How do i load sql database file into ssms

Step 1: Verify what files you have

You should have one or both of these:

• YourDatabase.mdf → the primary data file (required)
• YourDatabase_log.ldf → the transaction log file (optional; SQL Server can recreate it if missing)

Step 2: Copy files to the SQL Server machine

Move the .mdf (and .ldf if available) to a safe folder on the same machine where SQL Server is installed, such as:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL16.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA

Step 3: Attach the database using SSMS

1. Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).
2. Connect to your SQL Server instance.
3. In Object Explorer, right-click Databases → Attach...
4. Click Add..., browse to the .mdf file.
   • SSMS will automatically detect the .ldf file if it’s in the same folder.
5. Click OK.

The database will appear under Databases in SSMS.

You can do the same via a query window:

CREATE DATABASE YourDatabase
ON (FILENAME = 'C:\Data\YourDatabase.mdf'),
   (FILENAME = 'C:\Data\YourDatabase_log.ldf')
FOR ATTACH;

If you don’t have the log file, you can tell SQL Server to rebuild it:

CREATE DATABASE YourDatabase
ON (FILENAME = 'C:\Data\YourDatabase.mdf')
FOR ATTACH_REBUILD_LOG;

If you only have a .bak file instead of .mdf, the process is different — you'd restore it instead of attaching.

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hth

Marcin

Hi @David Cutler,

If the solutions provided by the @Marcin Policht & @Erland Sommarskog are sufficient and applicable to your situation, then a big thank you to them for their helpful guidance. Please go ahead and try the steps suggested by Super Users. Whether you're attaching the .mdf file directly or considering a backup/restore approach, both methods are valid depending on what files you have and how your setup is configured.

Thanks,
Akhil.