How to change SQL Server Instance Name?

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First collect the output of the current instance configuration. You can get the instance name stored in the SQL Server metadata.

Make sure you have backup of all the database if you are changing the production server instance name.

<br />
	sp_helpserver<br />
	select @@servername<br />

You can change the instance name using below query.
Default Instance

<br />
	sp_dropserver 'old_name'<br />
        go<br />
        sp_addserver 'new_name','local'<br />
	go<br />

Named Instance

<br />
	sp_dropserver 'Server Name\old_Instance_name'<br />
        go<br />
        sp_addserver 'ServerName\New Instance Name','local'<br />
	go<br />

Verify sql server instance configuration by running below queries

<br />
	sp_helpserver<br />
	select @@servername<br />

Restart the SQL Server Services.

<br />
	net stop MSSQLServer<br />
	net start MSSQLServer<br />

Renaming instances in the AI era

The procedure above still works — sp_dropserver and sp_addserver haven’t changed. Where this comes up in 2026 is consolidation: before a cloud migration or a container rollout, teams rename and merge instances so connection strings and automation stay sane. Get the naming right once, because every pipeline, agent, and dashboard downstream will hardcode it. If you’re heading down that modernization path, start here: Legacy to Cloud-Native: A Database Modernization Playbook

How to change sql server instance name

Comments

54 responses to “How to change SQL Server Instance Name?”

June 16, 2009

sandeep

can we create two instances in sql server standard edition?

plz explain.

Reply
1. June 17, 2009
  
  JShah
  
  Yes we can create two instances in standard edition
  
  Reply
January 11, 2010

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Reply
April 15, 2010

Umesh

Hi I have installed SQL server2008 on my machine with instance name “”UmeshSQL2008. but some components did not get installed. So i have reinstalled the the same with another instance name say “abcSQL2008”. Now as I have Windows7 installed on my machine there is some compatibility issue, so i have downloaded the service pack for SQL server2008 and tried to installed. but i a getting following error:
TITLE: SQL Server Setup failure.
——————————

SQL Server Setup has encountered the following error:

A failure was detected for a previous installation, patch, or repair for instance ‘UMESHSQL2008’ during configuration for features [SQL_Replication_Core_Inst,SQL_Engine_Core_Inst,MPT_AGENT_CORE_CNI,SQL_FullText_Adv,Analysis_Server_Full,RS_Server_Adv,]. In order to apply this patch package (KB968369), you must resolve any issues with the previous operation that failed. View the summary.txt log to determine why the previous operation failed.

Error code 0x84B20001

Please help me out why this is happening. how do i install the service pack for SQL server 2008.

Thanks

Reply
January 2, 2011

2010 in review « SQLDBPOOL.COM

[…] You All Very Happy and Prosperous New Year 2011Wishing you all Very happy and prosperous new yearHow to change SQL Server Instance Name?Transactions and Locks in SQL ServerDBA Roles and ResponsibilitiesNetwork Troubleshooting Dos […]

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March 19, 2011

Gbaksh

thanks a lot for this tip. It helped me a great deal.

Reply
March 27, 2011

chandra

Hi Jugal,
Are there any best practices on logshipping articles
what is the best way to copy the big log files / backup files in logshipping from primary server to secondary server

Reply
1. April 5, 2011
  
  Jugal Shah
  
  Log file shouldn’t be too big, if you have scenario go for compress backup. Again you can change the interval as well.
  
  Reply
July 15, 2011

Charlie

I changed the name of the instance and the sp_helpserver shows the new name but the dialog to connect to an instance still shows the old name. How do I get this to reset? I stopped and started the server instance.

Reply
1. July 27, 2011
  
  Jugal Shah
  
  Can you please check the registry as well? Is it a default instance or named instance?
  
  Reply
  1. July 27, 2011
    
    Charlie
    
    The registry has several hundred entries that match the instance name. The instance is a named instance. It looks like a lot of work that I do not have time to do. I just changed the name back to the old instance name for now.
August 2, 2011

binal pandya

I am trying to install sql server 2005 express,
But the insatallation has been failed with the error message that the instance is already running.
How can i solve this?
can u help me?

Reply
1. August 4, 2011
  
  Jugal Shah
  
  Try to install the named instance…
  
  Reply
October 7, 2011

Kamlesh

Thanks ..
It really work but you must add 1 step to restart the server

thanks again …

Reply
November 14, 2011

Jessica Godoy

HI,

is possible change the user of any instance?

Thanks in advance.

Jessica Godoy

Reply
1. November 15, 2011
  
  Jugal Shah
  
  yes you can change the user of any instance. Can you give me more information so I can guide you.
  
  Reply
November 15, 2011

ami

i have database in sqlserver2005 in my pc.so now a days my pc is act as server .bt i want to change server …so what i have to do????n is it affect to my programme???

Reply
1. November 15, 2011
  
  Jugal Shah
  
  I am not getting your question. If you want to move the DB server, you have to change the connection string in your programming language and have to restore the database to new machine.
  
  Let me know if you need more infromation.
  
  Reply
  1. November 17, 2011
    
    ami
    
    pls give me steps how to restore or copy database to new m/c???
  2. November 17, 2011
    
    Jugal Shah
    
    Hi Ami,
    First you have to take the backup of the database from the source server. You can take the backup using
    Backup database [DBName] to disk = ‘C:\dbName.bak’
    
    Next step is copy the the file to target server and execute the below command.
    Restore database [DBName] From disk = ‘C:\dbName.bak’
December 5, 2011

Fernando

Hi Jugal,

I have a scenario in of my production servers to change the default instance in SQL server 2000. Can the same steps be used in SQL 2000 also. If not could you please any suggestions and that would be very helpful.

Thanks in advance,
Fernando

Reply
1. December 6, 2011
  
  Jugal Shah
  
  Wait.. Can you tell me what exactly you want to do? You want to change the computer name or instance name?
  
  Please checkout my article http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/2525/steps-to-change-the-server-name-for-a-sql-server-machine/ for more information.
  
  Reply
  1. December 7, 2011
    
    Fernando
    
    I was in need of changing the instance name. But now i have opted with computer name change (cname). The article was useful and Thanks for the suggestion.
January 31, 2012

Ashish

You can change the instance name by this technique but while connecting to the server, you still need to mention the old name.
Though its surprising that when you run @@servername, it will give the new changed name. But if you try to connect with this new name, you will get error.

Reply
1. February 3, 2012
  
  Jugal Shah
  
  Hi Ashish, You can checkout my article on MSSQLTips.com http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/2525/steps-to-change-the-server-name-for-a-sql-server-machine/ for more information.
  
  You can’t change the instance name alone, you have to change the machine name as well. SQL Server name would be always machine name/mssqlserver for default instance and for named instance machine name\instance name. Let me know if you need more information.
  
  Reply
  1. May 9, 2012
    
    sandeep sonawane
    
    hi Jugal,
    
    This is the exact issue with me.
    I mine is a named instance of SQL2k8R2 and incorrectly named same as that of the servername. Hence making it “YSIINCONV2\YSIINCONV2” which I want to rename as “YSIINCONV2\SQL2k8R2”.
    
    So, in this case, why will I change my servername if it is not required? I want to change the instance name only. I have used sp_dropserver and sp_addserver which is showing results properly with sp_helpsever and select @@servername. But I need to connect using the old instance only.
    
    Please guide about what can be done. I dont want to uninstall and reinstall the instance, but still want to rename it as “YSIINCONV2\SQL2k8R2”
    
    Thanks a lot in advance.
    –Sandeep.
  2. May 11, 2012
    
    Jugal Shah
    
    Try to create the alias name and connect using that.
July 19, 2012

nagaraj

how to change servername in 2003? please advise me

Reply
1. July 23, 2012
  
  Jugal Shah
  
  Right My Computer and change the windows server name. and to change the SQL Server name follow the my article how to change the SQL instance name,
  
  Reply
July 22, 2012

DINESH DATTATRAY VISHE

net stop MSSQLServer after run following message getting

System error 5 occures..
Please help me what do ???

Reply
1. July 23, 2012
  
  Jugal Shah
  
  Check for the permission
  
  Reply
February 18, 2013

kumar

sir,i was uninstall the sql server 2005 because of some files missing.now i try to install the sql server 2005 again,it’s shows named instance “SQLExpress”,click on next button,it’s not move forward …please give the solution

Reply
1. February 19, 2013
  
  Jugal Shah
  
  It means still instance is present on the server, check registry, services.msc, program files, delete all…
  
  Reply
March 2, 2013

Annis

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Reply
July 9, 2013

preethi

Hi jugal i have downloaded one project which is in .net and sql server 2005 and trying to execute getting some error like network related or instance-specific error occured while establishing the connection to sql seever.the server not found or not accessible,verify that instance name is correct and that sql is configured to allow remote connections…i have installed sql-2005 n instance name is SQLEXPRESS..PLZ HELP ME

Reply
1. July 10, 2013
  
  Jugal Shah
  
  Check the connection string and make sure you have mentioned the correct SQL Server instance name. You can get the SQL instance name by executing Select @@servername query.
  
  Next is check protocols as well. Follow my article http://www.mssqltips.com/sqlservertip/2340/resolving-could-not-open-a-connection-to-sql-server-errors/
  
  Reply
  1. July 11, 2013
    
    preethi
    
    Got jugal….its executing…thank u very much:-)
  2. July 16, 2013
    
    Jugal Shah
    
    welcome
July 28, 2013

sql server change instance name 2008 r2? | Askjis

[…] You can get the instance name stored in the SQL Server metadata. Make sure you have backup of all the database if you are changing the production server instance name. … SQL Server 2008 R2 (180) SQL Server 2011 (Denali) (75) Windows OS (5) – read more […]

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March 11, 2015

MERCY MURITHI

HI I CHANGED MY NAMED INSTANCE BUT ITS NOT APPEARING

Reply
1. March 30, 2015
  
  Jugal Shah
  
  Named Instance name can’t be changed. For example sqldbpool\inst2 … you can change sqldbpool to dbpool but you can’t change INST2
  
  Reply
  1. April 13, 2015
    
    SRIKANTH
    
    hi sir im unable to trace my server name help me pls
  2. April 23, 2015
    
    Jugal Shah
    
    give me more information
December 9, 2015

dj bucuresti

I got tjis website from my pal who informed me concerning this web page and now thiis time
I am visiting this web sjte and readin very informative articles here.

Reply
January 30, 2016

purnachandra

I am first time installing SQL SERVER, I dont want default instance name(MSSQL SERVER),can we make it as Named Instance.

Reply
May 20, 2016

aziz

hi how i change id?

Reply
June 20, 2016

Chreddy

If it is a default instance, then how the SQL Server instance name will change? Do we need to change the host name before changing the SQL Server instance name? If not so, then what connection name I can use to connect to SQL Server instance?

Reply
June 22, 2016

Pavan

The server ‘repl_distributor’ is already defined as a Distributor. To reconfigure the server as a Distributor, you must first uninstall the exisiting Distributor. Use the stored procedure sp_dropdistributor, or use the Disable Publishing and Distribution Wizard.

Reply
June 22, 2016

Pavan

Cannot drop server ‘CALSQL4\TST1’ because it is used as a Subscriber to remote Publisher

Reply
July 5, 2016

Chandu

Hey Jugal!!

I am getting this ERROR”Transaction context in use by another session.” while I am trying to execute the SP’s across the Linked Servers.Please help me on this

Regards,

Chandu

Reply
December 30, 2016

Ashok

can a named instance listen on default port (1433) ?

Reply
1. January 30, 2017
  
  Jugal Shah
  
  Only if you configure it to listen it on 1433 and no other instance is using 1433
  
  Reply
February 20, 2019

Beth Wiebusch

Just what I needed. This is an excellent page.

Reply
September 25, 2026

2010 in review – aiDeeva.com

[…] How to change SQL Server Instance Name? September 2008 4 comments […]

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