---
title: SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB – How to get started
description: SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB – How to get started
image: http://geekswithblogs.net/images/geekswithblogs_net/krislankford/Windows-Live-Writer/SQL-Server-2012--LocalDB_E18C/image_thumb_1.png
---

# SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB – How to get started

Posted by Kris Lankford - October 05, 2012

- [**](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/2012/10/sql-server-2012-express-localdb-how-to-get-started/)
- [**](https://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/2012/10/sql-server-2012-express-localdb-how-to-get-started/&title=&summary=&source=)
- [**](https://twitter.com/home?status=)
- [**](mailto:?&subject=https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/2012/10/sql-server-2012-express-localdb-how-to-get-started/&body=https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/2012/10/sql-server-2012-express-localdb-how-to-get-started/)

**

![header-picture](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/685080/IMG-TurboSodium/Sodium%20v2/blog/woman-notebook-working-girl.png "header-picture")

|  |  |
| --- | --- |

As many of you aware, SQL Server can be a bit of a pig when it comes to system resources on your development [![image](http://geekswithblogs.net/images/geekswithblogs_net/krislankford/Windows-Live-Writer/SQL-Server-2012--LocalDB_E18C/image_thumb_1.png)](http://geekswithblogs.net/images/geekswithblogs_net/krislankford/Windows-Live-Writer/SQL-Server-2012--LocalDB_E18C/image_4.png)machine. As part of the 2012 products Microsoft has added SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB which is a happy medium for myself when thinking about having to install a full blown SQL Server on my box. This however does not work in all cases for all development but if you are doing web or local client development then it should suffice. On the other hand, if you are working with technologies like SharePoint or trying to run Team Foundation Server on your local box then you will be out of luck while using LocalDB.

To start of with, the localDB setup is delivered and packaged with Visual Studio 2012 RC. If you want to get the stand-alone installer you can download it [here](http://www.microsoft.com/betaexperience/pd/SQLEXPCTAV2/enus/default.aspx) in either the 32 or 64 bit flavors. Once you get it installed you can start using it right away in either Visual Studio 2010 or the new Visual Studio 2012 RC.

[![image](http://geekswithblogs.net/images/geekswithblogs_net/krislankford/Windows-Live-Writer/SQL-Server-2012--LocalDB_E18C/image_thumb_2.png)](http://geekswithblogs.net/images/geekswithblogs_net/krislankford/Windows-Live-Writer/SQL-Server-2012--LocalDB_E18C/image_6.png)

To get started you can open the SQL Server object explorer in Visual Studio by clicking the menu option View –> SQL Server Object Explorer. This will bring up to the navigation pane where you can add a SQL Server. Once you add the SQL Server you will be prompted with the “Connect to Server” dialog to enter the server for which you can use “(localdb)\v11.0”. Click connect and you should be connected to your localDB where you can create and manage databases from Visual Studio 2010, Visual Studio 2012 or SSMS.

Once you have started creating databases here you can use the database projects in Visual Studio with these database as well as use the (localdb)\v11.0 server name inside your connections string information for your development environment.

Hope this helps someone get started with SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB! It provides a great balance for developing against SQL Server 2012.

 Topics: [Blog](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/blog)

---

### Recent Posts

By InCycle - 05 October, 2012

#### InCycle Wins Prestigious Microsoft Global Partner of the Year Award

[![read more](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/685080/IMG-TurboSodium/Sodium%20v2/blog/arrow-recent-blog-post.png "read more")](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/incycle-wins-prestigious-microsoft-global-partner-of-the-year-award)

By InCycle - 05 October, 2012

#### Top 5 Questions On Elevate for App Modernization

[![read more](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/685080/IMG-TurboSodium/Sodium%20v2/blog/arrow-recent-blog-post.png "read more")](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/top-five-questions-on-elevate-for-app-modernization)

By InCycle - 05 October, 2012

#### GitHub Universe 2025 Top Announcements

[![read more](https://cdn2.hubspot.net/hubfs/685080/IMG-TurboSodium/Sodium%20v2/blog/arrow-recent-blog-post.png "read more")](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/github-universe-2025-top-announcements)

---

### Subscribe to Blog

### ![2025 Microsoft Partner of the Year Winner: InCycle Software](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/hs-fs/hubfs/InCycle%202025%20Microsoft%20PoY%20Badge.png?width=377&height=223&name=InCycle%202025%20Microsoft%20PoY%20Badge.png)

### About this blog

Since 2002, InCycle has been providing challenging thought leadership to help customers successfully combine modern application designs, IT platforms and DevOps practices to achieve new levels of success. As a leader in app modernization, these blogs are written by our expert consultants and provide useful information to help on your journey to the cloud and better software. Happy reading!

### Platform Engineering Webinar on Demand

PE deep dive and demo!

[![Learn More!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/707613/aae0556f-2d26-4ce4-9b32-e7bebd443c9a.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/707613/aae0556f-2d26-4ce4-9b32-e7bebd443c9a)

### Recent Posts

### Migrating to GitHub?

Start with a GitHub Migration Strategy and Roadmap (at no cost!)

[![Learn More!](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/707613/312dc03f-1f78-4907-aaaf-3c0aa3cccd8f.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/707613/312dc03f-1f78-4907-aaaf-3c0aa3cccd8f)

### Posts by Topic

- [Blog (194)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/blog)
- [Video (32)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/video)
- [Azure (25)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/azure)
- [DevOps (20)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/devops)
- [GitHub (13)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/github)
- [InRelease (12)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/inrelease)
- [Containers (11)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/containers)
- [release management (11)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/release-management)
- [AKS (10)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/aks)
- [CI/CD (10)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/ci-cd)
- [Kubernetes (10)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/kubernetes)
- [Azure DevOps (9)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/azure-devops)
- [Migration (9)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/migration)
- [Platform Engineering (PE) (9)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/platform-engineering-pe)
- [GenAI (8)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/genai)
- [Microsoft Azure (8)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/microsoft-azure)
- [Visual Studio (8)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/visual-studio)
- [tfs (8)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/tfs)
- [Awards (7)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/awards)
- [Big Data (6)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/big-data)
- [Innovation (6)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/innovation)
- [Microsoft (6)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/microsoft)
- [agile (6)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/agile)
- [vsts (6)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/vsts)
- [Data (5)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/data)
- [Modernization (5)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/modernization)
- [App Modernization (4)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/app-modernization)
- [Automated Testing (4)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/automated-testing)
- [Data & AI (4)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/data-ai)
- [Event (4)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/event)
- [MLOps (4)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/mlops)
- [Modern Apps (4)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/modern-apps)
- [Visual Studio 2017 (4)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/visual-studio-2017)
- [DevTest (3)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/devtest)
- [Events (3)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/events)
- [Governance (3)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/governance)
- [VSO (3)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/vso)
- [Data Analytics (2)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/data-analytics)
- [Docker (2)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/docker)
- [Integration (2)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/integration)
- [Microsoft Connect (2)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/microsoft-connect)
- [Mobile Development (2)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/mobile-development)
- [RM (2)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/rm)
- [SQL (2)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/sql)
- [SaaS (2)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/saas)
- [TFS 15 Preview (2)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/tfs-15-preview)
- [TFS 2017 (2)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/tfs-2017)
- [Uncategorized (2)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/uncategorized)
- [Visual Studio 2015 (2)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/visual-studio-2015)
- [Xamarin (2)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/xamarin)
- [ADX (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/adx)
- [AI (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/ai)
- [Android (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/android)
- [Application Monitoring (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/application-monitoring)
- [Apps (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/apps)
- [BI (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/bi)
- [Brian Harry (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/brian-harry)
- [Cloud Azure (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/cloud-azure)
- [Cloud Services (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/cloud-services)
- [Connect (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/connect)
- [Connect 2016 (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/connect-2016)
- [Consultants (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/consultants)
- [Cosmos DB (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/cosmos-db)
- [Data Center (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/data-center)
- [Development (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/development)
- [EA (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/ea)
- [Git (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/git)
- [Hybrid (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/hybrid)
- [IntelliTes (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/intellites)
- [IntelliTest (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/intellitest)
- [Lab Management (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/lab-management)
- [Live Unit Testing (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/live-unit-testing)
- [Load Testing (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/load-testing)
- [MSDN (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/msdn)
- [MSTest (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/mstest)
- [MTM (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/mtm)
- [Machine Learning (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/machine-learning)
- [Media & Entertainment (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/media-entertainment)
- [Microsoft Visual Studio (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/microsoft-visual-studio)
- [Microsoft nationally managed partner (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/microsoft-nationally-managed-partner)
- [NUnit (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/nunit)
- [OpsHub (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/opshub)
- [PaaS (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/paas)
- [Pipelines (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/pipelines)
- [PowerShell (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/powershell)
- [Principles and Practices of DevOps (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/principles-and-practices-of-devops)
- [Programs (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/programs)
- [RC (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/rc)
- [Release Candidate (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/release-candidate)
- [SQL Databases (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/sql-databases)
- [SQL server (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/sql-server)
- [SSDT (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/ssdt)
- [Software (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/software)
- [Subscription & Billing Management (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/subscription-billing-management)
- [TFS 15 (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/tfs-15)
- [TFS 2015 update (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/tfs-2015-update)
- [TFS 2016 (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/tfs-2016)
- [TFS ALM (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/tfs-alm)
- [TestMethods (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/testmethods)
- [UI (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/ui)
- [UX (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/ux)
- [VS2017 (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/vs2017)
- [Validation (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/validation)
- [Virtual Machines (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/virtual-machines)
- [WPC 2016 (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/wpc-2016)
- [Web (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/web)
- [Windows (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/windows)
- [World Partner Conference (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/world-partner-conference)
- [XUnit (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/xunit)
- [alm (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/alm)
- [automation (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/automation)
- [build (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/build)
- [code (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/code)
- [nationally managed partner (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/nationally-managed-partner)
- [sql server 2008 (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/sql-server-2008)
- [unit testing (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/unit-testing)
- [vm (1)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/topic/vm)

[see all](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/2012/10/sql-server-2012-express-localdb-how-to-get-started/#)

### Blog Archive

- [November 2012 (17)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/archive/2012/11)
- [September 2025 (14)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/archive/2025/09)
- [October 2014 (12)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/archive/2014/10)
- [July 2012 (10)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/archive/2012/07)
- [October 2012 (9)](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/archive/2012/10)

- [**](https://twitter.com/incyclesoftware?lang=en)
- [**](https://ca.linkedin.com/company/incycle-software)
- [**](https://www.facebook.com/InCycleSoftware/)

### About us

At InCycle, we believe there is always a better way and today, that includes the cloud.

[![InCycle Microsoft Partner](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Incycle%202017%20website%20resources/logo-InCycle-New-white.png?width=200&name=logo-InCycle-New-white.png "InCycle Microsoft Partner")](https://www.incyclesoftware.com/)

### Learn more

- [Why Incycle?](https://www.incyclesoftware.com/why-incycle)
- [Success Stories](https://www.incyclesoftware.com/customer-success-stories)
- [Events](https://www.incyclesoftware.com/events)
- [Careers](https://www.incyclesoftware.com/careers)
- [About](https://www.incyclesoftware.com/about-incycle-software)

 

### 1-800-565-0510 [info@incyclesoftware.com](mailto:info@incyclesoftware.com) 

### ![Microsoft GitHub Verified Partner](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/hs-fs/hubfs/GitHub%20Verified%20Partner%20-%20white-SQUARE.png?width=256&height=57&name=GitHub%20Verified%20Partner%20-%20white-SQUARE.png) ![Data & AI Solutions Partner](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Data%20%26%20AI%20Solutions%20Partner.png?width=125&height=144&name=Data%20%26%20AI%20Solutions%20Partner.png) ![Digital & App Innovation Solutions Partner](https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Digital%20%26%20App%20Innovation%20Solutions%20Partner.png?width=125&height=144&name=Digital%20%26%20App%20Innovation%20Solutions%20Partner.png)

 

© 2025 InCycle Software

[Privacy policy](https://www.incyclesoftware.com/privacy)

**

![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=302756&fmt=gif) ![](https://px.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=302756&fmt=gif)

```json
{
  "@context" : "https://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Kris Lankford",
    "url" : "https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/author/kris-lankford"
  },
  "datePublished" : "2012-10-05T12:19:34.000Z",
  "headline" : "SQL Server 2012 Express LocalDB – How to get started",
  "image" : [ "http://geekswithblogs.net/images/geekswithblogs_net/krislankford/Windows-Live-Writer/SQL-Server-2012--LocalDB_E18C/image_thumb_1.png" ],
  "mainEntityOfPage" : {
    "@id" : "https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/2012/10/sql-server-2012-express-localdb-how-to-get-started/",
    "@type" : "WebPage"
  },
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "url" : "https://blogs.incyclesoftware.com/hubfs/logo-InCycle-New-Blue---transparent.png"
    },
    "name" : "InCycle Software Inc."
  }
}
```