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Import and export settings for SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS)

This tutorial describes how to import settings from another installation of SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS), and how to export settings from SSMS. In this article, you learn how to:

  • Import settings
  • Export settings
  • Reset all settings

Import user settings

The first time you open SSMS after you install a major release, SSMS prompts you to import user settings:

Screenshot showing the import user settings dialog box.

The Import User Settings dialog only appears on the first launch of a newly installed version. For example, if you have SSMS 21.6.x installed on your machine and install SSMS 22.5.x, the dialog appears. If you have SSMS 22.4.x installed and you install SSMS 22.5.x, the import dialog doesn't appear.

For a new installation of SSMS 22, you can import settings from SSMS 20 or SSMS 21, or not import any settings.

Choosing to import settings in this dialog only imports connection settings. After the import is complete, open the connection dialog. Within the Server name dropdown list, you see the servers that exist in the version of SSMS from which you imported settings. The connection settings for each server, such as Authentication and User name, are also imported.

Import environment settings

  1. To import environment settings from another installation of SSMS, select Tools > Import and Export Settings....

  2. In the welcome dialog, select Import selected environment settings, then select Next.

  3. If there are changes to environment settings that you want to save, select Yes, save my current settings, and enter a filename and location for the settings file. Otherwise, select No, just import new settings, overwriting my current settings. Select Next.

  4. Choose the settings file that you want to import, and select Next.

  5. Choose the settings to import, then select Finish.

Export environment settings

  1. To export environment settings from an existing installation of SSMS, select Tools > Import and Export Settings....

  2. In the welcome dialog, select Export selected environment settings, then select Next.

  3. Choose the settings to export, then select Next.

  4. Enter a filename and location for the settings file, then select Finish.

Reset settings to the default

  1. To restore default settings, select Tools > Import and Export Settings....

  2. In the welcome dialog, select Reset all settings, then select Next.

  3. If there are changes to environment settings that you want to save, select Yes, save my current settings, and enter a filename and location for the settings file. Otherwise, select No, just import new settings, overwriting my current settings. Select Next.

  4. Choose the collection of settings to restore, then select Finish.

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