Microsoft SQL Server 2008: Resetting a SQL User Password

Friday, January 20th, 2012 by ilya (See all posts by ilya)

Sometimes, you might run into a situation where you need to reset the password for a SQL user account. The process is quite simple and is described below.

Step 1: Open an elevated command prompt and run the following command to stop SQL services:

NET STOP MSSQLSERVER

Step 2: Next, we will need to start SQL Server in single-user mode. This is done by running the following command:

NET START MSSQLSERVER /m

Step 3: Now, open up SQL Server Management Studio and log in using Windows Authentication:

Step 4: Expand Security, and then Logins. Find your SQL user account, right click it and select Properties.

Step 5: Enter in the new password and confirm it, then click OK.

Step 6: Go back to your elevated command prompt, and restart SQL Server with the following two commands:

NET STOP MSSQLSERVER
NET START MSSQLSERVER

Step 7: Confirm that your new login is working and you’re done!