How to Change SA Forgotten Password in SQL Server 2014
Description and Analysis of SQL Server 2014 SA Password Forgot
SA account and password is usually set to guarantee safe access to SQL Server database. However, in general, once SQL Server Authentication mode is available, people also could login in SQL Server with local admin account because Windows Authentication is valid. Even though SQL Server Authentication mode is disabled, Windows Authentication should be enabled.
So no matter how, what can we do is only to try our best to set a strong password for SA account. If you forgot SA password, please change SA password with a new strong one.
Now we will introduce how to change SA forgotten password in SQL Server 2014. As long as you know the ways to change SA password after forgot, you can get the methods to change SA password when you still remember.
Method 1: Change SA forgotten password after connecting to SQL Server 2014 with Windows Authentication
Undoubtedly, this should be the method first used by SQL Server users while Windows Authentication is available, because it is easy, free and effective.
1. Open SQL Server 2014 and choose Windows Authentication mode to connect to SQL Server 2014.
2. Navigate to Object Explorer > Security > Logins > sa, and right click it to choose Properties.
3. Set a new password for SA account in Password and Confirm password box. Click OK to finish.
Or you can change SA password with query after login into SQL Server 2014, but it would be difficult compared to changing SA account properties.
GO
ALTER LOGIN [sa] WITH DEFAULT_DATABASE=[master]
GO
USE [master]
GO
ALTER LOGIN [sa] WITH PASSWORD=N'NewPassword' MUST_CHANGE
GO
Method 2: Change SQL Server 2014 SA password with Command Prompt
When you cannot login into SQL Server 2014, you can run command prompt to change SA password.
osql -E
1> EXEC sp_password NULL, yourpassword, sa
2> GO
Besides command prompt, effective SQL Password Genius also reset SA forgotten password when you could not connect to SQL Server 2014.
Method 3: Change SQL Server 2014 SA password with SQL Password Genius
Step 1: Preparation.
1. Stop SQL Server services in SQL Server Configuration Manager.
Point to Start - All Programs - Microsoft SQL Server - Configuration Tools - SQL Server Configuration Manager to stop it.
2. Download, install and run iSunshare SQL Password Genius on computer.
Step 2: Add master.mdf file.
Tap Open File button and locate to the folder in pop-up window.
C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.1\MSSQL\Data
Select master.mdf file and add it into SQL Password Genius. All the users including SA account will be shown in user list.
Step 3: Select SA account and change password.
Select SA account in user list and you could see its password status. Then tap Reset button and type new password in Reset Password dialog. Click OK and SA account password has been changed successfully.
With this method, you don’t need to connect to SQL Server 2014, and don’t have to write complex command or query, just click on several buttons to finish changing SA forgotten password.