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Change the Password of the Accounts Used by SQL Server (SQL Server Configuration Manager)

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This topic describes how to change the password of the accounts used by the Database Engine and the SQL Server Agent in SQL Server 2014 by using SQL Server Configuration Manager. The SQL Server Database Engine and SQL Server Agent run on a computer as a service using credentials that are initially provided during setup. If the instance of SQL Server is running under a domain account and the password for that account is changed, the password used by SQL Server must be updated to the new password. If the password is not updated, SQL Server may lose access to some domain resources and if SQL Server stops, the service will not restart until the password is updated.

To change SQL Server Authentication passwords, see Password Expired.

Before You Begin

SQL Server Configuration Manager is the tool designed and authorized to change the settings of the SQL Server services. Changing a SQL Server service by using the Windows Service Control Manager (services.msc) application does not always change all of the necessary settings and might prevent the service from functioning properly. However, in a clustered environment, after changing the password on the active node by using SQL Server Configuration Manager, you must change the password on the passive node by using the Service Control Manager.

Security

Permissions

You must be an administrator of the computer to change the password used by a service.

Using SQL Server Configuration Manager

To change the password used by the SQL Server (Database Engine) service

  1. Click the Start button, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2014, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Configuration Manager.

    Note

    Because SQL Server Configuration Manager is a snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console program and not a stand-alone program, SQL Server Configuration Manager does not appear as an application in newer versions of Windows.

    • Windows 10:
      To open SQL Server Configuration Manager, on the Start Page, type SQLServerManager12.msc (for SQL Server 2014). For previous versions of SQL Server replace 12 with a smaller number. Clicking SQLServerManager12.msc opens the Configuration Manager. To pin the Configuration Manager to the Start Page or Task Bar, right-click SQLServerManager12.msc, and then click Open file location. In the Windows File Explorer, right-click SQLServerManager12.msc, and then click Pin to Start or Pin to taskbar.
    • Windows 8:
      To open SQL Server Configuration Manager, in the Search charm, under Apps, type SQLServerManager<version>.msc such as SQLServerManager12.msc, and then press Enter.

  2. In SQL Server Configuration Manager, click SQL Server Services.

  3. In the details pane, right-click SQL Server (<instancename>), and then click Properties.

  4. In the SQL Server (<instancename>) Properties dialog box, on the Log On tab, for the account listed in the Account Name box, type the new password in the Password and Confirm Password boxes, and then click OK.

    The password takes effect immediately, without restarting SQL Server.

To change the password used by the SQL Server Agent service

  1. Click the Start button, point to All Programs, point to Microsoft SQL Server 2014, point to Configuration Tools, and then click SQL Server Configuration Manager.

  2. In SQL Server Configuration Manager, click SQL Server Services.

  3. In the details pane, right-click SQL Server Agent (<instancename>), and then click Properties.

  4. In the SQL Server Agent (<instancename>) Properties dialog box, on the Log On tab, for the account listed in the Account Name box, type the new password in the Password and Confirm Password boxes, and then click OK.

    On a stand-alone instance of SQL Server, the password takes effect immediately, without restarting SQL Server. On a clustered instance, SQL Server might take the SQL Server resource offline, and require a restart.

See Also

Managing Services How-to Topics (SQL Server Configuration Manager)