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sqlcmd-start-utility.md

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title Start the sqlcmd Utility
description Learn how to start the sqlcmd utility, which lets you enter Transact-SQL statements, system procedures, and script files, in SQLCMD mode or in scripts and jobs.
author dlevy-msft
ms.author dlevy
ms.reviewer randolphwest
ms.date 07/02/2025
ms.service sql
ms.subservice tools-other
ms.topic how-to
ms.collection
data-tools
ms.custom
ignite-2025
monikerRange >=aps-pdw-2016 || =azuresqldb-current || =azure-sqldw-latest || >=sql-server-2016 || >=sql-server-linux-2017 || =azuresqldb-mi-current || =fabric-sqldb

Start the sqlcmd utility

[!INCLUDE SQL Server Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance Azure Synapse Analytics PDW FabricSQLDB]

The sqlcmd utility lets you enter Transact-SQL statements, system procedures, and script files at the command prompt, in SQLCMD mode in SQL Server Management Studio, and in a Windows script file or in an operating system (Cmd.exe) job step of a SQL Server Agent job.

Note

Windows Authentication is the default authentication mode for sqlcmd. To use SQL Server Authentication, you must specify a user name and password by using the -U and -P options.

By default, [!INCLUDE ssExpress] installs as the named instance sqlexpress.

Start the sqlcmd utility and connect to a default instance of SQL Server

  1. On the Start menu, select Run. In the Open box type cmd, and then select OK to open a Command Prompt window. (If you haven't connected to this instance of the [!INCLUDE ssDEnoversion] before, you might have to configure [!INCLUDE ssnoversion-md] to accept connections.)

  2. At the command prompt, type sqlcmd.

  3. Press ENTER.

    You now have a trusted connection to the default instance of [!INCLUDE ssnoversion-md] that is running on your computer.

    1> is the sqlcmd prompt that specifies the line number. Each time you press ENTER, the number increases by one.

  4. To end the sqlcmd session, type EXIT at the sqlcmd prompt.

Start the sqlcmd utility and connect to a named instance of SQL Server

  1. Open a Command Prompt window, and type sqlcmd -S<myServer\instanceName>. Replace <myServer\instanceName> with the name of the computer and the instance of the [!INCLUDE ssdenoversion-md] that you want to connect to.

  2. Press ENTER.

    The sqlcmd prompt (1>) indicates that you're connected to the specified instance of [!INCLUDE ssnoversion-md].

    The Transact-SQL statements you enter are stored in a buffer. They're executed as a batch when the GO command is encountered.

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