Cannot install SQL Server 2025 Express with WinGet

Question

Cannot install SQL Server 2025 Express with WinGet

PtJade Ceramic 0

Running the following script code:
winget install --id Microsoft.SQLServer.2025.Express -s winget

Echos the following message:
Microsoft (R) SQL Server Installer

Operation finished with result: Failure

Oops...

-

Unable to install SQL Server (setup.exe). This SQL Server setup media does not support the language of the OS, or does not have the SQL Server English-language version installation files.Use the matching language-specific SQL Server media; or install both the language specific MUI and change the format and system locales through the regional settings in the control panel.

SQL SERVER INSTALL LOG FOLDER

C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\170\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20260226_155233

安装程序失败，退出代码为: 2227437582

PtJade Ceramic 0 Reputation points

2026-02-26T08:33:15.02+00:00

The same error occurs even when I install it from https://www.microsoft.com/zh-cn/sql-server/sql-server-downloads
Erland Sommarskog 133.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-02-26T20:35:08.0366667+00:00

So what is your language setting in Windows? And more precisely what is your setting for regional format:

I had never seen that Winget thing, but I decided to try it. At my first attempt it said that there is no version for sv-SE, which is my setting for the regional format. In difference to the OS language which is English (United Kingdom) on this machine.

When I changed the Regional format to English (United States) the installation completed successfully.
Akhil Gajavelly 1,735 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-09T05:17:48.9466667+00:00

Hi @PtJade Ceramic ,

Thank you for the suggestion @Erland Sommarskog .
After checking the Regional format, it was not set to English (United States). Changing the Regional format to English (United States) and running the WinGet installation again resolved the issue successfully.

If the answer helped resolve the issue, please consider accepting it so it may help other community members facing the same problem.

Thanks,
Akhil.
Akhil Gajavelly 1,735 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-16T06:58:29.1933333+00:00

Hi @PtJade Ceramic ,

Just following up did changing the Regional format to English (United States) resolve the issue on your end?

If yes, please consider accepting the answer so it can help others. If you still need assistance, feel free to share an update.

Thanks,
Akhil.

1 answer

Your answer

PtJade Ceramic 0 Reputation points

2026-02-26T08:33:15.02+00:00

The same error occurs even when I install it from https://www.microsoft.com/zh-cn/sql-server/sql-server-downloads
Erland Sommarskog 133.7K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2026-02-26T20:35:08.0366667+00:00

So what is your language setting in Windows? And more precisely what is your setting for regional format:

I had never seen that Winget thing, but I decided to try it. At my first attempt it said that there is no version for sv-SE, which is my setting for the regional format. In difference to the OS language which is English (United Kingdom) on this machine.

When I changed the Regional format to English (United States) the installation completed successfully.
Akhil Gajavelly 1,735 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-03-09T05:17:48.9466667+00:00

Hi @PtJade Ceramic ,

Thank you for the suggestion @Erland Sommarskog .
After checking the Regional format, it was not set to English (United States). Changing the Regional format to English (United States) and running the WinGet installation again resolved the issue successfully.

If the answer helped resolve the issue, please consider accepting it so it may help other community members facing the same problem.

Thanks,
Akhil.
Akhil Gajavelly 1,735 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-04-16T06:58:29.1933333+00:00

Hi @PtJade Ceramic ,

Just following up did changing the Regional format to English (United States) resolve the issue on your end?

If yes, please consider accepting the answer so it can help others. If you still need assistance, feel free to share an update.

Thanks,
Akhil.

Answer 1

The error indicates that the SQL Server 2025 Express setup media being invoked by WinGet does not match the OS language, and the media does not contain the English-language setup files required for installation on the current Windows installation.

To resolve the problem, use these supported approaches from the SQL Server setup guidance:

Reacquire the installation media
- Download the SQL Server 2025 Express image again from the original Microsoft location instead of relying only on the WinGet invocation.
- After downloading, run the setup program directly from the local image (ISO/EXE) rather than from a possibly corrupted or mismatched package.
Install from local media instead of network/indirect source
- If the current installation is effectively being run over the network (or via a package manager that pulls from the network), copy or download the full SQL Server Express media to a local drive and run setup.exe from there.
Ensure correct language support
- If using a localized version of Windows and the SQL Server media does not match that language, use media that matches the OS language, or use media that explicitly contains the English-language installation files and specify English where supported.
- For localized SQL Server versions, adjust OS regional settings to support the localized SQL Server language as documented in the SQL Server language support guidance. Installations of different language versions of SQL Server instances on the same computer are not supported.
If the issue persists
- Check the SQL Server setup logs already indicated in the message: C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\170\Setup Bootstrap\Log\20260226_155233
- If re-downloading and running from local, language-appropriate media does not resolve the issue, treat it as a different installation problem and follow the general SQL Server installation and repair guidance.

For more advanced scenarios (unattended or scripted installs), use the documented command-line parameters such as /ACTION, /ENU, and /IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS when invoking setup.exe directly, ensuring that the media and OS language combination is supported.

References:

Share via

Cannot install SQL Server 2025 Express with WinGet

1 answer

Your answer