How to: Stop an Instance of SQL Server (SQL Server Management Studio)
Microsoft SQL Server can be stopped and started from SQL Server Management Studio.
Note
To ensure an orderly shutdown, you should pause SQL Server and stop SQL Server Agent before stopping an instance of SQL Server. You can stop both SQL Server and SQL Server Agent by using either SQL Server Configuration Manager or SQL Server Management Studio.
To stop an instance of SQL Server
In Registered Servers or Object Explorer, right-click the server instance you want to stop, and then click Stop.
A message box asks whether you are sure you want to stop MSSQLSERVER on the server instance you chose.
Click Yes.
A red square on the icon next to the server name indicates that the server stopped successfully.
See Also