Legacy Update: Get back online, activate, and install updates on your legacy Windows PC

Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Express is a powerful and reliable free data management system that delivers a rich and reliable data store for lightweight Web Sites and desktop applications.

• Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Express with SP1 are a free, feature-rich editions of SQL Server that is ideal for learning, developing, powering desktop, web & small server applications, and for redistribution by ISVs. The SQL Server 2012 SP1 Express release includes the full version of SQL Server 2012 Management Studio with SP1 instead of SQL Server 2012 Management Studio Express. For a complete list of supported features in SQL Server Management Studio, see Features in SQL Server Management Studio.
  
  LocalDB (SqlLocalDB)
  • LocalDB is a lightweight version of Express that has all its programmability features, yet runs in user mode and has a fast, zero-configuration installation and short list of pre-requisites. Use this if you need a simple way to create and work with databases from code. It can be bundled with Application and Database Development tools like Visual Studio and or embedded with an application that needs local databases.
  Express (SQLEXPR)
  • Express edition includes the SQL Server database engine only. Best suited to accept remote connections or administer remotely.
  Express with Tools (SQLEXPRWT)
  • This package contains everything needed to install and configure SQL Server as a database server including the full version of SQL Server 2012 Management Studio with SP1. Choose either LocalDB or Express depending on your needs above.
  SQL Server Management Studio Express (SQLManagementStudio)
  • This does not contain the database, but only the tools to manage SQL Server instances, including LocalDB, SQL Express, SQL Azure, full version of SQL Server 2012 Management Studio with SP1, etc. Use this if you already have the database and only need the management tools.
  Express with Advanced Services (SQLEXPRADV)
  • This package contains all the components of SQL Server Express including the full version of SQL Server 2012 Management Studio with SP1. This is a larger download than “with Tools,” as it also includes both Full Text Search and Reporting Services.
  
  
  
  To learn more about the features supported by the SQL server, please visit the MSDN SQL Server 2012 supported features site.
  

Files

Status: Live This download is still available on microsoft.com. The downloads below will come directly from the Microsoft Download Center.

File	Size
ENU/x64/SqlLocalDB.msi SHA1: b7e0c56dee14d4c3eedb8bcacef0938075f28bf1	33.07 MB
ENU/x86/SqlLocalDB.msi SHA1: 31152ba883715ab79697e08b39594bbc7f3a56c0	28.06 MB
SQLEXPR32_x86_ENU.exe SHA1: b889453971c4b672662f98e8908a669afa647161	127.64 MB
SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe SHA1: a9bd63b2a72afbf69c0a713f3152b12b522e2369	1.88 GB
SQLEXPRADV_x86_ENU.exe SHA1: a3c5ab50fe8252789b4f1ee5bc188d66a8c51188	1.79 GB
SQLEXPRWT_x64_ENU.exe SHA1: edb5ec8e250f5742f3ce59ebd6ae4d6daa1c6b06	1.04 GB
SQLEXPRWT_x86_ENU.exe SHA1: f9e3d2fdaffc261aa2b1336b8302a32204f0d2c3	1.04 GB
SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe SHA1: e15c2c539fa0506e677f623dd02da287e0977fd2	147.75 MB
SQLEXPR_x86_ENU.exe SHA1: 41bbeb391bfd49ca55a9697e083ca6b98c7285a2	132.80 MB
SQLManagementStudio_x64_ENU.exe SHA1: 0c1ae9576ecf3c5628c4c2bf7180c0508b07eda4	921.00 MB
SQLManagementStudio_x86_ENU.exe SHA1: 1d51e9e0c47a88462fc25a8047b567f520935c95	939.35 MB

File sizes and hashes are retrieved from the Wayback Machine’s indexes. They may not match the latest versions of files hosted on Microsoft servers.

• • Processor
  • Intel - compatible processor with a minimum speed of 1 GHz or a faster processor
  • RAM
  • Minimum 512 MB for SQL Server Express with Tools, and SQL Server Express with Advanced Services and 4 GB for Reporting Services that installs with SQL Server Express with Advanced Services
  • Hard Disk Space
  • 4.2 GB of Disk Space
  
  Limitations : Microsoft SQL Server Express supports 1 physical processor, 1 GB memory, and 10 GB storage

• Installation for the NEW users
  
  Step 1: EnableMicrosoft .Net Framework 3.5 SP1. and Download and install Microsoft .Net Framework 4.0.
  
  
  Note: SQL Server Express (with database engine only) can work with either .NET 3.5 SP1 or .NET 4, there is no need to have both enabled.
  
  
  Step 2: Download Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Express by clicking the appropriate link earlier, run it, and follow the instructions in the setup wizard to install.
  
  Installation for the Existing Users
  
  If you have an existing installation of Express with Tools, SQL Server Management Studio Express, or Express with Advanced Services, and want to add the complete SQL Server Management Studio feature to your Express instance, do the following:
  
  Step 1: Download the required Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Express SP1 file to update your current SQL Server 2012 Express installation by clicking the appropriate link earlier.
  
  Step 2: Run the file, and follow the instructions in the setup wizard to install. On the Installation Type page, select Add features to an existing instance of SQL Server, and select the instance you would like to update.
  
  Step 3: On the Feature Selection page, select the Management Tools – Complete check box, and then proceed to complete the installation.
  
  
  Note: Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Express includes both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. SQLEXPR32_x86 is a smaller package that can be used to install SQL Server 2012 Express SP1 onto only 32-bit operating systems. SQLEXPR_x86 is the same product but supports installation onto both 32-bit and 64-bit (WoW) operating systems. SQLEXPR_x64 is a native 64-bit SQL Server 2012 Express SP1 and supports installation onto only 64-bit operating systems. There is no other difference between these packages. Microsoft® SQL Server® 2012 Express is not supported on IA64 systems.