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How to: Start an Instance of SQL Server (net Commands)

The Microsoft SQL Server service can be started by using Microsoft Windows net commands.

To start the default instance of SQL Server

  • From a command prompt, enter one of the following commands:

    net start "SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)"

    -or-

    net start MSSQLSERVER

To start a named instance of SQL Server

  • From a command prompt, enter one of the following commands. Replace <instancename> with the name of the instance you want to manage.

    net start "SQL Server (instancename)"

    -or-

    net start MSSQL$instancename

To start SQL Server with startup options

  • Add startup options to the end of the net start "SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)" statement, separated by a space. When started using net start, startup options use a slash (/) instead of a hyphen (-).

    net start "SQL Server (MSSQLSERVER)" /f /m

    -or-

    net start MSSQLSERVER /f /m

    Note

    For more information about startup options, see Using the SQL Server Service Startup Options.