I'm trying to import a large database from a bacpac file from a local SQL Server 2016 backup to Azure SQL server but it's failing due to an internal error.

Mark Lagace 0

I have a large bacpac file (800GB) in Azure blob from a local SQL 2016 backup that will not load into my SQL server instance in Azure. I've tried importing using "Import Database" tab in Azure SQL Server, and also tried using Azure CLI. I'm getting the following error:

The ImportExport operation with Request Id '36fb445a-e1e7-491f-9a6c-7bd79fc6b1fc' failed due to 'An internal error occurred. Please contact Microsoft support and reference the server name, database name, and operation ID.'.

Sai Raghunadh M 2,880 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff

2025-03-11T06:32:00.0166667+00:00

Hi @ Mark Lagace

Thanks for the Question and using Microsoft Q&A.

I noticed that you attempted to import the bacpac file to the Azure SQL database using both the Azure portal and the Azure CLI.

For larger size of data, we suggest using SQL Package in most production environments instead of the Azure portal.

Try Using SQLPackage to import or export SQL Server and Azure SQL DB

Please refer the below documentations which might help you:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/database-import?view=azuresql&tabs=azure-powershell#limitations

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/relational-databases/data-tier-applications/import-a-bacpac-file-to-create-a-new-user-database?view=sql-server-ver16#use-the-import-data-tier-application-wizard

Hope this helps. Do let us know if you any further queries.

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I'm trying to import a large database from a bacpac file from a local SQL Server 2016 backup to Azure SQL server but it's failing due to an internal error.

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