hi Pinal Dave,
This is Srikanth ,i am working with sql server 2005 studio i
want 2 work with sql server authentication mode so i tried to
change the password for sa but i am getting error when i am
changing the password for sa login id , And i cant create a
new login id also it is also becoming the same problem ,can u
tell me wat to do
Hi Dave,
I have one query…I have installed reporting and analysis services on my server. I dont have management studio as well as database service installed….How can I change my ‘sa’ password..Any help would be appreciated..
Thanks
Hi Guys,
It is the best practice to restart the SQL server service whicle you change in the server level change.
Changing the SA password is also comes under reconfig SQL server configuration.
Microsoft itself recommanded to restart the SQL server, once you done with your reconfig on the server.
Thanks,
Manoj
hi there, i did everything u mentioned step by step, , when i go to log in as sa, it doesnt even show on the drop down bar (no user), so i just write it in, and then write the new password and it gives me the error 18452,so i logged in with windows authentication and i see everytime i change the password, it restarts to the default one it had since i installed sql server 2005 (which i dont know what it is) on the pc, im on windows vista…\Plz need help cz im just cursing data base at uni, and with this problem i cant go ahead with my project :(….
how to change the user name sa and password in sql 2000
Thanks…
What a dumb discussion. You should probably all have your estrogen levels checked, they seem a bit high. I will not be back, so don’t waste time resonding to me.
Thanks for the blog Pinal.
Sir,
I have working in with sql server 2005 studio. I want to change sa users password. Also i have change password & restart Sql server by using new password. sql server open. can you tell me any other possibilities to may cause the sql server.
Sql server Engine having user id sa password ranjith when i entered databases are shown. my problem how to set separate password to each database.
Sql server Engine having user id sa password ranjith when i entered databases are shown. my problem when user try to open database on enterprise manager it should ask password. how to set separate password to each database.
Hi Pinal
Information on this page was just thing I needed as I am complete newbie to MS SQL server interface.
many thanks
Ashish
Hi All,
I think this is good for discussing the topic with one another, but it should not hurt anyone by words……That could be fine for all of us.
hi,
this is suresh,can anyone help me..
i am using windows vistha,.net2008 so i want to install sqlserver2008express edition.while installing this i am getting this error..”invalid loginid or you do not have permissions”..
4times i installed still smae problem ..plz help me..
thanks in advance…
u r’s
suresh
Hi,
Here i have this problem.
I changed pass for sa from Server Management for a MSSQL 2005 server and all went ok till i tried to execute my maintenance plan.
I get the following error:
Login failed for user ‘sa’. [CLIENT: ]
I tried to delete the plan and i get same error.
I made a new plan an it worked,
The old plan i put it in disable.
Anyone has any idea why this happen?
actually i downloaded SQL management studio 2005 frm net. but was not able to connect can any1 plz help me out