What is SQL Server Error 26 & How to Fix It?

Working on the SQL Server Database can be frustrating as the database administrators encounter numerous errors in their day-to-day lives. One of these errors is the SQL Server error 26. With the help of this guide, we will try to understand what the error is and the reasons are that result in the occurrence of this error. 

Beginning by learning more about the error makes the issue easier for the users to understand. 

Error: 26 – Error Locating Server/Instance Specified – Overview

This SQL Error is a connectivity error and occurs when the client application fails to make a connection to the desired SQL Server instance. The error occurs mainly when the user is trying to secure a connection between the application and the SQL Server. The SQL Server error 26 occurs even before the connection reaches the SQL Server, indicating that the instance required cannot be found. This can happen due to numerous reasons. We will now take a look at the causes for the connectivity error and then learn what challenges one might encounter due to the error. 

Why SQL Server Error 26 Occurs and How Users Are Affected?

There are several reasons that lead to the occurrence of the connectivity error in the SQL Server database. As we have learned, the error majorly occurs when the application fails to secure a connection to the SQL Server instance. We can conclude that the error occurs when there is a misconfiguration in the SQL Server. Here are a few of the causes for the error. 

• One of the causes for the error can be that the SQL Server Browser might not be running. The SQL Server browser is responsible for identifying the port in SQL Server for making connection with the instance. 
• Another reason for the SQL Server error 26 can be a misspelled SQL instance or Server name that can create issues in securing a connection with the required SQL instance. 
• The Error: 26 – Error Locating Server/Instance Specified can also occur if the desired port for making a connection is blocked by firewall.
• When the required protocols like TCP/IP or Named pipes are disabled, making connection to the SQL Server instance might become challenging for the users. 

All these are the reasons that somehow lead to the occurrence of the connection error with the SQL Server instance. But that’s not it. When the error occurs, it raises various challenges for the users while fulfilling their day-to-day tasks. Let’s understand what these challenges are and how the users are impacted when the SQL network interfaces error 26 occurs, and find the best solutions to resolve the error seamlessly. 

Challenges of the SQL Server Error 26 

• When the error occurs, it becomes quite complex for the users to understand the root cause of the error, as it occurs with a misleading error message. The unclear message raises issues for the users to identify the actual cause of the error and further proceed with the repair methods. 
• If the client applications are unable to secure any connection with the SQL Server instance, it might result in application inaccessibility and can cause downtime till the error is resolved. 
• One of the reasons for the error is that the port is blocked by the Firewall. But when the SQL Server error 26 occurs, the error message doesn’t state that the connection is being blocked; instead, the message says ‘couldn’t find server’. This makes it harder for the users to understand the actual cause of the error. 
• With the occurrence of Error: 26 – Error Locating Server/Instance Specified, the developers spend too much time finding the cause and resolving the connection issue. This results in performance degradation and delay in the testing and development process. 

Due to all these challenges, the performance of the SQL Server database declines, resulting in organizations’ workflow disruptions and other issues. That is why it becomes necessary to resolve the error with the best solutions, to improve database performance and database administrators’ productivity. 

We will now try a few methods that can help the users resolve the error 26 SQL, and learn how these methods can be implemented effectively. 

How to Repair SQL Server Error 26? Top Solutions Explained 

Depending on the different causes for the error occurrence, users often wonder ‘How do I fix error 26 in SQL Server?’. Hence, we will try to resolve the error using different solutions. These methods are mainly troubleshooting methods. 

Method 1: Resolving the Error by Verifying the Instance/Server Name

Knowing that one possibility of the error is due to a misspelled or incorrect instance or server name, the application is trying to create a connection. Hence, the first method to resolve the Error: 26 – Error Locating Server/Instance Specified is by entering the correct Server/Instance name to secure a connection with the SQL Server instance. Ensuring the instance/server name is correct will help the users overcome the ‘How do I fix error 26 in SQL Server’ concern.

Method 2: Check If SQL Server Service is Running

It is also important to check whether the SQL Server services are running for the instance the client application is trying to connect to. The SQL Server error 26 can occur if the SQL Server services are not running for the desired server. By following the given steps, you can resolve the error:

1. Press the Win+R keys together and type services.msc in the text area. 
2. Check the SQL Server Services status and start it if it’s not running. 

This will help the users to resolve the error if it occurs due to the SQL Server services not running. 

Method 3: Fix SQL Server Error 26 By Allowing Remote Connections

One of the causes for the error to occur is the misconfiguration of the instance to allow remote connections. When the users come across this error, their major concern is ‘how to configure a SQL Server to allow remote connections’. This error can be resolved by allowing remote connections. The steps for the same are given below:

1. Open SQL Server Management Studio and then right-click on the desired server.
2. Next, go to Properties and find connections. 
3. Enable the ‘Allow remote connections to this server’ option to resolve SQL network interfaces error 26. 

These steps will help you allow the remote connection to the required SQL Server that the application is trying to connect to and resolve the SQL Server error 26.

Method 4: Check TCP/IP Protocols and Firewall Settings to Fix the Error

If the error has occurred due to disabled protocols or the port being blocked by the Firewall, we can resolve it by verifying and checking the protocols. Let’s understand the steps one by one for both configurations. 

• To enable TCP/IP protocols in SQL Server, follow the given steps:

1. Open SQL Server Configuration Manager. 
2. Go to SQL Server Network Configuration and click on Protocols for [InstanceName]. 
3. Enable the TCP/IP protocols, if not enabled. 

• To fix the SQL Server error 26, check if the Firewall allows the following ports to establish a connection:

1. Check whether the Firewall allows TCP port 1433, which is the default instance.
2. Also, check whether the UDP port 1434 for SQL Server Browser is allowed.

These steps will allow you to resolve the error if it occurred due to disabled protocols or a firewall blocking. 

Method 5: Fix SQL Server error 26 Using Professional Solution

All the troubleshooting methods we have discussed will allow the users to resolve the errors depending on the root cause, but there is a possibility that the error might have occurred due to corruption. However, these methods do not guarantee a complete repair and can delay the repair process if not implemented properly. We will now see how a solution like SysTools SQL Recovery Software helps users to resolve this SQL network interfaces error 26.

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The steps to use this solution are as follows:

1. Install and launch the automated solution. Click on the Open button to add the database files into the software.
2. Choose one option from Quick Scan or Advanced Scan mode to inspect the database files.
   
   
3. After the scan, a preview of the files will be provided. Click on the Export button after previewing the files.
   
   
4. In the Export window, add the necessary authentication details for the desired SQL Server/Instance.
   
   
5. After adding the credentials, choose the data for export. Click on the Export button to repair the Error: 26 – Error Locating Server/Instance Specified issue.
   
   

By following these steps, users can easily fix any corruption in the database or Server, and further establish a connection to the SQL Server efficiently. This utility is an expert solution that helps with the easy repair of the error. 

Conclusion 

Through this thorough technical write-up, we have discussed the SQL Server error 26 and how it occurs. We also discussed the challenges a user might encounter due to this error. Furthermore, we learned how these challenges might impact users’ daily tasks. To resolve the error effectively, we have suggested the best solutions. These solutions will help database administrators fix the SQL network interfaces error 26 and proceed with their daily tasks.