Enable SQL Authentication Mode

During the MS SQL installation, you can choose the login authentication mode. It's always better to install mix mode which allow windows & SQL authentication mode login.

I hide the advanced installation setting during installation & ended to only have windows authentication login at the MS SQL server.

I manage to change the setting through SQL Management Studio and restart the SQL service once confirm the changes. Now MS SQL can login either in windows authentication or SQL authentication.

Here's the summary & screen shots to create sa account for SQL authentication mode.

1. Login. Open SQL Management Studio. Login with windows authentication mode.




2. Find sa account. On Object Explorer, expand Security, expand Logins, right-click sa, and then click Properties.




3. Create Password for sa account. On the General page, you might have to create and confirm a password for the sa login. On Status page, enable sa account login.





4. Open Object Explorer Properties. Right-Click Object Explorer, click Properties.

5. Change login mode. Select Security and choose "SQL Server and Windows Authentication Mode" for Server Authentication. Click OK to confirm the changes.

6. Acknowledge notification. On the SQL Server Management Studio dialog box, click OK to acknowledge the requirement to restart SQL Server.



7. Restart. On Object Explorer, right-click your server, and then click Restart. If SQL Server Agent is running, it must also be restarted.




8. Reconnect to verify. Disconnect the object explorer, connect again by using SQL Authentication Mode. Use the sa account and password you set previously.