Expected output:
Press Win + R , type , and press Enter to open the ODBC Data Source Administrator. Navigate to the Drivers tab.
For Microsoft Entra authentication, you will use the Authentication keyword. The available options include ActiveDirectoryPassword , ActiveDirectoryIntegrated , ActiveDirectoryInteractive , ActiveDirectoryMSI , and ActiveDirectoryServicePrincipal .
The is a stand-alone data access application programming interface (API) used to connect applications to SQL Server. It is part of the OLE DB technology stack, which provides access to data in an OLE Component Object Model (COM) environment. download microsoft ole db driver for sql server 18
Once installed, applications must explicitly reference the Version 18 provider name in their connection strings. The provider name for this specific version is (unlike older versions which used SQLNCLI or SQLOLEDB ). Standard Security Connection String
With a click of the "Download" button, Leo acquired the installer. He chose the to match his server’s architecture. As the installation bar filled, the "Provider=msoledbsql" connection string glowed with a soft blue light on his screen.
Explicitly set TrustServerCertificate=yes; in your connection string if you are utilizing self-signed certificates in development. Expected output: Press Win + R , type
It is important to understand that Microsoft OLE DB Driver 18 for SQL Server and Microsoft OLE DB Driver 19 for SQL Server can coexist on the same machine; they install side by side without interfering with one another. This means you can maintain applications that depend on version 18 while gradually testing version 19 in parallel. The table below summarizes the key differences between these two major versions:
Once you have downloaded msoledbsql.msi :
Download Microsoft OLE DB Driver for SQL Server 18: A Comprehensive Guide Supported Operating Systems 2012
Before downloading the driver, ensure your system environment meets the necessary technical baseline. Supported Operating Systems 2012, 2012 R2, 2016, 2019, and 2022. Windows Client: Windows 8.1, Windows 10, and Windows 11. Software Dependencies
The application is trying to load the 32-bit provider, but you installed only the 64-bit version (or vice versa).
msoledbsql_18.x.x_x64.msi for 64-bit systems (recommended for servers).
Integrates with Azure Active Directory (now Microsoft Entra ID) for cloud databases.