SQL Server 2019 is compatible with Business Central 26.5 for on-premises

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Posted on by Srinivasan Raja

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?

Best regards,

Srinivasan R

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Dynamics 365 Business Central

Dynamics 365 Business Central migration

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Abdel DAHMANI 84 on at

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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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Sumit Singh 11,757 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi,

I am not more technically involved however as per my understanding SQL Server 2019 might not work, sharing below link and screenshot for reference.

System requirements for Business Central 2025 release wave 1 - Business Central | Microsoft Learn

If the customer cannot upgrade SQL Server now, the alternative might be (you can check): Upgrade BC 24 → BC 25.

System requirements for Business Central 2024 release wave 2 - Business Central | Microsoft Learn

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Gregory Mavrogeorgis 992 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hi,

No—BC 26.5 requires the database to run at compatibility level 160, which SQL Server 2019 can’t provide. You’ll need SQL Server 2022 (or Azure SQL/Managed Instance that supports level 160) to run BC 26.5 on-prem.
Why: In the v26 system requirements, Microsoft states that Business Central “supports database compatibility level 160” and the setup even installs SQL Server 2022 Express by default—clear signs that 2022 is the supported engine tier for v26.5.
Options if you want to avoid buying SQL 2022 right now:

Upgrade only to BC 25.x, which still supports compatibility levels 150 and 160—so SQL Server 2019 (level 150) is OK.

Move the BC database to Azure SQL Managed Instance/Azure SQL DB configured at compat 160

Microsoft’s guidance for SQL with BC also frames support in terms of required compatibility level rather than a specific SQL build—so the key blocker is that SQL 2019 can’t reach level 160.

More details on this link System requirements for Business Central 2025 release wave 1 - Business Central | Microsoft Learn

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OussamaSabbouh 12,803 Super User 2026 Season 1 on at

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Hello,

Business Central 26.5 requires SQL Server 2022 (or Azure SQL).
SQL Server 2019 is not supported for this version.
Upgrading to SQL Server 2022 is necessary for a supported BC 26.5 environment.

Regards,
Oussama

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Srinivasan Raja 37 on at

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Hi Everyone,

Thanks for your help.

I found that Business Central 26.5 can run on SQL Server 2019, but only if it’s an upgrade from an older version of BC where the database was already on SQL 2019.

However, since SQL Server 2019 supports only up to compatibility level 150, some of the latest Business Central 26.5 features and updates may not work properly under this configuration.

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