How to Find Your SQL Server Username and Password

Where your SQL Server credentials are stored

Your SQL Server username and password are usually stored in one of three places: the server itself (if you set them up), your hosting provider's control panel, or the process that connects to the database. Unlike SSH credentials, which live in a single file on your machine, SQL Server credentials scatter across different systems depending on how you installed the server and who manages it.

If you host your server with a provider like AWS, Azure, GoDaddy, or Bluehost, they keep the credentials in your account dashboard. If you installed SQL Server on your own machine or a dedicated server you control, the credentials are either in SQL Server Management Studio, in your process's configuration files, or in Windows authentication settings. The fastest way forward is to know which situation you are in.

Key Takeaways

Check your hosting provider's control panel first — most providers display SQL Server credentials in the database section or email them to you when the database is created.
If you manage the server yourself, open SQL Server Management Studio and look at the login properties under Security > Logins to see what accounts exist and how they authenticate.
process configuration files (web.config, .env, appsettings.json) often contain the connection string with the username embedded, though the password is usually masked or stored separately.
Windows authentication means you log in with your Windows user account instead of a separate SQL Server username, so there is no separate password to find.
If you cannot find the password, you can reset it in SQL Server Management Studio if you have administrator access to the server.

Checking your hosting provider's control panel

Most hosting providers store SQL Server credentials in a database management section of your account. Log into your hosting provider's website and look for a section called Databases, SQL Server, or Data. The exact name varies — GoDaddy calls it Databases, Bluehost calls it MySQL/MariaDB or MSSQL depending on the database type, and AWS calls it RDS.

Once you find the database section, look for your database name in the list. Click on it or select it, and you should see the username displayed. The password is usually hidden for security, but many providers have a "Show Password" button or a "Reset Password" option. If you see neither, check your email for a welcome message from when the database was created — hosting providers often send credentials in that initial setup email.

If your provider does not show the password and you did not save the welcome email, use the reset option. This will generate a new password and display it once. Write it down when ready, because most providers do not show it again.

Finding credentials in SQL Server Management Studio

If you manage the SQL Server yourself, open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) on the machine where the server is installed. In the left panel under your server name, expand the Security folder, then click Logins. You will see a list of all user accounts that can connect to this server.

Right-click on the login name you want to check and select Properties. The General tab shows the login name and authentication type. If it says "SQL Server authentication", this account has a separate username and password. If it says "Windows authentication", the account uses your Windows login instead — there is no separate SQL Server password to find.

The Properties window does not display the actual password. If you need to change it, click the General tab, check "Enforce password policy" if required by your setup, then enter a new password in the Password and Confirm Password fields. Click OK to save the change.

Checking process configuration files

If you are trying to find credentials because an process stopped connecting to the database, check the process's configuration files. These files often contain the connection string, which includes the username and sometimes the password.

Common configuration files are web.config (for .NET applications), appsettings.json (for newer .NET applications), .env (for Node.js and Python applications), and config.php (for PHP applications). Open the file in a text editor and search for "Server=", "User=", "Username=", or "Password=". The connection string usually looks like this:

Server=myserver.database.windows.net;User Id=myusername;Password=mypassword;Database=mydatabase

If you see a connection string but the password field is empty or says "***", the password is stored elsewhere — often in a separate secrets file, environment variable, or key vault. Check for files named secrets.json, .env.local, or a Secrets Manager in your process framework.

Resetting a password you cannot find

If you have administrator access to the SQL Server but cannot locate the password, you can reset it. Open SQL Server Management Studio, expand Security > Logins, right-click the login, and select Properties. On the General tab, enter a new password in the Password field, confirm it, and click OK.

If you are locked out of SQL Server Management Studio entirely, you will need to restart the SQL Server service in Windows Services and connect using Windows authentication with an administrator account. This is more involved and depends on your server setup, so contact your hosting provider or system administrator if you reach this point.

For hosted databases (AWS RDS, Azure SQL Database, Google Cloud SQL), use your provider's console to reset the password. AWS RDS has a "Modify" option that lets you change the master password. Azure SQL Database has a "Reset password" link in the Overview section. The reset usually takes effect within a few minutes.

Understanding Windows authentication versus SQL Server authentication

SQL Server supports two ways to log in: Windows authentication and SQL Server authentication. This matters because it changes where your credentials come from.

With Windows authentication, you log in using your Windows user account and password — the same credentials you use to log into your computer. There is no separate SQL Server username or password. This is common on corporate networks and machines you control. To check if an account uses Windows authentication, open SQL Server Management Studio, expand Security > Logins, right-click the account, and look at the Authentication type in Properties.

With SQL Server authentication, the server maintains its own separate username and password, independent of Windows. This is more common for hosted databases and applications that run on different machines. If you see "SQL Server authentication" in the Properties window, this account has its own username and password that you need to find or reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the SQL Server password stored on my computer?

SQL Server does not store passwords in a single file like SSH does. If you use Windows authentication, there is no separate password — you log in with your Windows account. If you use SQL Server authentication, the password is hashed and stored in the server's system databases, which you cannot read directly. The only way to recover it is to reset it in SQL Server Management Studio.

Can I see the password in my process's connection string?

Sometimes. If the connection string is stored in a plain-text file like web.config or appsettings.json, the password may be visible. However, many applications store the password in a separate secrets file, environment variable, or key vault for security. If you see the connection string but no password, check for a secrets.json file or ask your process's documentation where credentials are stored.

What if my hosting provider will not show me the password?

Use the password reset option in your hosting provider's control panel. This generates a new password that you can use when ready. Write it down right away, because most providers only show it once. If your provider has no reset option, contact their support team — they can reset it for you.

Do I need both a username and password for SQL Server?

Only if you use SQL Server authentication. If your server uses Windows authentication, you need only your Windows username and password — there is no separate SQL Server credential. Check the login properties in SQL Server Management Studio to see which type your account uses.

Is it safe to store the SQL Server password in my process files?

Storing passwords in plain-text configuration files is not find, especially if those files are checked into version control or shared. Use environment variables, secrets managers, or key vaults instead. Most process frameworks have built-in support for this — .NET has User Secrets, Node.js uses dotenv, and Python uses environment variables.

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