SQL Server on Mac

SQL Server is now available on the Mac. This page contains articles to help you get up and running with SQL Server on your Mac.

Installing SQL Server on your Mac is relatively straightforward. You first need to install Docker and increase its memory allocation. Then you're free to install SQL Server.

The best place to start is Install SQL Server on a Mac. That tutorial explains the whole process, and outlines the exact steps to installing SQL Server, while providing links to articles explaining how to install Docker and SQL management tools such as sql-cli and Azure Data Studio.

Screenshot of Azure Data Studio running SQL Server

Install SQL Server on a Mac

SQL Server is now available on the Mac (starting from SQL Server 2017). This tutorial outlines all steps you need to do, from installing Docker, to installing a management tool such as sql-cli and Azure Data Studio.

Install Azure Data Studio on a Mac

Azure Data Studio is a free, lightweight tool for managing SQL Server, Azure SQL Database, and Azure SQL Data Warehouse. If you've just installed SQL Server on your Mac, this is the perfect GUI tool to get you started.

Install Docker for SQL Server on a Mac

You need to install Docker before you install SQL Server on your Mac. This is because SQL Server runs in a Docker container. This tutorial also shows you how to increase the memory allocation in Docker so that it's all set to run SQL Server.

Screenshot of sql-cli in the Terminal on a Mac

Install sql-cli on a Mac

Once you've installed SQL Server on your Mac, you'll probably want to run some queries. sql-cli is a command line tool that allows you to run SQL queries right from your Mac's Terminal window.

Screenshot of the command for copying a file in Docker

How to Copy a File from the Host to a Docker Container

Handy if you need to restore a database .bak file to SQL Server running inside a Docker container.

Screenshot of the Restore button in Azure Data Studio

Restore a Database .bak File using Azure Data Studio

Use Azure Data Studio to restore a database from a .bak file. It's all done by pointing and clicking your way through the GUI.

Install DBeaver on a Mac

DBeaver is a free GUI database management tool that you can use to manage SQL Server. This step by step tutorial shows you how to download and install it on a Mac.

Screenshot of a DBeaver connection dialog

Connect to SQL Server with DBeaver

Once you've installed DBeaver, you'll probably want to connect to a database. This is a step by step tutorial to get you up and running.

Install SQL Server for Windows on Mac

Run SQL Server for Windows on your Mac with the help of a VirtualBox virtual machine.