Merge pull request #36703 from MicrosoftDocs/main

Auto Publish – main to live - 2026-02-24 23:30 UTC

Author: learn-build-service-prod[bot]

azure-sql/database/free-offer.md

@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 ---
-title: Deploy for Free
+title: Try Azure SQL Database for Free
 description: Guidance on how to deploy the Azure SQL Database offer for up to 10 free databases.
 author: WilliamDAssafMSFT
 ms.author: wiassaf
@@ -22,10 +22,6 @@ To get started and quickly create a new free Azure SQL Database, select the **Tr
 
    :::image type="content" source="media/free-offer/show-options-create-sql-database.png" alt-text="Screenshot from the Azure portal showing the Azure SQL hub and the Try for free link in the Azure SQL Database pane." lightbox="media/free-offer/show-options-create-sql-database.png":::
 
-You know the offer has been applied when the **Cost summary** card on the right side of the page shows **Estimated Cost/Month** zero cost.
-
-:::image type="content" source="media/free-offer/cost-summary-card.png" alt-text="Screenshot from the Azure portal of the Free Offer Cost summary card.":::
-
 ## Prerequisites
 
 To create a free Azure SQL Database, you need:
@@ -37,9 +33,7 @@ To create a free Azure SQL Database, you need:
 
 ## Create a database
 
-Use the Azure portal to create the new free Azure SQL Database.
-
-To create a free offer database, follow these steps:
+Use the Azure portal to create the new free Azure SQL Database. To create a free offer database, follow these steps:
 
 1. Select the **Try for free** link on the [Azure SQL hub at aka.ms/azuresqlhub](https://aka.ms/azuresqlhub).
    - You can also find the **Apply offer** banner on the [provisioning page for Azure SQL Database](https://portal.azure.com/#create/Microsoft.SQLDatabase), and proceed with the steps to [Create a single database in the serverless compute tier](single-database-create-quickstart.md?view=azuresql-db&preserve-view=true&tabs=azure-portal#create-a-single-database).
@@ -56,7 +50,11 @@ To create a free offer database, follow these steps:
         - Use the automatically-created unique **Database name**, or provide a new name.
         - An existing logical **Server** is already selected. You can change this or create a new logical server.
 
-    That's all that's needed! The new database will be created with defaults, including the option to pause the database when the free limits are reached. This and other options can be changed in the future.
+   That's all that's needed! The new database will be created with defaults, including the option to pause the database when the free limits are reached. This and other options can be changed in the future.
+
+   You know the offer has been applied when the **Cost summary** card on the right side of the page shows **Estimated Cost/Month** zero cost.
+
+   :::image type="content" source="media/free-offer/cost-summary-card.png" alt-text="Screenshot from the Azure portal of the Free Offer Cost summary card.":::
 
 1. Select **Review + create**.
 1. Review and select **Create**.

azure-sql/managed-instance/free-offer.md

@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 ---
-title: Try for Free
+title: Try for Azure SQL Managed Instance for Free
 description: Learn how to deploy a free Azure SQL Managed Instance.
-author: Stralle
-ms.author: strrodic
-ms.reviewer: mathoma, randolphwest, vladiv
-ms.date: 09/25/2025
+author: WilliamDAssafMSFT
+ms.author: wiassaf
+ms.reviewer: mathoma, randolphwest, vladiv, strrodic
+ms.date: 02/24/2026
 ms.service: azure-sql-managed-instance
 ms.subservice: service-overview
 ms.topic: how-to
@@ -19,66 +19,50 @@ monikerRange: "=azuresql || =azuresql-mi"
 > - [Azure SQL Database](../database/free-offer.md?view=azuresql&preserve-view=true)
 > - [Azure SQL Managed Instance](free-offer.md?view=azuresql&preserve-view=true)
 
-This article describes the free offer of [Azure SQL Managed Instance](sql-managed-instance-paas-overview.md), which gets you the following capacity free of charge for the first 12 months:
-- a General Purpose or [Next-gen General Purpose](service-tiers-next-gen-general-purpose-use.md) instance
-- Up to 500 databases (based on the service tier)
-- 720 vCore hours of compute every month
-- 64 GB of storage
+This article describes the free offer of [Azure SQL Managed Instance](sql-managed-instance-paas-overview.md), which provides for the first 12 months a free instance with up to 500 databases, 720 vCore hours of compute, and 64 GB of storage.
 
-## Overview
+To get started, select the **Try for free** link on the [Azure SQL hub at aka.ms/azuresqlhub](https://aka.ms/azuresqlhub).
 
-The free Azure SQL Managed Instance offer is designed for:
-- New customers who want to explore SQL Managed Instance and get started with cloud-native SQL Server capabilities.
-- Existing customers who need a development environment to build proof-of-concept applications.
-- Testing existing SQL Server workloads in Azure before committing to a paid plan.
+   :::image type="content" source="media/free-offer/try-for-free.png" alt-text="Screenshot from the Azure SQL hub of the Try for free button for Azure SQL Managed Instance.":::
 
-To get started, [create a new Azure SQL Managed Instance](https://portal.azure.com/#browse/Microsoft.Sql%2FmanagedInstances) from the Azure portal. To use the free offer, select **Apply free offer** from the banner at the top of the [Create Azure SQL Managed Instance](https://portal.azure.com/#view/SqlAzureExtension/CreateManagedInstanceBladeV2/_provisioningContext~/) page, or select the **Try for free** link on the [Azure SQL hub at aka.ms/azuresqlhub](https://aka.ms/azuresqlhub).
+## Prerequisites
 
-:::image type="content" source="media/free-offer/free-sql-managed-instance-banner.png" alt-text="Screenshot from the Azure portal of the Free Offer banner.":::
+To create a free Azure SQL Database, you need:
 
-You know the offer is applied when the **Cost summary** card on the right side of the page shows **Estimated total** as **Free**.
+- An Azure account.
+- A [supported Azure subscription](#supported-subscription-types). There's a limit of 1 free offer SQL managed instance per subscription.
 
-:::image type="content" source="media/free-offer/cost-summary-card.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the Free Offer Cost summary card. Included in the details are 'First 64 GB of storage free' and '720 vCore hours free'.":::
+<a id="create-a-free-instance"></a>
 
-## What's included in the free offer
+## Create a free SQL managed instance
 
-The free SQL Managed Instance offer includes:
-- One General Purpose or Next-gen General Purpose SQL Managed Instance per subscription.
-- **720 vCore hours** every month for 12 months.
-- Creating up to **500 databases** in the Next-gen General Purpose service tier, or up to **100 databases** in the General Purpose service tier.
-- 64 GB of data storage.
-- SQL license for the instance.
-- Automatically backed up databases retained for up to seven days.
-- **Standard workday** [start/stop schedule enabled by default](#default-instance-schedule) to ensure efficient use of credits.
-- The instance automatically stops when you reach the monthly vCore limit. When you set the start/stop schedule on the instance, the next scheduled start succeeds when credits are available again.
-- No extra charges are applied until you decide to upgrade to paid version.
+Use the Azure portal to create a free Azure SQL Managed Instance. To create your free SQL managed instance, follow these steps:
 
-## Create a free instance
+1. Go to [Azure SQL hub at aka.ms/azuresqlhub](https://aka.ms/azuresqlhub).
+1. On the **Azure SQL Managed Instance** tile, select **Try for free** to open the **Create Azure SQL Managed Instance** page, with the free offer already applied:
 
-Use the Azure portal to create a free Azure SQL Managed Instance.
+   - Alternatively, you can go directly to the [Create Azure SQL Managed Instance](https://portal.azure.com/#view/SqlAzureExtension/CreateManagedInstanceBladeV2/_provisioningContext~/) page in the Azure portal. Then select **Apply free offer** from the banner at the top of the page. Proceed with the steps to [Create Azure SQL Managed Instance in the Azure portal](instance-create-quickstart.md).
 
-To create your free SQL managed instance, follow these steps:
+1. On the **Basics** tab:
+    1. Under **Project details**:
+        - Select your **Subscription**. Your current subscription is already selected.
+        - A new **Resource Group** with a default name is provided. You can use an existing group or create a new resource group with a different name.
+    1. Under **Managed Instance details**: 
+        - Use the automatically created unique **Managed Instance name**, or provide a new name.
+        - Choose a **Region**.
 
-1. Go to [Azure SQL hub at aka.ms/azuresqlhub](https://aka.ms/azuresqlhub).
-1. On the **Azure SQL Managed Instance** tile, select **Try for free** to open the **Create Azure SQL Managed Instance** page, with the free offer already applied:
+      That's all you need! The portal creates the new SQL managed instance with default settings.
 
-   :::image type="content" source="media/free-offer/show-options-create-sql-managed-instance.png" alt-text="Screenshot from the Azure portal of the Azure SQL hub, showing the Try for free  button for the  SQL Managed Instance button." lightbox="media/free-offer/show-options-create-sql-managed-instance.png":::
+   You know the offer is applied when the **Cost summary** card on the right side of the page shows **Estimated Cost/Month** zero cost.
 
-   Alternatively, you can go to the [Create Azure SQL Managed Instance](https://portal.azure.com/#view/SqlAzureExtension/CreateManagedInstanceBladeV2/_provisioningContext~/) page in the Azure portal directly, and then select **Apply free offer** from the banner at the top of the page.
+   :::image type="content" source="media/free-offer/cost-summary-card.png" alt-text="Screenshot from the Azure portal of the Free Offer Cost summary card.":::
 
-1. Check the **Estimated costs per month** to validate the free offer is applied to your instance.
-1. For **Resource group**, either select an existing resource group from the dropdown list or select **Create new** to create a new resource group. Enter the name of your resource group, such as `myFreeMIResourceGroup` and then select **OK**.
-1. Instance details such as the name and region, are already populated with default values but you can choose to modify these values.
-1. You can choose to leave the **Compute + storage** as default, or select **Configure Managed Instance** to update the number of vCores, and upgrade the service tier from General Purpose to [Next-gen General Purpose](service-tiers-next-gen-general-purpose-use.md).
-1. Select your preferred authentication method. Select **Next : Networking**.
-1. On the **Networking** tab, the public endpoint is enabled by default so you can connect to the instance from any application that can access the internet. You can choose to disable the public endpoint to test a closed environment and to [connect to your instance](#connect-to-your-instance).
-1. Select **Next: Security**. You can choose to leave these options as default, or modify them as needed.
-1. Select **Next: Additional settings**. You can choose to leave these options as default, or modify them as needed. The [instance schedule](#default-instance-schedule) is based on the time zone you configure on this page.
-1. Select **Review + create** to review your settings and then use **Create** to create your free instance.
+1. Select **Review + create**.
+1. Review and select **Create**.
 
 ## Connect to your instance
 
-The way to connect to your instance depends on whether or not you disabled the public endpoint when you created your instance. For more information about endpoints, review [Connectivity architecture](connectivity-architecture-overview.md#communication-overview).
+How you connect to your instance depends on whether you disabled the public endpoint when you created your instance. For more information about endpoints, see [Connectivity architecture](connectivity-architecture-overview.md#communication-overview).
 
 ### Public endpoint enabled
 
@@ -109,7 +93,7 @@ If you disable the public endpoint, you can choose to either [Create an Azure VM
 
 ## Default instance schedule
 
-To conserve credits, the free instance is scheduled to be on from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the time zone configured when you created the instance. If no time zone is configured, the default time zone is UTC. The time zone can't be modified after the instance is created.
+To conserve credits, the free instance is scheduled to be on from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in the time zone configured when you created the instance. If you don't configure a time zone, the default time zone is UTC. You can't modify the time zone after you create the instance.
 
 You can [modify the schedule](instance-stop-start-how-to.md) to suit your business needs.
 
@@ -130,7 +114,8 @@ To restore your database by using Transact-SQL in SQL Server Management Studio,
 1. Run the following command to check that your credential has access to the storage account:
 
    ```sql
-   RESTORE FILELISTONLY FROM URL = 'https://mitutorials.blob.core.windows.net/examples/WideWorldImporters-Standard.bak';
+   RESTORE FILELISTONLY 
+   FROM URL = 'https://mitutorials.blob.core.windows.net/examples/WideWorldImporters-Standard.bak';
    ```
 
 1. Run the following statement to restore the sample Wide World Importers database:
@@ -167,7 +152,7 @@ To upgrade your instance, follow these steps:
    :::image type="content" source="media/free-offer/upgrade-to-paid-offer.png" alt-text="Screenshot of the paid offer selected on the compute + storage page for your instance in the Azure portal." lightbox="media/free-offer/upgrade-to-paid-offer.png":::
 
 > [!NOTE]  
-> When you change a free SQL managed instance to a paid offer, the free offer is no longer available for that instance. To continue using the free offer, you must create a new instance and apply the free offer again.
+> When you change a free SQL managed instance to a paid offer, the free offer isn't available for that instance. To continue using the free offer, you must create a new instance and apply the free offer again.
 
 ## Clean up resources
 
@@ -186,9 +171,29 @@ Use a similar procedure to remove the individual free SQL managed instance resou
 > [!WARNING]  
 > Deleting a resource group is irreversible. Make sure you no longer need any of the resources it contains.
 
-## Free offer limits
+## What's included in the free offer
+
+The free Azure SQL Managed Instance offer is designed for:
+
+- New customers who want to explore SQL Managed Instance and get started with cloud-native SQL Server capabilities.
+- Existing customers who need a development environment to build proof-of-concept applications.
+- Testing existing SQL Server workloads in Azure before committing to a paid plan.
+
+The free SQL Managed Instance offer includes:
+
+- One General Purpose, Standard-series (Gen 5) SQL managed instance per subscription.
+- 4 vCores and **720 vCore hours** every month for 12 months.
+- Creating up to **500 databases** in the Next-gen General Purpose service tier, or up to **100 databases** in the General Purpose service tier.
+- 64 GB of data storage.
+- SQL license for the instance.
+- Automatically backed up databases retained for up to seven days with locally redundant backup storage in Azure.
+- **Standard workday** [start/stop schedule enabled by default](#default-instance-schedule) to ensure efficient use of credits.
+- The instance automatically stops when you reach the monthly vCore limit. When you set the start/stop schedule on the instance, the next scheduled start succeeds when credits are available again.
+- No extra charges are applied until you decide to upgrade to paid version.
+
+### Free offer limits
 
-The free Azure SQL Managed Instance offer is the same fully managed platform as a service (PaaS) instance you get with the paid version. It handles all of the same database management functions (such as upgrading, patching, backups, and monitoring) without user involvement. You can get one free instance per Azure subscription.
+The free Azure SQL Managed Instance offer is the same fully managed platform as a service (PaaS) instance you get with the paid version. It handles all of the same database management functions, such as upgrading, patching, backups, and monitoring, without user involvement. You can get one free instance per Azure subscription.
 
 The following table describes the limits of the free SQL Managed Instance:
 
@@ -218,13 +223,13 @@ Additionally, the following limitations apply:
 - The free offer is currently available in the [following regions](region-availability.md#free-offer).
 - If you delete a free SQL managed instance, you delete all its databases and can't restore them.
 
-## Monthly vCore limits
+### Monthly vCore limits
 
 The monthly free limits include 720 vCore hours of compute. Your free month of credits starts when you create your instance and renews on the same day of the following month.
 
 When you reach the monthly free vCore limit, the instance stops with a status of `Stopped - Insufficient credit`. A banner on the **Overview** page of your instance in the Azure portal gives you the option to create a new paid instance. You can [restore your database](point-in-time-restore.md#restore-an-existing-database) to the new instance to continue your business without the limits imposed by the free offer.
 
-The free vCore hours renew on the same date each month, starting the day the offer is applied. If your instance stops due to insufficient credits, then after you have credits available again, the instance starts automatically at the next scheduled start. You can also stop the instance manually at any time to avoid using up your free monthly vCore hours.
+The free vCore hours renew on the same date each month, starting the day the offer is applied. If your instance stops due to insufficient credits, then after you have available credits again, the instance starts automatically at the next scheduled start. You can also stop the instance manually at any time to avoid using up your free monthly vCore hours.
 
 On the **Overview** pane of your free instance in the Azure portal, you can identify:
 - **Pricing tier**: the free offer applied to your instance.

azure-sql/managed-instance/media/free-offer/connect-to-instance.png

@@ -289,8 +289,8 @@ Use `SQLBindParameter` to send vector values to SQL Server.
 ```
 
 - `ParameterValuePtr`: points to a populated `SQL_SS_VECTOR_STRUCT`
-- `ColumnSize`: ignored for vector data
-- `DecimalDigits`: ignored for vector data
+- `ColumnSize`: ignored for input parameters. For output parameters and data-at-execution scenarios, specify the total vector size: `sizeof(SQL_SS_VECTOR_STRUCT)` + (**float** array size)
+- `DecimalDigits`: ignored for input parameters. For output parameters and data-at-execution scenarios, specify the vector base type
 - `BufferLength`: ≥ `sizeof(SQL_SS_VECTOR_STRUCT)` + (dimension * `sizeof(float)`)
 - `*StrLen_or_IndPtr`: must contain the same total size
 

azure-sql/managed-instance/media/free-offer/cost-summary-card.png

@@ -378,6 +378,7 @@
           "relational-databases/system-tables/dbo-systargetservers-transact-sql.md",
           "database-engine/install-windows/upgrade-sql-server-using-the-installation-wizard-setup.md",
           "sql-server/failover-clusters/install/rename-a-sql-server-failover-cluster-instance.md",
+          "relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sql-server-agent-stored-procedures-transact-sql.md",
           "database-engine/install-windows/**/*.md"
         ]
       },