--- title: Changing the location of Acctivate SQL Server Database Files. description: Detach the database within SQL Server Management Studio, move the database .mdf and .ldf files, then attach the database again using the new file path. --- [Skip to content](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/move-acctivate-sql-server-database-files#main-content) [Go to Customer Portal](https://hub.acctivate.com/tickets?hsLang=en) ![Acctivate - A CAI Solution](https://hub.acctivate.com/hubfs/Images/Logos/acctivate-cai-logo-svg.svg) - [Knowledge Base](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Knowledge Base](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles) - [Go to Customer Portal](https://hub.acctivate.com/tickets) - [Support Resources / Create Ticket](https://acctivate.com/support) [Support Resources / Create Ticket](https://acctivate.com/support) Hello. How can we help you? - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. 1. [Knowledge Base](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles?hsLang=en) 2. [Database](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/database?hsLang=en) 3. [Microsoft SQL Server](https://hub.acctivate.com/articles/database?hsLang=en#microsoft-sql-server) April 11, 2025 # Changing the location of Acctivate SQL Server Database Files. ## Detach the database within SQL Server Management Studio, move the database .mdf and .ldf files, then attach the database again using the new file path. ### Move Acctivate SQL Server Database Files Moving your database files to a different drive or partition should only be performed by a system administrator. You can use Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio in order to prepare the database to be moved. **We highly recommend you back up your databases before you proceed.** 1. Open Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) on the server, which is usually located on the Start menu, under All Programs -\> Microsoft SQL Server - Please refer to [this article](https://help.acctivate.com/articles/4006/) if you don’t see Management Studio on your server 2. When the login Screen appears, select the **“**Instance**”** of SQL Server that Acctivate is running on (e.g. SERVER\\ACCTIVATE). 3. You will need to log in using SQL Server authentication using the “sa” account.  Please let us know if you do not know the SA password and need assistance. 4. Expand the Databases folder on the left in Management Studio 5. Right-click your company database (such as ACCTivate$Demo) and select Properties 6. Select Files in the list and take note of the Path. ![DB\_files](https://hub.acctivate.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DB_files.jpg?width=600&name=DB_files.jpg) 7. Right-click ACCTivate$Demo database and select Tasks \> Detach then click OK - The database will be no longer be listed on the SQL Server, but the data files will NOT be deleted - This allows you to copy the database files to a different directory on the server 8. You can now COPY and PASTE the database files to the new directory - Move BOTH files for each database (e.g., ACCTivate$Demo\_data.mdf and ACCTivate$Demo\_log.ldf) 9. Once you have moved the files, you will now need to reattach the files to SQL Server 10. Right-click Databases in Management Studio and Select ‘Attach…’ 11. Click Add then Browse to the new directory and select your Database MDF file and click OK 12. Click OK again to attach the database 13. Repeat these steps for each of your databases. You should include the “Acctivate” database that exists here as well. 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