Migrate from SQL Standard edition to SQL Express Edition

jondukes1915 

Hi, Jon.

Speaking strictly to the question without getting into the step-by-step detail, then as long as the version of SQL Express is the same or newer than your SQL Server Standard instance, then yes, you can make such a move.

The simplest process for moving the database would be to run a backup of the current database on the existing SQL Server Standard would look roughly like:

• Use something like SQL Server Management Studio (version 19, ideally, as it's the most recent) to back up the current database on the existing SQL Server Standard instance;
• Copy the resulting ".bak" file over to the host hosting the SQL Server Express instance;
• Use SQL Server Management Studio (or equivalent) to restore the ".bak" file into the SQL Server Express instance - ensuring you use the same database name.

Reference:

• Quickstart: Back up & restore database with SSMS - SQL Server | Microsoft Learn

If the database is a "contained" database, then that's pretty much all there is to it. However, it's most likely not a contained database meaning you also need to consider the recreation of any related server-defined logins.

Additionally, if the database has any hard dependencies on SQL Server Agent jobs (somewhat likely) or Integration Services packages (fairly unlikely from your description) then SQL Server Express is not suitable for you, as it cannot accommodate such functionality.

• Editions and supported features of SQL Server 2022 - SQL Server | Microsoft Learn

Cheers,

Lain