Microsoft isn’t perfect. Because of this, they need to push out regular updates to SQL Server. These come out in several formats but most often we see this in the form of a Cumulative Update (CU). Cumulative Updates release roughly once every 30 days, but there is no exact pattern. Below you will find the steps to download and install the latest CU to your SQL Server.
Download the Latest CU
To download the latest cumulative update for your version of SQL Server, you’ll need to visit Microsoft’s official release page. This page provides updates for all supported SQL Server versions.
Each cumulative update is specific to your SQL Server version (e.g., SQL Server 2019, 2022), so be sure to verify your version by running the following query in SSMS:
SELECT @@VERSIONFrom the release page, select the version you wish to download and you’ll be redirected to the CU page for that specific KB. Read the documentation for your CU, then scroll down to the section marked How to obtain or download this or the latest cumulative update package and click the link labeled Download the latest cumulative update package for SQL Server 20xx now.
You will be redirected once more. When that page loads, download the appropriate CU file. The file will typically be in .exe format and labeled something like SQLServer20xx-KBxxxxxxx-x64.exe.
Installing the CU
Installing CUs require downtime for your SQL Server, so make sure you obtain a maintenance window prior to proceeding. Additionally, make sure you have a recent database backup before installing the CU. This can be the difference between a 15 minute maintenance task and a 3 hour phone call with your boss, sales, and an angry client. Once that’s finished, locate the .exe file and right-click it to Run as Administrator. This will launch the SQL Server Update Installer.
The installer will guide you through a few steps:
- Accept the License Terms: Read through and accept the license agreement.
- Select SQL Server Instances: The installer will detect all SQL Server instances on your machine. Choose the instance(s) you want to apply the update to.
- File Check: The installer will need to run a check to verify that the files it needs are not in use. Once it completes, click
Nextto continue. - Summary: Review the summary to make sure the information is accurate, and click
Update.
The update process will take a few minutes depending on your system and SQL Server configuration. During this time, the selected instances may be temporarily unavailable, so this is the point users will start screaming if you didn’t provide the users with notice of downtime.
Verify that all operations show Successful and close the installer.
Post Installation Tasks
I’ve seen some people suggest restarting the SQL Server after applying the update, but unless explicitly requested by Microsoft via the installer, I don’t find that necessary. To verify the update was applied, open SSMS, connect to your instance, and run the following query again:
SELECT @@VERSIONThis time, you should see the CU short code listed after the version number, as well as the KB (ex. Microsoft SQL Server 20xx (RTM-CUxx) (KBxxxxxxx)...).
If your install failed and you need to rollback to the previous version, you can find instructions for uninstalling your specific KB at the bottom of the KB article itself.
As always, if you run into issues or need help troubleshooting, please leave a comment below and I or the community can help troubleshoot.