How to connect to LocalDb

Question

I installed LocalDb using the SqlLocalDb.msi package and I can connect to it using SSMS using the server name (LocalDb)\v11.0. So far so good. The problem is that when I try to connect to it via a .NET 4.5 application I get the error

The server was not found or was not accessible.

I started with the connection string Data Source=(LocalDb)\v11.0 and then added many things to no avail (integrated security true/sspi, attaching a db, using instances, etc.)

Possible duplicate of [Unable to connect to localDB in VS2012 – "A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server..."](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12463228/unable-to-connect-to-localdb-in-vs2012-a-network-related-or-instance-specific) — , May 31 '16 at 14:37
Looking at all these answers, I thought LocalDb was supposed to make things simpler? Seems to be another layer of complexity and confusion. — Steve Smith, Mar 26 '20 at 15:24

score 127 · Answer 1 · edited Feb 23 '16 at 09:48

127

I am totally unable to connect to localdb with any tool including MSSMA, sqlcmd, etc. You would think Microsoft would document this, but I find nothing on MSDN. I have v12 and tried (localdb)\v12.0 and that didn't work. Issuing the command sqllocaldb i MSSQLLocalDB shows that the local instance is running, but there is no way to connect to it.

c:\> sqllocaldb i MSSQLLocalDB
Name:               MSSQLLocalDB
Version:            12.0.2000.8
Shared name:
Owner:              CWOLF-PC\cwolf
Auto-create:        Yes
State:              Running
Last start time:    6/12/2014 8:34:11 AM
Instance pipe name: np:\\.\pipe\LOCALDB#C86052DD\tsql\query
c:\>
c:\> sqlcmd -L

Servers:
    ;UID:Login ID=?;PWD:Password=?;Trusted_Connection:Use Integrated Security=?;
*APP:AppName=?;*WSID:WorkStation ID=?;

I finally figured it out!! the connect string is (localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB, e.g.:

$ sqlcmd -S \(localdb\)\\MSSQLLocalDB
1> select 'hello!'
2> go

------
hello!

(1 rows affected)

edited Feb 23 '16 at 09:48

Wai Ha Lee

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answered Jun 12 '14 at 13:15

Chris Wolf

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I have been sitting here for 2 hours trying to figure out where this db is. Thank you – Dave Thompson Aug 19 '15 at 20:29
4

Thank you! It took me forever to figure out it was (localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB – Patrick Borkowicz Oct 07 '15 at 15:58
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Thank you! I've been looking for `(localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB` for ages, too. – Marcel Feb 26 '16 at 12:06
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thank you. I tried to copy from appsettings file in .net core project: `"DefaultConnection": "Server=(localdb)\\mssqllocaldb;` It was the double back slashes that got me! – Norbert Norbertson Dec 15 '16 at 16:08
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after adding "" around (localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB, the command sqlcmd -S "(localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB" worked for me – Thor Sep 28 '21 at 13:33
I don't think 1 upvote is enough. For too long I have struggled to figure this out. – user14773854 Jul 25 '22 at 20:41
@Thor your edit worked for me too – Mitch Aug 01 '22 at 14:42

Edward Brey · Answer 2 · 2018-11-01T11:29:17.920

125

Use (localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB. That is the LocalDB instance intended for applications, independent of Visual Studio version.

Disregard my original answer: "With SQL Server 2014 Express LocalDB, use (localdb)\ProjectsV12. This works in both Visual Studio 2013 and SQL Server 2014 Management Studio." While ProjectsV12 will indeed give you a LocalDB instance, it's the wrong one, intended for use by SQL Server Data Tools.

edited Nov 01 '18 at 11:29

answered May 14 '14 at 15:22

Edward Brey

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Nice... I didn't know this and was still using `(LocalDb)\v11.0 (SQL Server 11.0.3128)` while the server version bumped with `(LocalDb)\ProjectsV12 (SQL Server 12.0.2000)`. – Leniel Maccaferri Jul 10 '14 at 01:03
1

Thank you!! using `(localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB` worked for me in mssms 2017 – Sumedha Vangury Mar 18 '18 at 11:06
What happens when you want to deploy to Docker container? How does that get deployed? – Rod Nov 03 '22 at 20:35

score 44 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:02

44

I think you hit the same issue as discussed in this post. You forgot to escape your \ character.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:02

Community

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answered Sep 21 '12 at 17:02

Krzysztof Kozielczyk

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It only hurts the first time though :-) After that you know immediately what's happening. – Krzysztof Kozielczyk Sep 24 '12 at 21:09

score 42 · Answer 4 · answered Mar 12 '19 at 21:20

42

Use (localdb)\MSSQLLocalDBwith Windows Auth

answered Mar 12 '19 at 21:20

Baqer Naqvi

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score 15 · Answer 5 · answered Jan 17 '22 at 19:07

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To connect to LocalDB from Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio or VS2019 and higher versions use the server name as (LocalDB)\MSSQLLocalDB with Windows Authentication

answered Jan 17 '22 at 19:07

deerishi

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score 2 · Answer 6 · answered Mar 06 '14 at 14:37

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I was able to connect from SSMS using "(LocalDb)\Projects". That's the way it appears in VS2012 as well.

answered Mar 06 '14 at 14:37

JK.

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I found this, too. I had to list the instances using `sqllocaldb.exe -i` - you'll see there's 3 for 2014 - then start the instance, then my connection string from various online sources was wrong for SSMS/VS14 tools, should be just `(localdb)\ProjectsV12` – Luke Puplett Dec 08 '14 at 10:35
there's no dash - it's just `sqllocaldb.exe i` – Simon_Weaver Mar 10 '16 at 22:53

score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Oct 10 '18 at 17:45

2

Your Connection string should be like`

Data Source=(localdb)\ProjectsV13;Initial Catalog=master;Integrated Security=True;Connect Timeout=30;Encrypt=False;TrustServerCertificate=False;ApplicationIntent=ReadWrite;MultiSubnetFailover=False

answered Oct 10 '18 at 17:45

SUNIL DHAPPADHULE

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What is "ProjectsV13"? – Steve Smith Mar 26 '20 at 15:23
ask it vs developers from ms – user1005462 Aug 11 '20 at 13:21
it doesn work from MSSqlServer – Kate Jun 17 '22 at 23:44
ProjectsV13 is name of database (in the example). – JoshYates1980 Jun 16 '23 at 22:18

score 2 · Answer 8 · answered Aug 03 '19 at 15:00

 <add name="Default" connectionString="Data Source=(LocalDb)\MSSqlLocalDB; Initial Catalog=CRM_Default_v1; Integrated Security=True"
      providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>

your web.config files in visual studio under connectiionString or Go to View > SQL Server Object Viewer > Add Sql Server> add your server there

score 1 · Answer 9 · answered Jun 19 '16 at 21:32

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You can connect with MSSMS to LocalDB. Type only in SERVER NAME: (localdb)\v11.0 and leave it by Windows Authentication and it connects to your LocalDB server and shows you the databases in it.

answered Jun 19 '16 at 21:32

TRIXX

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Sanju Bhaskar K S · Answer 10 · 2020-04-24T13:09:52.127

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Suppose: SqlConnection connectionObj = new SqlConnection()

for : connectionObj.ConnectionString -> use server name : (localdb)\\MSSQLLocalDB.

Note: Double back slash

for : App.config -> use server name : (localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB

Note: Single back slash

edited Apr 24 '20 at 13:09

answered Apr 22 '20 at 17:06

Sanju Bhaskar K S

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Single slash on first line was a typing mistake. Actually, I meant to answer the question. What I have mentioned refers to the pattern in which server names have to be provided in each of the two scenarios,i.e while giving it as [connectionObj.ConnectionString = "Server = (localdb)\\MSSQLLocalDB; Database = database_name; Integrated security = SSPI"] and in config file : [ ]. – Sanju Bhaskar K S Apr 24 '20 at 13:21

score 1 · Answer 11 · answered May 24 '22 at 05:21

1

Dont waste time with the stress just use (localdb)\mssqllocaldb as your connection string and also as your as your server name in Microsoft SQL Server, It worked for me and it could work for you if you go through the right process

answered May 24 '22 at 05:21

Obilomania

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score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Aug 04 '20 at 04:30

0

To locate a DB from SQL Server management studio can be done through browse - in the connect to database screen

enter image description here

Also make sure a local database is installed during installation:

enter image description here

answered Aug 04 '20 at 04:30

rchacko

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score 0 · Answer 13 · answered Apr 17 '23 at 15:54

If you are running the MSSQL Database from a docker image (as described on the link here), in the Server Name field, just type 127.0.0.1, <port number>.

Reference: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/linux/sql-server-linux-manage-ssms?view=sql-server-ver16

How to connect to LocalDb

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