SQL Server 2022 Express download page (ID 104781) returns 404 – Is SQL Server 2022 Express still available?

Marc Castillo 0 Reputation points
2026-09-25T20:45:35.3533333+00:00

Hello,

We are trying to obtain the official installation media for Microsoft SQL Server 2022 Express, but we have found that the historical Microsoft Download Center page associated with SQL Server 2022 Express (Download ID 104781) is currently returning a 404 error ("We're sorry, this download is no longer available"). [microsoft.com]

At the same time, the current SQL Server Downloads portal primarily promotes SQL Server 2025 Express, and we are unable to locate an official download path for SQL Server 2022 Express. [microsoft.com]

We have not found any official announcement indicating that SQL Server 2022 Express has been:

  • Retired
  • Deprecated
  • Removed from distribution
  • Reached end of support

Our organization continues to require SQL Server 2022 Express for compatibility with several business applications and installation procedures.

Could Microsoft please clarify the following?

  1. Is SQL Server 2022 Express still officially supported and available for download?
  2. Is the 404 error on the former Download Center page a known issue?
  3. Has the download location for the following installation packages changed?
    • SQL2022-SSEI-Expr.exe
      • SQLEXPR_x64_ENU.exe
        • SQLEXPRADV_x64_ENU.exe
        1. If SQL Server 2022 Express is still available, could you provide the current official Microsoft download location?
        2. If Microsoft recommends moving to SQL Server 2025 Express, is there an official statement regarding compatibility and migration from SQL Server 2022 Express?

Any official guidance would be greatly appreciated, as this affects deployment and support activities for existing customer environments.

Thank you.

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  1. Erland Sommarskog 137.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2026-09-25T20:58:59.3633333+00:00

    They've been messing with the download recently, and the one that was there did not work properly. It could be that this is something temporary, while they are sorting things out.

    A trick that I learn from Marcin Policht is to go the page SQL Server LocalDB, https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/database-engine/configure-windows/sql-server-express-localdb?view=sql-server-ver17 where there are direct download links to a number of versions. The download link for SQL 2022 Express is: https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2215160

    I recommend that you use the option Download Media.

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