How to Restore Transaction Log Greyed Out in SQL Database?

Users often try to execute the restore & recovery tasks on their SQL Server database. However, sometimes they have to face issues with the same. One such issue is to restore transaction log greyed out. Now, this problem is getting more & more serious nowadays as beginner users are not aware of the exact causes & the right solution.

Therefore, this article is going to mention the SQL Server restore transaction log greyed out solution along with the critical causes & solution. We have explained the issue in depth along with two solutions; manual as well as automated. This way, users can get the desired results without any hassles.

SQL Server Restore Transaction Log Greyed Out Issue Explained

Now, some users might be thinking what is this transaction log greyed out issue actually is. So, we’re going to simplify that here. Now, whenever users try to restore the transaction log file using the SSMS or SQL Server management Studio, they need to execute the three steps mentioned below.

1. Open SSMS & Connect to SQL Server Instance.
2. Right-Click on the Database Name to Get More Options.
3. Select the Tasks Option & Go to the Restore option Now.

Here, we have noticed, that users want to click on transaction log option. But this option is greyed out & is not clickable. Thus, users find themselves in trouble as they are not even aware of the causes & true solution for this.

Let us begin with understanding the causes first followed by the actual manual & advanced solutions.

Also Read: SQL Log File Growing Rapidly Resolved

Why SQL Server Database Transaction Log Greyed Out?

Restore transaction log greyed out issue can have a few major causes like database recovery model, backup option enabled or not, etc.

• Users must keep their database in the NORECOVERY state to get the option. If the NORECOVERY is disabled, users will face the greyed out transaction log option.
• Using the SIMPLE recovery model is another major cause for users to get this error in the SQL Server database.
• Not taking the full backup is one major problem that users face here. If the database do not have backup of the transaction log, it will grey out the option obviously.

These three are the major issues for SQL Server restore transaction log greyed out. However, there are a few more minor reasons like users restoring full backup with recovery or using the differential backup.

Apart from this, there’s no reason for users facing this greyed-out option issue. Now, we have two solutions for fixing it. The manual one & the advanced one. Let’s begin with the manual one first.

Fix and Restore Transaction Log Greyed Out Manually

To fix this problem, users must enable the transaction log backup in the SQL Server database. Also, they need to restore the database with NORECOVERY option as shown in the image below.

After this, users can see that the restore transaction log option is no more greyed out. It becomes clickable now. Users can now proceed further to execute their usual operations.

Now, this manual operation is not 100% accurate every time. This is why, users must keep an alternate solution in their mind like the automated method. 

SQL Server Restore Transaction Log Greyed Out Resolved Automatically

To avoid the hassles & uncertainty present in the manual solution, users can trust the SQL Server LOG Analyzer solution. It uses the log files i.e. LDF to restore the data rather than the backup files. Therefore, users do not need to execute any extra procedures. They just need to install this utility & follow the 4 simple steps mentioned below:

Step-1. Launch the Software & then Add LDF files.

Step-2. Select the Online or Offline method for restoration.

Step-3. Preview the SQL Server Transaction Records here.

Step-4. Export the Transaction Records to the desired destination.

The Conclusion

Now, that users are aware of the right solution to fix restore transaction log greyed out issue in the SQL Server database, it’s time to wrap up this article. We can only say that both the solutions mentioned above are working & legit.

However, to avoid hassles & save time, an automated solution is one step ahead of the old school manual one. Rest, users are free to choose any of them if they are proficient in SQL Server technicalities to fix SQL Server restore transaction log greyed out.