Microsoft SQL Server 2019 — Installation and Activation Guide

Step 1: Download the installation kit
Microsoft SQL Server 2019 can be downloaded from this link.

Step 2: Start the installation
After downloading the installer, run the setup executable (setup.exe). The SQL Server Installation Center will open, providing several installation options. Select “New SQL Server stand-alone installation or add features to an existing installation” to begin a fresh install.

Step 3: Choose the installation type
During setup, you will be prompted to choose between the following options:

  • Evaluation — a fully featured trial version, valid for 180 days, no product key required;
  • Developer — a free full-featured edition for development and testing purposes only, not for production use;
  • Enter a product key — use this option if you have a valid licensed key for Standard, Enterprise, or another edition.

For this guide, select Evaluation to proceed with the free trial, which can later be converted to a licensed edition.

Step 4: Accept the license terms
Read and accept the Microsoft Software License Terms to continue with the installation. You can optionally check the box to send feature usage data to Microsoft.

Step 5: Check for updates
SQL Server setup will offer to check Microsoft Update for the latest product updates. It is recommended to include updates to ensure the installation includes the latest patches and security fixes.

Step 6: Select features
On the Feature Selection screen, choose the components you want to install. The most commonly selected features are:

  • Database Engine Services — the core SQL Server engine, required for all database operations;
  • SQL Server Replication — required if you plan to use replication between servers;
  • Full-Text and Semantic Extractions for Search — enables full-text search capabilities;
  • SQL Server Management Tools — optionally install SSMS (SQL Server Management Studio) separately after the main installation.

Select the features relevant to your environment and continue.

Step 7: Configure the instance
Choose between installing a Default Instance (MSSQLSERVER) or a Named Instance. For most standard deployments, the default instance is recommended. If you already have a SQL Server instance installed on the machine, use a named instance to avoid conflicts.

Step 8: Configure the service accounts
On the Server Configuration screen, assign service accounts for the SQL Server services:

  • SQL Server Database Engine
  • SQL Server Agent

Microsoft recommends using separate low-privilege accounts for each service. You can use built-in virtual accounts or domain accounts depending on your environment.

Step 9: Configure the Database Engine
On the Database Engine Configuration screen:

  • Choose the Authentication Mode:
    • Windows Authentication Mode — recommended for domain environments;
    • Mixed Mode — enables both Windows and SQL Server authentication. If selected, set a strong password for the sa account.
  • Add at least one Windows account as a SQL Server Administrator.
  • Configure the Data Directories if you want to store database files on a different drive from the default.

Step 10: Complete the installation
Review the installation summary and click Install. The setup process will install all selected components. This may take several minutes depending on the features selected and the hardware performance.

After the installation is complete, the setup will display a summary of all installed components with their status.

Step 11: Install SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)
SQL Server Management Studio is not included in the SQL Server installer and must be downloaded separately. It can be downloaded from this link.

SSMS is the primary graphical tool for managing SQL Server instances, databases, users, and security settings.

Step 12: Verify the installation
After installation, open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and connect to your SQL Server instance. If the connection is successful, the installation has completed correctly.

You can also verify the version and edition by running the following query in SSMS:

sql
SELECT @@VERSION;

This will return the full version string, including the edition (Evaluation, Standard, Enterprise, etc.) and the build number.

Step 13: Convert Evaluation to a licensed edition
If you installed the Evaluation edition and later obtain a valid product key, you can upgrade to a licensed edition without reinstalling SQL Server. To do this:

  • Open the SQL Server Installation Center again by running setup.exe from the original installation media;
  • Select “Edition Upgrade” from the left-hand menu;
  • Enter your valid product key for SQL Server 2019 Standard or Enterprise;
  • Follow the wizard to complete the edition upgrade.

After the upgrade, restart the SQL Server service for the changes to take effect.

Step 14: Activate the license
SQL Server 2019 activation is tied to the product key entered during installation or during the edition upgrade process. Unlike Windows Server, SQL Server does not require a separate online activation step — the license is validated through the product key at installation time.

To confirm the currently active edition, run the following query in SSMS:

sql
SELECT SERVERPROPERTY('Edition');