---
title: "Rename a Database | Microsoft Docs"
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ms.date: "03/14/2017"
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---
# Rename a Database
  This topic describes how to rename a user-defined database in [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)] by using [!INCLUDE[ssManStudioFull](../../includes/ssmanstudiofull-md.md)] or [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)]. The name of the database can include any characters that follow the rules for identifiers.  
  
 **In This Topic**  
  
-   **Before you begin:**  
  
     [Limitations and Restrictions](#Restrictions)  
  
     [Security](#Security)  
  
-   **To rename a database, using:**  
  
     [SQL Server Management Studio](#SSMSProcedure)  
  
     [Transact-SQL](#TsqlProcedure)  
  
-   **Follow Up:**  [After renaming a database](#FollowUp)  
  
##  <a name="BeforeYouBegin"></a> Before You Begin  
  
###  <a name="Restrictions"></a> Limitations and Restrictions  
  
-   System databases cannot be renamed.  
  
###  <a name="Security"></a> Security  
  
####  <a name="Permissions"></a> Permissions  
 Requires ALTER permission on the database.  
  
##  <a name="SSMSProcedure"></a> Using SQL Server Management Studio  
  
#### To rename a database  
  
1.  In **Object Explorer**, connect to an instance of the [!INCLUDE[ssDEnoversion](../../includes/ssdenoversion-md.md)], and then expand that instance.  
  
2.  Make sure that no one is using the database, and then [set the database to single-user mode](../../relational-databases/databases/set-a-database-to-single-user-mode.md).  
  
3.  Expand **Databases**, right-click the database to rename, and then click **Rename**.  
  
4.  Enter the new database name, and then click **OK**.  
  
##  <a name="TsqlProcedure"></a> Using Transact-SQL  
  
#### To rename a database  
  
1.  Connect to the [!INCLUDE[ssDE](../../includes/ssde-md.md)].  
  
2.  From the Standard bar, click **New Query**.  
  
3.  Copy and paste the following example into the query window and click **Execute**. This example changes the name of the `AdventureWorks2012` database to `Northwind`.  
  
```tsql  
USE master;  
GO  
ALTER DATABASE AdventureWorks2012  
Modify Name = Northwind ;  
GO  
```  
  
###  <a name="TsqlExample"></a>   
##  <a name="FollowUp"></a> Follow Up: After renaming a database  
 Back up the **master** database after you rename any database.  
  
## See Also  
 [ALTER DATABASE &#40;Transact-SQL&#41;](../../t-sql/statements/alter-database-transact-sql.md)   
 [Database Identifiers](../../relational-databases/databases/database-identifiers.md)