4 Methods to Change SQL Server Password

Have you ever forgotten your SQL Server Password? Did you reinstall or change SQL Server Password by some ways at that time? I once forgot my SQL Server sa password and I reinstalled MS SQL at last as I failed to find some good methods to solve the problem. What annoying and terrible experience it is! In order to avoid reinstalling SQL Server for a second time due to the same reason, so I collect some methods to reset SQL Server Password for sa account.

Method 1: Change SQL Server Password by Windows Authentication

If Builtin/Administrator is present in SQL Server, you can login with an ID which is member of Administrators group and reset sa password in SQL Server. Just do as follows:

1. Login into SQL server using Windows Authentication.
2. In Object Explorer, open Security folder, open Logins folder. Right Click on sa account and go to Properties.
3. Type a new SQL sa password, and confirm it. Click OK to finish.

After restarting SQL Server and all its services, you can log into SQL Server by sa login with new SQL sa password.

Method 2: Change SQL Password with Third Party Software

You aslo can get a third-party tool to change SQL password. MS SQL Server Password Unlocker is one of the good MS SQL password reset tools which can help you change SQL Server password in a few seconds. It allows you to change SQL Sa password on SQL Server and Express 2000/2005/2008.

Following is a guide for you to change Sa password with MS SQL Server Password Unlocker.

Step 1. Download and install MS SQL Server Password Unlocker.

Step 2. Run MS SQL Server Password Unlocker, click Open, and then import your master.mdf file. All the user names of your SQL Server will be displayed.
Open master.mdf File

Step 3. Select an SQL account, click Change password button.
Change SQL Password

Step 4. Type a new password, and then click OK. When the SQL account password has been reset, you can login with it.
Change sa Password

Method 3: Use Command Prompt to Change SQL Server Password

Step 1. Open a command prompt (Start -> Run -> cmd)

Step 2. Type the follow commands, and press Enter after each line:
Osql CS yourservername CE
1> EXEC sp_password NULL, yourpassword, sa
2> GO

Method 4: Change SQL Server Password with the Query Windows in Management Studio

Step 1. Open SQL Server Management Studio

Step 2. Open a new query

Step 3. Type the follow commands and excute:
GO
ALTER LOGIN [sa] WITH DEFAULT_DATABASE=[master]
GO
USE [master]
GO
ALTER LOGIN [sa] WITH PASSWORD=N'NewPassword' MUST_CHANGE
GO

Then the new password is set for your SQL Server sa account.

Well, the four solutions are the easy-to-use MS SQL Server Password Recovery ways.

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