Are you frustrated with SQL management studio error 18456?

Errors are common while using SQL Server Management Studio. Error 18456 occurs when the user is not able to login to the MSSQL management studio.

At Bobcares, we often receive requests to solve this error as part of our Server Management Services.

Today, let’s discuss this error in detail and see how our Support Engineers fix it for our customers.

What causes SQL management studio error 18456?

SQL Server Management Studio a.k.a SSMS is a quick way to configure, manage and administer all components of MSSQL.

It is an interface for connecting and working with the MSSQL database.

Usually, the SA (system administrator) and the Windows Administrator will have access to MSSQL.

If some other users try to access the MSSQL as an administrator, it returns the error 18456.

Let’s now check some methods to remove this tricky error.

How we fix this error?

Basically, this error occurs when the user does not have administrative permissions to connect to the server.

Our Support Engineers fix this error effectively in different ways. Let’s have a look at some top fixes among them.

1. Give access to a user

As we have already said, all users don’t have administrator access to MSSQL.

They need permission to log in to SQL Management Studio. These permissions can be given from SQL studio from the administrator account or from windows authentication. Our Support Engineers advise customers to create a new windows user and give administrator permission for the user. We create a new windows user in the server and then add privileges to manage SSMS.

1. We launch the SQL Server Management Studio using an administrator account.
2. Then, we navigate to ServerName>>Security>>Logins.
3. After that, Right-click on login >> New Login
4. Next, we give the username which we want to add as an SQL Administrator in the Login name option. Then, click on Check Names.
5. Then, among the options in the left pane, we choose Server Roles and turn on the sysadmin checkbox.

Finally, we confirm the SA rights by double-clicking the user name in the left Object Explorer and clicking on Securables.

This will resolve the error 18456 effectively and the given user can access the MS SQL without further errors.

2. Wrong user name or password

Sometimes, authentication errors can also lead to error 18456.

Giving an incorrect username or password or some typo errors could be the reason for the authentication problem.

Then, the SQL Server will be unable to find the specified credentials on the server.

Therefore, it is important to double-check the credentials in order to login without any error.

[Need more assistance to solve MSSQL error- We are available 24/7 to help you.]

Conclusion

In short, the SQL management studio error 18456 occurs when the user is not able to login to the MSSQL management studio. In today’s write-up, we saw this error in detail and discussed how our Support Engineers fix it for our customers.