How to Download and Restore Northwind database to SQL Server

What is the Northwind database?

The Northwind database is a sample database provided with Microsoft Office suite. It contains sales data for a fictitious company called Northwind Trader, which specializes in exporting and importing foods.

How to create a Northwind database?

The Northwind database can be downloaded either as an executable SQL script or as a backup file (.bak) for easy restoration. It includes sample data and is compatible with SQL Server versions 2005, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2024.

How to download Northwind database?

To download the Northwind backup database file you can go Codeplex or use the northwind download database .bak link. After downloading the file, unzip it to find the Northwind.bak download file or the Northwind.sql script file.

You can easily find the northwind database sample in the extracted folder.

How to restore northwind database in SQL Server?

First, Launch SSMS and connect to your SQL Server instance.

If you haven't installed SSMS, you can download it directly: Download

Once installed, Open SSMS and connect to your SQL Server instance by entering the necessary credentials.

In SSMS, right-click on the Databases node in the Object Explorer, and select Restore Database.

Enter your database name that you want to restore

In the Restore Database dialog

Choose Device under the Source section, then click on the ... button to browse to the location where your Northwind.bak file is stored.

Click OK to select the file, and then proceed to Restore.

Finally, Click OK button to finish restore mssql database from bak file.

If you downloaded the .sql script instead of the .bak file, follow these steps to install the Northwind database.

How to Install Northwind Database to SQL Server?

First, create a new database in SQL Server.

You can do this in SSMS by right-clicking on Databases and selecting New Database.

Name the database Northwind.

In SSMS, open a new Query Window.

Next, Open the downloaded .sql script.

Execute the script by clicking the Execute button (or pressing F5).