---
title: "Configure the media retention Server Configuration Option | Microsoft Docs"
ms.custom: ""
ms.date: "03/02/2017"
ms.prod: sql
ms.prod_service: high-availability
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ms.technology: configuration
ms.topic: conceptual
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  - "backup retention duration [SQL Server]"
  - "backup sets [SQL Server], retention duration"
  - "media retention option"
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author: MikeRayMSFT
ms.author: mikeray
---
# Configure the media retention Server Configuration Option
[!INCLUDE[appliesto-ss-xxxx-xxxx-xxx-md](../../includes/appliesto-ss-xxxx-xxxx-xxx-md.md)]

  This topic describes how to configure the **media retention** server configuration option in [!INCLUDE[ssCurrent](../../includes/sscurrent-md.md)] by using [!INCLUDE[ssManStudioFull](../../includes/ssmanstudiofull-md.md)] or [!INCLUDE[tsql](../../includes/tsql-md.md)]. The **media retention** option specifies the length of time to retain each backup set. The option helps protect backups from being overwritten until the specified number of days has elapsed. After you configure **media retention** option, you do not have to specify the length of time to retain system backups each time you perform a backup. The default value is 0 days, and the maximum value is 365 days.  
  
 **In This Topic**  
  
-   **Before you begin:**  
  
     [Limitations and Restrictions](#Restrictions)  
  
     [Recommendations](#Recommendations)  
  
     [Security](#Security)  
  
-   **To configure the media retention option, using:**  
  
     [SQL Server Management Studio](#SSMSProcedure)  
  
     [Transact-SQL](#TsqlProcedure)  
  
-   **Follow Up:**  [After you configure the media retention option](#FollowUp)  
  
##  <a name="BeforeYouBegin"></a> Before You Begin  
  
###  <a name="Restrictions"></a> Limitations and Restrictions  
  
-   If you use the backup medium before the set number of days has passed, [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] issues a warning message. [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] does not issue a warning unless you change the default.  
  
###  <a name="Recommendations"></a> Recommendations  
  
-   This option is an advanced option and should be changed only by an experienced database administrator or certified [!INCLUDE[ssNoVersion](../../includes/ssnoversion-md.md)] professional.  
  
-   The **media retention** option can be overridden by using the RETAINDAYS clause of the [BACKUP](../../t-sql/statements/backup-transact-sql.md) statement.  
  
###  <a name="Security"></a> Security  
  
####  <a name="Permissions"></a> Permissions  
 Execute permissions on **sp_configure** with no parameters or with only the first parameter are granted to all users by default. To execute **sp_configure** with both parameters to change a configuration option or to run the RECONFIGURE statement, a user must be granted the ALTER SETTINGS server-level permission. The ALTER SETTINGS permission is implicitly held by the **sysadmin** and **serveradmin** fixed server roles.  
  
##  <a name="SSMSProcedure"></a> Using SQL Server Management Studio  
  
#### To configure the media retention option  
  
1.  In Object Explorer, right-click a server and select **Properties**.  
  
2.  Click the **Database settings** node.  
  
3.  Under **Backup/Restore**, in the **Default backup media retention** box, type or select a value from 0 through 365 to set the number of days the backup medium will be retained after a database or transaction log backup.  
  
##  <a name="TsqlProcedure"></a> Using Transact-SQL  
  
#### To configure the media retention option  
  
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 shows how to use [sp_configure](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sp-configure-transact-sql.md) to set the value of the `media retention` option to `60` days.  
  
```sql  
USE AdventureWorks2012 ;  
GO  
EXEC sp_configure 'show advanced options', 1;  
GO  
RECONFIGURE ;  
GO  
EXEC sp_configure 'media retention', 60 ;  
GO  
RECONFIGURE;  
GO  
  
```  
  
 For more information, see [Server Configuration Options &#40;SQL Server&#41;](../../database-engine/configure-windows/server-configuration-options-sql-server.md).  
  
##  <a name="FollowUp"></a> Follow Up: After you configure the media retention option  
 The setting takes effect immediately without restarting the server.  
  
## See Also  
 [Back Up and Restore of SQL Server Databases](../../relational-databases/backup-restore/back-up-and-restore-of-sql-server-databases.md)   
 [BACKUP &#40;Transact-SQL&#41;](../../t-sql/statements/backup-transact-sql.md)   
 [RECONFIGURE &#40;Transact-SQL&#41;](../../t-sql/language-elements/reconfigure-transact-sql.md)   
 [Server Configuration Options &#40;SQL Server&#41;](../../database-engine/configure-windows/server-configuration-options-sql-server.md)   
 [sp_configure &#40;Transact-SQL&#41;](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/sp-configure-transact-sql.md)