Create a database connection

You can create a database connection using the Database Connection Properties dialog.

To create a connection:

1. Open the Database Connection Properties dialog in one of these ways:

In the Database menu, select New Connection.
On the Database Explorer toolbar, click .
In Database Explorer, right-click an existing connection, then select New Connection.
In Database Explorer, right-click anywhere in the pane, then select New Connection.

2. On the Database Connection Properties > General tab, configure the connection parameters:

2.1. In Server, enter the server name or select the server:

Recent – The SQL Server instances you connected to recently.
Local – The SQL Server instances installed and running on this computer.
Imported from SSMS – The SQL Server instances from your SSMS connection list.

Tip

To scan your local network for available SQL Server instances, click Refresh. Any database servers found within your network appear under Network in Server.

2.2. In Authentication, select the authentication mode:

Windows Authentication – Uses Windows credentials to connect to SQL Server. You don’t need to enter a username or password since the operating system manages authentication automatically.
SQL Server Authentication – Uses a SQL Server user name and password. The credentials are stored in SQL Server and are independent of Windows accounts.
Microsoft Entra MFA – Uses multi-factor authentication through Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD). It requires an additional verification method, such as a phone app, text message, or hardware token, to confirm the user’s identity during sign-in.
Microsoft Entra Password – Authenticates users with Microsoft Entra ID credentials (user name and password). This method works similar to SQL Server authentication but is managed centrally by Microsoft Entra ID.
Microsoft Entra Integrated – Automatically signs you in with your current Microsoft Entra ID credentials, similar to Windows Authentication but for cloud-based identity management.

For instructions, see How to connect with Microsoft Entra ID authentication.

Note

To connect to SQL Server on a custom port, enter the server name followed by a comma and the port number—for example, localhost,62005.

2.3. In Login, enter the database user name.

2.4. In Password, enter the database user password. By default, the password is saved automatically.

To prevent dbForge Studio from saving the password, clear Allow saving password.

2.5. In the Database box, enter the name of a SQL database you want to connect to, or select the database from the list.

To hide all databases available for the connection in Database Explorer, clear the checkbox.

By default, Show all databases is selected.

2.6. Optional: In Connection Name, the name is generated automatically from the server name. To use a different name, enter it manually.

2.7. Optional: In Environment Category, select the document category: Development, Production, Sandbox, or Test.

Note

Categories are not associated with a specific connection. They are determined by rules configured through connection attributes, such as a data source (a name or network address of the SQL Server instance to connect to) and a database name. If two connections share identical values for these attributes, they are assigned the same category.

Alternatively, you can create a DNS alias for the connection to assign a unique environment category.

To create a new environment category, select Browse. For instructions on customizing environment categories, see Window connection coloring.

Choose server properties in the Database Connection Properties dialog

3. Optional: On the Advanced tab of the Database Connection Properties dialog, configure the advanced connection properties:

3.1. In Connection timeout, set the maximum amount of time, in seconds, that the Studio waits to connect to the server before it stops the attempt and returns an error.

3.2. In Execute timeout, the maximum amount of time, in seconds, that the Studio waits for a command to run before it stops the operation and returns an error.

3.3. Select Encrypt connection to encrypt the connection.

3.4. In Enter additional string connection parameters, enter additional parameters to include in the connection string.

4. Optional: To verify the connection settings, select Test Connection.

A success message confirms the connection.

5. Click Connect.

Video tutorial

Watch this video to learn how to connect to a SQL Server database in dbForge Studio for SQL Server.