Sql Database Pending Recovery _top_ May 2026

ALTER DATABASE YourDatabaseName SET EMERGENCY; Then rebuild the log:

ALTER DATABASE YourDatabaseName SET ONLINE; If the log file is missing and you have no log backups, you may need to rebuild it. This can break the transaction log chain and cause point-in-time recovery to fail.

If you manage Microsoft SQL Server, encountering a database in “Pending Recovery” mode can be alarming. The database is inaccessible, appears greyed out in SSMS, and applications relying on it fail. However, this state is a protective mechanism, not necessarily a sign of permanent data loss. sql database pending recovery

ALTER DATABASE YourDatabaseName SET EMERGENCY; DBCC CHECKDB ('YourDatabaseName') WITH NO_INFOMSGS; -- If repair is needed: ALTER DATABASE YourDatabaseName SET SINGLE_USER; DBCC CHECKDB ('YourDatabaseName', REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS); ALTER DATABASE YourDatabaseName SET MULTI_USER; If none of the above works, restore the last full backup followed by all transaction log backups:

ALTER DATABASE YourDatabaseName SET ONLINE; ⚠️ After rebuilding the log, run DBCC CHECKDB ('YourDatabaseName') to identify any data consistency issues. If the above fails, attempt repair with possible data loss: The database is inaccessible, appears greyed out in

First, put the database in emergency mode:

ALTER DATABASE YourDatabaseName REBUILD LOG ON (NAME=YourDatabaseName_log, FILENAME='C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL15.MSSQLSERVER\MSSQL\DATA\YourDatabaseName_log.ldf'); Finally, take the database online: If the above fails, attempt repair with possible

Always prioritize over reactive recovery. The difference between a 10-minute fix and a day of data loss is often just a tested backup strategy. Last updated: March 2025 – Applies to SQL Server 2016 through 2022, and Azure SQL Managed Instance (limited scope).