Set Up SQL Express Sharing

After initial installation of SQL Express, the default settings will allow only programs running on the same computer as the SQL Express instance to connect. The following instruction sets will enable sharing the instance to allow other users on the network to connect.

These instructions can be used for SQL Express as well as the full version of SQL Server.

Allow Remote Connections via TCP/IP and Named Pipes

On the machine running the SQL Express instance, start the SQL Configuration Manager:

Select the Start button

As the menu appears, start to type SQL Configuration and select SQL Server (# XXXX) Configuration Manager from the list of items that appears

You may be prompted with a security pop-up window. Select Yes

In the tree view on the left pane of the window, select the SQL Server Network Configuration node, and then the Protocols for <instancename> node.

Double-click Named Pipes in the right pane, set Enabled to Yes.

Select OK.

Double-click TCP/IP in the right pane and set Enabled to Yes.

Select OK.

Turn on the SQL Server Browser

On the machine running the SQL Express instance, start the SQL Configuration Manager (see step 1 above)

In the tree view on the left pane, select SQL Server Services.

Double-click SQL Server Browser in the right pane.

From the Service tab, set Start Mode to Automatic.

Select Apply.

From the Log On tab, select the Start button.

Select OK.

Allow SQL Server through the Windows Firewall

Select the Start button

As the menu appears, start to type firewall and double-click on the Allow an App Through Windows Firewall option from the list of items that appear.

Depending on the version of Windows, the above option may not appear. If the Allow an App Through Windows Firewall doesn’t appear on the list, select the Windows Defender Firewall option, then select the Add an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall from the menu on the left of the Windows Defender Firewall pop-up window.

Click the Change Settings button.

Scroll to find the sqlservr.exe executable. If not available in the list, click the Allow another app… button in the lower-right of the window.

The location of this file depends on the version of SQL Express on your machine. It is most likely located in C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL##.TDG####\MSSQL\Binn (substitute #### for your SQL instance. You may need to check the Program Files x86 folder if it is not in the Program Files folder).

* If you have multiple SQL instances, you will want to add each of their executable files to the list.

Allow SQL Browser through the Windows Firewall

With the Add an app or feature through Windows Defender Firewall window still open, browse to find the sqlbrowser.exe executable.

This file is most likely located in the C:\Program Files(x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\90\Shared or similar. Browse through the various C:\Program Files(x86)\Microsoft SQL Server \##\Shared folders to find the file if need be.