The Azure SQL Migration extension for Azure Data Studio is being deprecated and will be retired by February 28, 2026. As part of our unified and streamlined migration strategy for Azure SQL, we are consolidating all migration experiences into a consistent, scalable platform.

If you are currently using the Azure SQL Migration extension, this blog will guide you through recommended replacement options for every phase of migration, whether you are moving to Azure SQL Managed Instance, SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines, or Azure SQL Database.

What is happening to the Azure SQL Migration extension in ADS?

As you already know, Azure data studio will officially retire on February 28, 2026. The Azure SQL Migration extension in Azure Data Studio will also retire along with Azure Data Studio on February 28, 2026. The Azure SQL Migration extension will no longer be available in the marketplace of Azure Data Studio.

What should you use instead?

Below is the updated guidance for the migration tool categorized by migration phase and target.

1) Pre‑Migration: Discovery & Assessments

Prior to migration, it is advisable to evaluate the SQL Server environment for readiness and to determine the right-sized Azure SQL SKU. Below are the recommended options:

A) SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc

Use the SQL Server migration experience in the Azure Arc portal for:

1. 1. Instance discovery at scale
   2. Migration assessments at scale, including:

• • • Readiness assessment for all Azure SQL targets.
    • Performance-based, right-sized target recommendations.
    • Projected Azure costs with the recommended target configuration.

Reference: 

Steps to get started with the Azure Arc assessments-

1. 1. Deploy Azure Arc on your servers.
   2. SQL Server instances on Arc-enabled servers are automatically connected to Azure Arc. See options to optimize this.

B) Automated assessments at scale using Azure DMS PowerShell and Azure CLI

The Azure DataMigration modules in Azure PowerShell and Azure CLI can be used to automate assessments at scale. Learn more about how to do this.

Here are the sample templates to automate the assessment workflow:

• 1. Azure PowerShell DataMigration cmdlets
  2. DMS Azure CLI commands

C) Azure Migrate

For scenarios where assessments are required at data center level including different types of workloads like Applications, VM Servers and databases, use Azure Migrate to perform discovery and assessments at scale. Learn more about Azure Migrate.

References:

1. 1. Review inventory
   2. Create SQL Assessment
   3. Review SQL Assessment

2) Migrations

Based on the migration targets, here are the recommended tools you can use to carry out the migration:

A.    To Azure SQL Managed Instance

The following options are available for migrating data to Azure SQL Managed Instance:

1. SQL Migration experience in Azure Arc 

For migrations to Azure SQL MI, leverage the streamlined SQL Migration experience in Azure Arc which lets you complete the end-to-end migration journey in a single experience.

This experience provides:

• • • Evergreen assessments and right-fit Azure SQL target recommendation.
    • Inline Azure SQL Target creation.
    • Free Azure SQL MI Next generation General Purpose service that lets you experience the power of Azure SQL MI for free for 12 months.
    • Near zero downtime migration using Managed Instance link powered by Distributed Availability Group technology.
    • Secure connectivity.

Reference blog: SQL Server migration in Azure Arc

2.  Automated migration at scale using Azure DMS PowerShell and Azure CLI

To Orchestrate migrations to Azure SQL MI at scale programmatically, use:

• • • DMS PowerShell cmdlets 
    • DMS Azure CLI commands

Learn more about how to do this.

B.    To SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines

To migrate to SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines, use:

1. Azure Database Migration Service (DMS) 

DMS supports migrating to SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines using both online and offline methods. Your SQL Server backups can be in Azure Blob Storage or on a network SMB file share. For details on each option, see:

• • • Backups stored in Azure Blob Storage
    • Backups maintained on network SMB file shares

Note: The migration experience from SQL Server on-premises to SQL Server on Azure VM will soon be available in SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc.

2. Automated migration at scale using Azure DMS PowerShell and Azure CLI

For programmatic migrations to Azure SQL Virtual Machines:

• • • DMS PowerShell cmdlets
    • DMS Azure CLI commands

Learn more about how to do this.

3. SSMS option: SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) migration component

If you can connect to both SQL Server on-premises and SQL Server running on Azure VM using SQL Server Management Studio, the migration component in SSMS can help you to migrate to SQL Server on Azure VM.

For details, see SSMS Migration component.

C.   To Azure SQL Database

Migrating a SQL Server database to Azure SQL Database typically involves migrating schema and data separately. Here are the options to perform offline and online migration to Azure SQL Database:

1. Offline migration to Azure SQL Database

a. Azure Database Migration Service (DMS) portal experience

Use Azure DMS portal to migrate both schema and data. Azure DMS uses Azure Data Factory and leverages the Self-hosted Integration Runtime (SHIR). Installation steps are here.

b. Automated migration at scale using Azure DMS PowerShell and Azure CLI

Use Azure DMS PowerShell and Azure CLI command line to orchestrate the schema and data migration to Azure SQL Database at scale:

• • • DMS PowerShell cmdlets
    • DMS Azure CLI commands

 Learn more about how to do this.

2. Online migration to Azure SQL Database

Using Striim

To enable online migration of your mission critical databases to Azure SQL Database leverage Striim. Microsoft and Striim have entered a strategic partnership to enable continuous data replication from off-Azure SQL Servers to Azure SQL Database with near-zero downtime.

For more details, refer to:

• • • Zero downtime migration from SQL Server to Azure SQL Database | Microsoft Community Hub
    • Removing barriers to migrating databases to Azure with Striim’s Unlimited Database Migration program...

To leverage the Striim program for migrations, please reach out to your Microsoft contact or submit the below feedback to get started.

Summary

The table below provides a summary of the available alternatives for each migration scenario.

 

Final Thoughts

Simplify your SQL migration journey and improve migration velocity to all Azure SQL targets, leverage the connected migration experiences in SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc, DMS, and SSMS.

For SSMS, as a first step we brought the capabilities to perform assessment and migration to higher versions of SQL Server including to SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines. As a next step, we are bringing cloud migration capabilities as well into SSMS.

Feedback

We love hearing from our customers. If you have feedback or suggestions for the product group, please use the following form:

Feedback form

As you begin your migration to Azure, we welcome your feedback. If you do not see suitable alternatives for any migration phases, use the feedback form to let us know so we can update the options accordingly.