r/SQL • u/reciodelacruz • 1d ago

SQL Server SSMS client workspace relocation assistance

I figured it's worth a shot to ask here since I asked it already in the SQL Server subreddit...

Is there a way to use Microsoft SQL Server management Studio 22 without writing anything at all (no folders, shortcuts, junctions, symbolic links) in My Documents? I just installed the latest client from the official website without launching the client yet, and I want the SSMS workspace (configuration files, data files, etc.) to be transferred to a different location in the C drive. I failed in my first try, and both Claude and Gemini gave me conflicting answers.

To summarize, I don't want the folders below or anything related to it appearing inside My Documents.

C:\<My Documents Folder path>\SQL Server Management Studio

C:\<My Documents Folder path>\SQL Server Management Studio 22

2 Upvotes

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1

u/TheGenericUser0815 1d ago

In SSMS under Options you can find Projects and Project Folders. There you can set the folders you want to use. Unfortunately there are no images allowed here.

3

u/reciodelacruz 1d ago

Crap, I should have treated it like ITunes. Thanks, dude/dudette. 😘

1

u/Einar_Son_of_Bjorn 14h ago

If the whole Documents folder can be relocated, SSMS 22 usually follows the Windows Documents location. There is no supported “workspace root” checkbox inside SSMS. That’s why the two chatbots contradicted each other.If Documents must stay, and junctions/symlinks are off the table, SSMS will keep creating:Documents\SQL Server Management Studio

Documents\SQL Server Management Studio 22Moving those folders after the first launch does not work. It recreates them.Don’t apply a registry path from an LLM until we know the constraint. If you haven’t opened SSMS 22 yet, open it once on a spare Windows profile and list every folder it drops in Documents. Then it’s clear whether we’re fighting two directories or also Visual Studio leftovers.So: policy on Documents, or just dislike of clutter?