Hi Team,
Our customer is currently running Business Central 24.0 On-Premises with SQL Server 2019. As we plan to upgrade to the latest Business Central 26.5 version, the customer is not willing to purchase SQL Server 2022 at this time.
Could you please confirm if it is possible to upgrade to BC 26.5 while continuing to use SQL Server 2019?
Yes — you can upgrade to Business Central 26.5 (on-premises) and continue using SQL Server 2019.
The Microsoft system requirements for BC v26 (2025 release wave 1) list SQL Server-2019 as a valid SQL Server version for database components, with the caveat that you respect the required compatibility level. learn.microsoft.com
However, there are two caveats to check:
Compatibility Level – BC 26 requires that the database compatibility level is supported (for example level 160). Make sure your SQL Server 2019 instance supports and is configured to use a compatible compatibility level. learn.microsoft.com
Service Packs / Updates – Make sure your SQL Server 2019 is up-to-date with the latest service packs and cumulative updates. The documentation states that "all released Service Packs and Cumulative Updates of the above Microsoft SQL Server versions are supported". learn.microsoft.com
So, yes — your upgrade path is valid without having to move immediately to SQL Server 2022.
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