How to: Change Server Authentication Mode

The sa login can only connect to the server by using SQL Server Authentication.

To change security authentication mode

1. In SQL Server Management Studio Object Explorer, right-click the server, and then click Properties.

2. On the Security page, under Server authentication, select the new server authentication mode, and then click OK.

3. In the SQL Server Management Studio dialog box, click OK to acknowledge the requirement to restart SQL Server.

To restart SQL Server from SQL Server Management Studio

1. In Object Explorer, right-click your server, and then click Restart. If SQL Server Agent is running, it must also be restarted.

To enable the sa login by using Transact-SQL

1. Execute the following statements to enable the sa password and assign a password.

   ALTER LOGIN sa ENABLE ;
   GO
   ALTER LOGIN sa WITH PASSWORD = '' ;
   GO
   

To enable the sa login by using Management Studio

1. In Object Explorer, expand Security, expand Logins, right-click sa, and then click Properties.

2. On the General page, you might have to create and confirm a password for the sa login.

3. On the Status page, in the Login section, click Enabled, and then click OK.