Use SQL Server 2022 License Key to Install SQL Server 2019

surya kannan 0 Reputation points
2024-07-11T09:43:23.8833333+00:00

Hi,

I have installed SQL Server 2019 on our cloud EC2 Windows server machine using the SQL Server Evaluation Edition with a 180-day free trial.

We intend to purchase the SQL Server 2022 Standard Edition key. Can we use this key to activate the SQL Server 2019 instance? If possible, please provide guidance on how to downgrade the license.

SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
SQL Server
SQL Server
A family of Microsoft relational database management and analysis systems for e-commerce, line-of-business, and data warehousing solutions.
14,063 questions
SQL Server Migration Assistant
SQL Server Migration Assistant
A Microsoft tool designed to automate database migration to SQL Server from Access, DB2, MySQL, Oracle, and SAP ASE.
540 questions
{count} votes

2 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
  1. Olaf Helper 45,126 Reputation points
    2024-07-11T10:20:04.4633333+00:00

    Product keys are version bound, you can not install SQL Server 2019 with a 2022 product key.

    You may ask your reseller if you can get a 2019 key instead.

    And edition/version upgrade 2019 Evaluation Edition to SQL Server 2022 Standard is not supported.


  2. MikeyQiaoMSFT-0444 3,190 Reputation points
    2024-07-12T06:19:32.4533333+00:00

    Hi,surya kannan

    When purchasing SQL Server 2022, Microsoft also provides you with the right to downgrade to SQL Server 2019 or SQL Server 2017. This downgrade is called downgrade rights and gives Microsoft users the right to use prior released versions of a particular software without having to purchase these versions.

    For detailed information about the license issue, you can call 1-800-426-9400, Monday through Friday, 6:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. (Pacific Time) to speak directly to a Microsoft licensing specialist. Or you can go to Volume Licensing Service Center support. Please choose region/language and choose to call or have web.

    Best regards,

    Mikey Qiao


    If the answer is the right solution, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".


Your answer

Answers can be marked as Accepted Answers by the question author, which helps users to know the answer solved the author's problem.