Azure SQL "Free" database offer not shown

DavidPendleton-7654 26

I successfully created a single, "free" Azure SQL database using Microsoft's new free database offer. Then I created another and then deleted it shortly thereafter. Now, two days later, when I create a new SQL database, the offer is no longer displayed. Does anyone know why? My subscription is a pay-as-you-go subscription.

Mahesh Kurva 2,670 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2025-02-10T10:14:40.8033333+00:00

Hi @DavidPendleton-7654,

Just checking in to see if the below answer provided by @TP helped.

If this answers your query, do click Accept Answer and Yes for was this answer helpful. And, if you have any further query do let us know.

1 answer

TP 102.7K Reputation points

2025-02-07T14:46:38.19+00:00

Hi David,

When creating database using the portal, if you don't see the "Want to try Azure SQL Database for free?" at the top of Basics tab, scroll down a bit and select the existing logical server (that uses Free tier) again. This will normally make the banner appear so that you can click Apply offer button.

For example, if the Server dropdown already has the correct Free tier logical server, click on the dropdown, then click the server name in the dropdown, and finally the banner should show up at the top.

In example screenshot below "freetierserver" is already selected, but to get the banner to show up, we first need to click the dropdown, then click on freetierserver (West US).

Please click Accept Answer and upvote if the above as helpful.

Thanks.

-TP
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DavidPendleton-7654 26 Reputation points

2025-02-08T00:14:00.95+00:00

Thank you, but I only have one SQL Server in my subscription, so the dropdown on that page is pre-filled and disabled. I can't change it.

The offer did re-appear for me once today, but it's gone again.

TP 102.7K Reputation points

2025-02-08T00:35:06.4466667+00:00

In the example used for screenshot above, there was only one SQL Server in the subscription, and that server name was pre-filled in the dropdown. Unsure why your dropdown is disabled--you should be able to click it as I show in the screenshot and click the pre-filled name (even though it was already selected).

The other thing you can do is click Create new link under the server name, fill out a fake name for a new server, select Entra admin account, click OK, then change the dropdown back to the original name. This should make the free tier banner appear at the top.

Please give it a try and let me know what you see.

DavidPendleton-7654 26 Reputation points

2025-02-08T19:10:20.4433333+00:00

It's definitely disabled:

I'm using Microsoft Edge Version 133.0.3065.51 (Official build) (64-bit); you'd think it'd be the gold-standard for compatibility with the Azure Portal...

DavidPendleton-7654 26 Reputation points

2025-02-08T19:12:11.4666667+00:00

<duplicate response>

TP 102.7K Reputation points

2025-02-09T09:50:45.8133333+00:00

Okay, unsure why it is disabled. And there is no Create new link below the server box?

You can use command similar to below to create new free tier database on your existing Azure SQL Server. You may run the command using Azure Cloud Shell

az sql db create --name mydb --resource-group mygroup --server myserver --edition GeneralPurpose --family Gen5 --capacity 2 --compute-model Serverless --free-limit true

Mahesh Kurva 2,670 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2025-02-11T09:41:21.53+00:00

Hi @DavidPendleton-7654,

Just checking in to see if the above answer provided by @TP helped.

If this answers your query, do click Accept Answer and Yes for was this answer helpful. And, if you have any further query do let us know.
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