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Rename columns (Database Engine)

  • Article
  • 02/04/2025

Applies to: SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later versions Azure SQL Database Azure SQL Managed Instance SQL database in Microsoft Fabric

You can rename a table column in SQL Server by using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL.

Limitations

Renaming a column doesn't automatically rename references to that column. You must modify any objects that reference the renamed column manually. For example, if you rename a table column and that column is referenced in a trigger, you must modify the trigger to reflect the new column name. Use sys.sql_expression_dependencies to list dependencies on the object before renaming it.

Renaming a column doesn't automatically update the metadata for any objects which SELECT all columns (using *) from that table. For example, if you rename a table column, and that column is referenced by a non-schema-bound view or function that selects all columns (using *), the metadata for the view or function continues to reflect the original column name. Refresh the metadata using sp_refreshsqlmodule or sp_refreshview.

Permissions

Requires ALTER permission on the object.

Use SQL Server Management Studio

Rename a column using Object Explorer

  1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of Database Engine.
  2. In Object Explorer, right-click the table in which you want to rename columns and choose Rename.
  3. Type a new column name.

Rename a column using table designer

  1. In Object Explorer, right-click the table to which you want to rename columns and choose Design.
  2. Under Column Name, select the name you want to change and type a new one.
  3. On the File menu, select Save table name.

You can also change the name of a column in the Column Properties tab. Select the column whose name you want to change and type a new value for Name.

Use Transact-SQL

Rename a column

The following example renames the column ErrorTime in the table dbo.ErrorLog to ErrorDateTime in the AdventureWorksLT database.

EXEC sp_rename 'dbo.ErrorLog.ErrorTime', 'ErrorDateTime', 'COLUMN';

Note the output warning, and verify other objects or queries aren't broken:

Caution: Changing any part of an object name could break scripts and stored procedures.

For more information, see sp_rename.

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