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After exsauhsting SQLServer Free tier, even after upgrading tier the database is blocked

Daichi 41 Reputation points
2026-04-26T12:09:52.47+00:00

I had a free tier on my sqlserver database i've used all resources on it and the db stopped which is expected.

I placed a keep paying after free tier resources have been used but it's not applying. I also tried upgrading to a basic tier but when i connect i still get a free tier subscrtiption cannot be accessed error.

any thoughts on how I can resolve this?

Azure SQL Database

Answer accepted by question author

  1. Saraswathi Devadula 16,020 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-04-26T12:24:56.5566667+00:00

    Hello Daichi

    Check the overview page for the database on the Azure portal to see whether you have any remaining free credits for the month. If you choose the Auto-pause the database until next month option, once the free limits are met, the database in inaccessible until the start of the next calendar month. To continue usage with charges, go to the Compute + Storage tab and change the option to enable billing for usage of the database beyond the free amount.
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/free-offer-faq?view=azuresql#help--i-m-no-longer-able-to-sign-in-to-my-database

    Also, you could try restoring to a new database. Once the database is restored, test to see that it works okay, and then delete the old one. You do this via Backups blade, click Restore next to the restore point you want to restore, fill out options, Create, etc.

    Could you please share the error message while trying to connect to the sql database.

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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  1. Q&A Assist
    2026-04-26T12:10:03.4666667+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    The behavior is consistent with the Azure SQL Database free offer limits. When the free monthly vCore or storage limits are exhausted and the database is configured with Auto-pause the database until next month, the database becomes inaccessible until the start of the next calendar month.

    Changing the pricing tier alone does not take effect while the database is in the “free offer auto-paused” state. To make the database accessible again within the current month, the configuration must explicitly allow billing beyond the free limits.

    To resolve:

    1. In the Azure portal, open the affected Azure SQL Database.
    2. Go to Compute + Storage (or Compute and Storage).
    3. In the Free Database offer / Behavior when free limit reached section, change the setting from Auto-pause the database until next month to Continue using database for additional charges.
    4. Save/apply the change.

    Once this option is enabled, the database runs as a normal General Purpose serverless database and usage beyond the free monthly limits is billed at standard rates. After converting to a paid tier, reverting back to the free auto-pause behavior is not supported.

    If the database is still inaccessible after confirming the above setting, check in the database Overview blade that there are remaining free credits or that the subscription itself is not disabled due to exhausted account credit or spending limits; a disabled subscription will also block access until reactivated.

    References:

    1 person found this answer helpful.

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