# How to set up MSQL server to accept TCP/IP connections

**URL:** <https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-to-set-up-msql-server-to-accept-tcp-ip-connections/108233>\
**Category:** General Discussion\
**Created:** [July 8, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-to-set-up-msql-server-to-accept-tcp-ip-connections/108233 "2025-07-08T14:58:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Daniel\_Whitlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/8edcca/32.png) [@Daniel\_Whitlock](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/Daniel_Whitlock)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2025, 2:58pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-to-set-up-msql-server-to-accept-tcp-ip-connections/108233/1 "2025-07-08T14:58:34Z")

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I am trying to do the practice test for gold certification, and my database won't connect. The error says that it is because the database is not configured for tcp/ip. All of the tutorials I can find online use an older version of Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio. Do any of you know how to configure a server to accept tcp/ip connections using Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio v20?

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**Author:** ![MMaynard](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/mmaynard/32/3366_2.png) [@MMaynard](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/MMaynard)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2025, 3:02pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-to-set-up-msql-server-to-accept-tcp-ip-connections/108233/2 "2025-07-08T15:02:29Z")

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You need to use SQL Server Configuration Manager, not Studio.  
Go to your instance in it, double click it, set Enabled to YES for TCP

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**Author:** ![kvane](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/inductiveautomation/user_avatar/forum.inductiveautomation.com/kvane/32/22228_2.png) [@kvane](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/u/kvane)\
**Post date:** [July 8, 2025, 3:28pm UTC](https://forum.inductiveautomation.com/t/how-to-set-up-msql-server-to-accept-tcp-ip-connections/108233/3 "2025-07-08T15:28:36Z")

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The fix is here in the User Manual as well:

> **[Connecting to Microsoft SQL Server Express | Ignition User Manual](https://www.docs.inductiveautomation.com/docs/8.1/platform/database-connections/connecting-to-databases/connecting-to-microsoft-sql-server-express#check-1-make-sure-the-database-has-tcpip-enabled)**
>
> This guide helps you with any difficulties you may have in getting the correct settings and parameters when connecting Ignition to Microsoft SQL Serverv