{"id":4247,"date":"2022-10-14T13:22:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-14T13:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/?p=4247"},"modified":"2026-07-30T12:39:27","modified_gmt":"2026-07-30T12:39:27","slug":"how-to-reduceshrink-the-sql-server-database-size","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/how-to-reduceshrink-the-sql-server-database-size\/","title":{"rendered":"How to reduce\/shrink the SQL server database size"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>In this article, we explain how to reduce or shrink the SQL Server database size safely and effectively.<\/p>\r\n<p><strong>Important Instructions Before Shrinking the Database:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ul>\r\n<li>You cannot shrink a database while a backup is in progress, and you cannot take a backup while the database is being shrunk.<\/li>\r\n<li>A database cannot be shrunk to a size smaller than its original (initial) size. For example, if a database was initially 10 MB and later grew to 2 GB, the minimum shrink size will still be 10 MB.<\/li>\r\n<li>Ensure sufficient free space is available on the disk before performing the shrink operation.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<p><strong>Set Database Recovery Model to Simple (Recommended)<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<p>Before changing the Recovery Model to Simple, ensure you understand the impact on transaction log backups and recovery requirements. If the database is switched back to Full recovery mode after shrinking, a new Full Database Backup should be taken before resuming transaction log backups.<\/p>\r\n<div>\r\n<p>Steps to Set Recovery Model to Simple:<\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n<li>Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS).<\/li>\r\n<li>Right-click the database and select Properties.<\/li>\r\n<li>Go to Options.<\/li>\r\n<li>Set Recovery model to Simple.<\/li>\r\n<li>Click OK.<\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>Note:<\/p>\r\n<p>After switching the database back to Full Recovery mode, take a new Full Database Backup before resuming transaction log backups, as the previous log backup chain is no longer valid .<\/p>\r\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<p><strong>Method 1: Using SQL Server Management Studio<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n<li>Right-click on the Database name &gt;&gt; Tasks &gt;&gt; Shrink &gt;&gt; Database.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/1.png\" alt=\"Database\" width=\"1185\" height=\"669\" \/><\/li>\r\n<li>Then Click OK.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/2.png\" alt=\"Ok\" width=\"1192\" height=\"682\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<!-- \/wp:post-content -->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph \/-->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:paragraph \/-->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:image {\"align\":\"center\",\"id\":4249} \/-->\r\n\r\n<!-- wp:heading {\"level\":4} -->\r\n<p><strong>Method 2: Using Transact SQL Command<\/strong><\/p>\r\n<ol>\r\n<li>Open SQL Server Management Studio.<\/li>\r\n<li>Connect to the Database Engine.<\/li>\r\n<li>From the Standard bar, click New Query.<br \/><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/3.png\" alt=\"New Query\" width=\"1192\" height=\"682\" \/><\/li>\r\n<li>Type the following SQL command into the query window and click Execute.\r\n<pre>DBCC SHRINKDATABASE (DatabaseName, 'target percent') --<\/pre>\r\nExample:<br \/>\r\n<pre>DBCC SHRINKDATABASE (test, 10);<br \/>GO<\/pre>\r\n<p>This command shrinks the database named test to leave 10% free space.<\/p>\r\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone\" src=\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/12\/4.png\" alt=\"shrink SQL server\" width=\"1192\" height=\"682\" \/><\/li>\r\n<\/ol>\r\n<p>That\u2019s it! By following these steps, you can safely shrink the SQL Server database size.<\/p>\r\n<div style=\"background: #E6F0FF; padding: 15px; border-left: 4px solid #0047BA; margin: 20px 0;\"><strong>Running SQL Server in production?<\/strong><br \/>For better performance and full control, consider using our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/linux-vps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">VPS hosting optimised for database workloads<\/a>.<\/div>\r\n<p>If you found this article helpful, you will definitely appreciate our support services.<\/p>\r\n<p>Also Read: <a title=\"Backup a MySQL Database\" href=\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/how-to-backup-a-mysql-database-using-phpmyadmin\/\">How to Backup a MySQL Database using phpMyAdmin<\/a><\/p>\r\n<!-- \/wp:heading -->","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this article, we explain how to reduce or shrink the SQL Server database size safely and effectively. Important Instructions Before Shrinking the Database: You cannot shrink a database while&hellip;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/how-to-reduceshrink-the-sql-server-database-size\/\" class=\"more-link\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n<div class='heateorSssClear'><\/div><div  class='heateor_sss_sharing_container heateor_sss_horizontal_sharing' data-heateor-sss-href='https:\/\/www.webhosting.uk.com\/kb\/how-to-reduceshrink-the-sql-server-database-size\/'><div class='heateor_sss_sharing_title' style=\"font-weight:bold\" >Spread the love<\/div><div class=\"heateor_sss_sharing_ul\"><a aria-label=\"Facebook\" class=\"heateor_sss_facebook\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.webhosting.uk.com%2Fkb%2Fhow-to-reduceshrink-the-sql-server-database-size%2F\" title=\"Facebook\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"font-size:32px!important;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\"><span class=\"heateor_sss_svg\" style=\"background-color:#0765FE;width:40px;height:40px;display:inline-block;opacity:1;float:left;font-size:32px;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;font-size:16px;padding:0 4px;vertical-align:middle;background-repeat:repeat;overflow:hidden;padding:0;cursor:pointer;box-sizing:content-box\"><svg style=\"display:block;\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\"><path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M28 16c0-6.627-5.373-12-12-12S4 9.373 4 16c0 5.628 3.875 10.35 9.101 11.647v-7.98h-2.474V16H13.1v-1.58c0-4.085 1.849-5.978 5.859-5.978.76 0 2.072.15 2.608.298v3.325c-.283-.03-.775-.045-1.386-.045-1.967 0-2.728.745-2.728 2.683V16h3.92l-.673 3.667h-3.247v8.245C23.395 27.195 28 22.135 28 16Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><a aria-label=\"X\" class=\"heateor_sss_button_x\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=How%20to%20reduce%2Fshrink%20the%20SQL%20server%20database%20size&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.webhosting.uk.com%2Fkb%2Fhow-to-reduceshrink-the-sql-server-database-size%2F\" title=\"X\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"font-size:32px!important;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\"><span class=\"heateor_sss_svg heateor_sss_s__default heateor_sss_s_x\" style=\"background-color:#2a2a2a;width:40px;height:40px;display:inline-block;opacity:1;float:left;font-size:32px;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;font-size:16px;padding:0 4px;vertical-align:middle;background-repeat:repeat;overflow:hidden;padding:0;cursor:pointer;box-sizing:content-box\"><svg width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" style=\"display:block;\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\"><path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M21.751 7h3.067l-6.7 7.658L26 25.078h-6.172l-4.833-6.32-5.531 6.32h-3.07l7.167-8.19L6 7h6.328l4.37 5.777L21.75 7Zm-1.076 16.242h1.7L11.404 8.74H9.58l11.094 14.503Z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><a aria-label=\"Linkedin\" class=\"heateor_sss_button_linkedin\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.webhosting.uk.com%2Fkb%2Fhow-to-reduceshrink-the-sql-server-database-size%2F\" title=\"Linkedin\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"font-size:32px!important;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;vertical-align:middle\"><span class=\"heateor_sss_svg heateor_sss_s__default heateor_sss_s_linkedin\" style=\"background-color:#0077b5;width:40px;height:40px;display:inline-block;opacity:1;float:left;font-size:32px;box-shadow:none;display:inline-block;font-size:16px;padding:0 4px;vertical-align:middle;background-repeat:repeat;overflow:hidden;padding:0;cursor:pointer;box-sizing:content-box\"><svg style=\"display:block;\" focusable=\"false\" aria-hidden=\"true\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"100%\" height=\"100%\" viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\"><path d=\"M6.227 12.61h4.19v13.48h-4.19V12.61zm2.095-6.7a2.43 2.43 0 0 1 0 4.86c-1.344 0-2.428-1.09-2.428-2.43s1.084-2.43 2.428-2.43m4.72 6.7h4.02v1.84h.058c.56-1.058 1.927-2.176 3.965-2.176 4.238 0 5.02 2.792 5.02 6.42v7.395h-4.183v-6.56c0-1.564-.03-3.574-2.178-3.574-2.18 0-2.514 1.7-2.514 3.46v6.668h-4.187V12.61z\" fill=\"#fff\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/a><\/div><div class=\"heateorSssClear\"><\/div><\/div><div class='heateorSssClear'><\/div>","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1322],"tags":[118],"class_list":["post-4247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-database","tag-sql-server"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.1 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - 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