MSSQL in Mac OS?

How to install Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) in a Mac OS

Overview

For a long time, Microsoft SQL Server (MSSQL) was primarily a Windows-based database management system. But with the rise of cross-platform development and cloud solutions, Microsoft now provides official support for running MSSQL on macOS — although not natively. Instead, macOS users need to leverage Docker to set up and run SQL Server efficiently.

Whether you’re a developer, database administrator, or just someone looking to experiment with MSSQL on a Mac, this guide will walk you through installing and setting up SQL Server on macOS. By the end, you’ll have a fully functional MSSQL environment running on your Mac, ready for database development, management, or testing.

Let’s dive into the installation process step by step!

Step 1: Install Docker Desktop

Since MSSQL is not natively supported on macOS, the best way to run it is through Docker, which allows you to create a lightweight virtualized environment.

How to Install Docker on Mac

1. Download Docker Desktop

• Visit the official DOcker website:
  https://www.docker.com/products/docker-desktop
• Choose macOS (Apple Silicon) if you have an M1/M2 chip, or macOS (Intel) for Intel-based Macs.

2. Install Docker

• Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag Docker into the Applications folder.
• Launch Docker Desktop and follow the setup instructions.

3. Verify Docker Installation

• Open Terminal and run:

docker --version

• If you see a version number, Docker is installed correctly.

Step 2: Pull the MSSQL Docker Image

Once Docker is running, you need to download the official Microsoft SQL Server Docker image.

1. Open Terminal and run the following command:

docker pull mcr.microsoft.com/azure-sql-edge

This will download the latest version of MSSQL Server.

Step 3: Run MSSQL in a Docker Container

Now that you have the MSSQL image, you can start a container and run the database server.

docker run -e "ACCEPT_EULA=1" -e "MSSQL_SA_PASSWORD=MyStrongPass123" -e "MSSQL_PID=Developer" -e "MSSQL_USER=SA" -p 1433:1433 -d --name=sql mcr.microsoft.com/azure-sql-edge

• ACCEPT_EULA=Y → Accepts Microsoft’s End User License Agreement.
• SA_PASSWORD=MyStrongPass123 → Sets a strong password for the SA (System Administrator) account.
• -p 1433:1433 → Exposes port 1433, which MSSQL uses.
• — name mssql → Assigns the name sql to the container.
• -d → Runs the container in detached mode (in the background).

Step 4: Connect to SQL Server on Mac

Once your MSSQL container is running, you can connect to it using a SQL client.

Using Azure Data Studio

Microsoft provides Azure Data Studio, a cross-platform database management tool.

• Download & Install: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/azure-data-studio/download-azure-data-studio
• Open the application and click on New Connection.
• Use the following details:
  - Server: localhost
  - Username: sa
  - Password: YourStrong@Passw0rd

Click Connect, and you should see your SQL Server databases!

Conclusion

Setting up Microsoft SQL Server on macOS is straightforward using Docker. By following this guide, you now have a fully functional MSSQL environment on your Mac, ready for development, testing, or database management.

Quick Recap:

✅ Installed Docker Desktop
✅ Pulled and ran MSSQL in a Docker container
✅ Connected to SQL Server using Azure Data Studio or SQLCMD
✅ Learned how to manage the container and persist data

Now you’re all set! 🚀 If you have any questions or run into issues, feel free to drop a comment. Happy coding!

References

• Microsoft SQL Server on Docker — Official Microsoft documentation on running SQL Server in Docker.
• Docker Desktop for Mac — Official Docker download page for macOS.
• Azure Data Studio — Microsoft’s cross-platform SQL management tool.
• Homebrew Package Manager — The easiest way to install mssql-tools and other macOS utilities.