---
title: "Autostart SQL Server Agent (SQL Server Management Studio) | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "03/06/2017"
ms.prod: "sql-server-2014"
ms.reviewer: ""
ms.technology: ssms
ms.topic: conceptual
helpviewer_keywords: 
  - "SQL Server Agent, starting"
  - "autostart SQL Server Agent"
ms.assetid: 2ea332da-0ede-4d2b-b122-c4c10eaca191
author: stevestein
ms.author: sstein
manager: craigg
---
# Autostart SQL Server Agent (SQL Server Management Studio)
  This topic describes how to configure [!INCLUDE[msCoName](../../includes/msconame-md.md)] [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent to automatically restart if it should stop unexpectedly in [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)].  
  
 **In This Topic**  
  
-   **Before you begin:**  
  
     [Limitations and Restrictions](#Restrictions)  
  
     [Security](#Security)  
  
-   [To configure SQL Server Agent to automatically restart, using SQL Server Management Studio](#SSMSProcedure)  
  
##  <a name="BeforeYouBegin"></a> Before You Begin  
  
###  <a name="Restrictions"></a> Limitations and Restrictions  
 Object Explorer only displays the [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent node if you have permission to use it.  
  
###  <a name="Security"></a> Security  
  
####  <a name="Permissions"></a> Permissions  
 To perform its functions, [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent must be configured to use the credentials of an account that is a member of the **sysadmin** fixed server role in [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)]. The account must have the following Windows permissions:  
  
-   Log on as a service (SeServiceLogonRight)  
  
-   Replace a process-level token (SeAssignPrimaryTokenPrivilege)  
  
-   Bypass traverse checking (SeChangeNotifyPrivilege)  
  
-   Adjust memory quotas for a process (SeIncreaseQuotaPrivilege)  
  
 For more information about the Windows permissions required for the [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] Agent service account, see [Select an Account for the SQL Server Agent Service](select-an-account-for-the-sql-server-agent-service.md) and [Configure Windows Service Accounts and Permissions](../../database-engine/configure-windows/configure-windows-service-accounts-and-permissions.md).  
  
##  <a name="SSMSProcedure"></a> Using SQL Server Management Studio  
  
#### To configure SQL Server Agent to automatically restart  
  
1.  In **Object Explorer**, click the plus sign to expand the server where you want to configure SQL Server Agent to automatically restart.  
  
2.  Right-click **SQL Server Agent**, and then click **Properties**.  
  
3.  On the **General** page, check **Auto restart SQL Server Agent if it stops unexpectedly**.