---
title: "Connect to your database"
slug: "connect-to-sql-server"
description: "Connect Excel to SQL Server using the SQL Spreads Designer. Covers server name formats for local, Express, corporate network and remote instances."
updated: 2026-11-11T10:06:03Z
published: 2026-11-11T10:06:03Z
canonical: "sqlspreads.com/connect-to-sql-server"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://sqlspreads.com/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect to your database

Support for new databases in SQL Spreads 8.0

In SQL Spreads 8.0, you can connect to and update data in **PostgreSQL**, **Snowflake**, **Microsoft Fabric**, and **Databricks**, in addition to **SQL Server** and **Azure SQL**. [See which features are supported for each database →](/docs/supported-databases)

Select your database type from the **Database** drop-down in the connection dialog. The connection settings will change depending on the selected database.

![Image](https://cdn.document360.io/ad9d65b3-9cdd-4b28-8cb8-86cb149873bc/Images/Documentation/image(294).png)

*The instructions below describe how to connect to SQL Server and Azure SQL. Detailed connection guides for the other supported databases are being added.*

### Connect to SQL Server (on-premise)

1. Go to the **SQL Spreads tab** in Excel and click the **Open Designer** button ![SQL Spreads Click on Open Designer button](https://cdn.document360.io/ad9d65b3-9cdd-4b28-8cb8-86cb149873bc/Images/Documentation/SQL%20Spreads%207.6.3%20Click%20on%20Open%20Designer%20button.PNG)
2. In the SQL Spreads Designer panel on the right side, click the **Edit** button to open the SQL Server connection dialog. ![Open the SQL Server connection dialog.png](https://cdn.document360.io/ad9d65b3-9cdd-4b28-8cb8-86cb149873bc/Images/Documentation/Open%20the%20SQL%20Server%20connection%20dialog.png)
3. Enter the name of your SQL Server into the **SQL Server name** field: ![Connect to SQL Server from Excel.png](https://cdn.document360.io/ad9d65b3-9cdd-4b28-8cb8-86cb149873bc/Images/Documentation/Connect%20to%20SQL%20Server%20from%20Excel.png)

| Typical server name | Case |
| --- | --- |
| localhost | When SQL Server is installed locally |
| localhost\sqlexpress | When SQL Server Express is installed locally |
| Domain\Servername | When SQL Server is installed in a corporate network |
| IP-address | When SQL Server is installed in a remote location |

Note:

Use **the same name** as when you connect to SQL Server in SQL Server Management Studio.

1. Select if you should connect using your Windows-login (Windows Authentication) or enter a user name and password (SQL Server Authentication) ![Select SQL Server authentication method.png](https://cdn.document360.io/ad9d65b3-9cdd-4b28-8cb8-86cb149873bc/Images/Documentation/Select%20SQL%20Server%20authentication%20method.png)
2. Click **OK**. SQL Spreads will try to connect to the database. If the connection is successful, your databases will show up in the SQL Spreads Designer panel. ![image.png](https://cdn.document360.io/ad9d65b3-9cdd-4b28-8cb8-86cb149873bc/Images/Documentation/image%2819%29.png)

### Connect to Azure SQL

SQL Spreads can be used to update and manage data in tables and views in Azure SQL databases in the same way as for an on-premise SQL Server installation.

1. To connect to an Azure SQL database, you will have to first log in to your Azure Portal and locate the name/URL of your Azure SQL Server: ![find the Azure SQL Server name.png](https://cdn.document360.io/ad9d65b3-9cdd-4b28-8cb8-86cb149873bc/Images/Documentation/find%20the%20Azure%20SQL%20Server%20name.png)
2. Paste the Azure SQL name into the SQL Server name field in the SQL Spreads connection dialog: ![Enter Azure Server Name](https://cdn.document360.io/ad9d65b3-9cdd-4b28-8cb8-86cb149873bc/Images/Documentation/Enter%20Azure%20Server%20Name.png)
3. Enter the user name and password in the fields in the connection dialog. You can find the Azure SQL user name if you click the Server name in the first image above: ![Azure Server name.png](https://cdn.document360.io/ad9d65b3-9cdd-4b28-8cb8-86cb149873bc/Images/Documentation/Azure%20Server%20name.png)
4. Click OK.

### Using Microsoft Entra ID

SQL Spreads can be used in conjunction with Azure AD authentication for a more secure solution.

1. Enter the Azure SQL name into the **SQL Server name** field in the SQL Spreads connection dialog: ![Azure AD Auth Server Name Display(1)](https://cdn.document360.io/ad9d65b3-9cdd-4b28-8cb8-86cb149873bc/Images/Documentation/Azure%20AD%20Auth%20Server%20Name%20Display%281%29.PNG)
2. Select the **Azure AD Authentication** option: ![Azure AD Auth Select Option](https://cdn.document360.io/ad9d65b3-9cdd-4b28-8cb8-86cb149873bc/Images/Documentation/Azure%20AD%20Auth%20Select%20Option.PNG)
3. Click **OK**.
4. Sign in with your **Azure AD Account credentials**: ![Azure AD Auth Sign In View](https://cdn.document360.io/ad9d65b3-9cdd-4b28-8cb8-86cb149873bc/Images/Documentation/Azure%20AD%20Auth%20Sign%20In%20View.PNG)
5. After your credentials have been verified, the connection window will disappear and your server name will be populated in the SQL Spreads Designer under *Document's SQL Server connection*. You can now see a list of your databases available through your Azure AD authentication connection and can begin building your SQL Spreads sheet. ![Azure AD Connection Successful](https://cdn.document360.io/ad9d65b3-9cdd-4b28-8cb8-86cb149873bc/Images/Documentation/Azure%20AD%20Connection%20Successful.PNG)

Note:

If you are not sure that your connection was successful, click on the **Edit** button in the Database tab in the Design Mode. Then click on the **Test Connection** button and you will see a window pop-up with the following confirmation message "Successfully connected to the database".