How to: Delete Indexes
Indexes can slow INSERT, UPDATE, and DELETE performance. If you find that an index hinders overall performance or you no longer need it, you can delete it.
Note
A new version of Table Designer appears for databases in the SQL Server 2012 format. This topic describes the old version of Table Designer, which you use with databases in earlier formats of SQL Server.
In the new version, you can change a table definition through a graphical interface or directly in a script pane. If you use the graphical interface, the table’s definition is automatically updated in the script pane. To apply the SQL code in the script pane, choose the Update button. For more information about the new version, see How to: Create Database Objects Using Table Designer.
Note
Your computer might show different names or locations for some of the Visual Studio user interface elements in the following instructions. The Visual Studio edition that you have and the settings that you use determine these elements. For more information, see Customizing Development Settings in Visual Studio.
To delete an index
In Server Explorer, select the database table with indexes you want to delete.
From the Database menu, click Open Table Definition.
From the Table Designer menu, click Indexes/Keys.
In the Indexes/Keys dialog box, select the index you want to delete.
Click Delete.
The index is deleted from the database when you save your table.
Note
If you delete an index in Table Designer but you do not want to delete it from the database you can close the table without saving changes. This will also discard all other changes made since the table was last saved.