---
title: "Start the sqlcmd Utility"
description: Learn how to start the sqlcmd utility, which lets you enter Transact-SQL statements, system procedures, and script files, in SQLCMD mode or in scripts and jobs.
ms.custom: seo-lt-2019
ms.date: "03/14/2017"
ms.prod: sql
ms.technology: ssms
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.topic: conceptual
ms.assetid: 00d57437-7a29-4da1-b639-ee990db055fb
author: markingmyname
ms.author: maghan
monikerRange: ">=aps-pdw-2016||=azuresqldb-current||=azure-sqldw-latest||>=sql-server-2016||>=sql-server-linux-2017||=azuresqldb-mi-current"
---
# sqlcmd - Start the Utility
[!INCLUDE[SQL Server Azure SQL Database Synapse Analytics PDW ](../../includes/applies-to-version/sql-asdb-asdbmi-asa-pdw.md)]
  The [sqlcmd Utility](../../tools/sqlcmd-utility.md) lets you enter [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] statements, system procedures, and script files at the command prompt, in Query Editor in SQLCMD mode, in a Windows script file or in an operating system (Cmd.exe) job step of a [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent job.
> [!NOTE]  
>  Windows Authentication is the default authentication mode for **sqlcmd**. To use [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Authentication, you must specify a user name and password by using the **-U** and **-P** options.  
  
> [!NOTE]  
>  By default, [!INCLUDE[ssExpress](../../includes/ssexpress-md.md)] installs as the named instance **sqlexpress**.  
  
### Start the sqlcmd utility and connect to a default instance of SQL Server  
  
1.  On the **Start** menu click **Run**. In the **Open** box type **cmd**, and then click **OK** to open a Command Prompt window. (If you have not connected to this instance of the [!INCLUDE[ssDEnoversion](../../includes/ssdenoversion-md.md)] before, you may have to configure [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] to accept connections.)  
  
2.  At the command prompt, type **sqlcmd**.  
  
3.  Press ENTER.  
  
     You now have a trusted connection to the default instance of [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] that is running on your computer.  
  
     **1>** is the **sqlcmd** prompt that specifies the line number. Each time you press ENTER, the number increases by one.  
  
4.  To end the **sqlcmd** session, type **EXIT** at the **sqlcmd** prompt.  
  
### Start the sqlcmd utility and connect to a named instance of SQL Server  
  
1.  Open a Command Prompt window, and type **sqlcmd -S**_myServer\instanceName_. Replace *myServer\instanceName* with the name of the computer and the instance of [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] that you want to connect to.  
  
2.  Press ENTER.  
  
     The **sqlcmd** prompt (1>) indicates that you are connected to the specified instance of [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)].  
  
    > [!NOTE]  
    >  Entered [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)] statements are stored in a buffer. They are executed as a batch when the GO command is encountered.  
  
## See Also  
 [Run Transact-SQL Script Files Using sqlcmd](./sqlcmd-run-transact-sql-script-files.md)