SQL Backup Recovery Model Greyed Out – What it is & How to Fix it?

SQL Backup Recovery Model Greyed Out? There are several situations that the database administrators encounter and are not able to implement the required recovery models for the database restoration in SQL Server. With the help of this write-up, we will learn more about this issue, and further find the best methods that will allow the users to get over this issue.

But, before proceeding with the technicalities of this issue, let’s first understand a little about the recovery models in SQL Server. 

SQL Backup Recovery Model – Explained

The recovery models in SQL Server can be explained as a database property that is responsible for how the transactions are logged in the server, and what kind of restoration is available. There are three types of recovery models offered by SQL Server: Simple Recovery, Full Recovery, and Bulk-Logged Recovery Model. Let’s now briefly understand these recovery models one by one. 

SIMPLE Recovery Model: This recovery model is responsible for truncating the transaction log from the SQL Server. The Simple Recovery model clears out all the inactive transaction records after the specified checkpoints in the SQL Server. In this recovery model, users can restore data only until the last full backup.  

FULL Recovery Model: The Full Recovery Model is responsible for keeping a complete record until the transaction log backup is taken. This recovery model is beneficial in disaster recovery strategies and for point-in-time recovery. 

Bulk Logged Recovery Model: The Bulk-Logged Recovery Model can be considered similar to the Full Recovery Model, but this model is more commonly used for bulk operations such as BULK INSERT and SELECT INTO. This recovery model offers better performance in the database without impacting the log backups. 

These are the three recovery models that help with effectively restoring the database. Let’s now take a look at the SQL backup recovery model greyed out issue and the causes why this issue occurs.

Common Reasons for Backup Recovery Model Inaccessible Issue

As we now know about the recovery models in SQL Server, it is also crucial for us to know that this issue majorly occurs in the SQL Server Management Studio. Let’s now take a look at the reasons for what might be causing this issue in the server. 

• Database Stuck in Restoring State
• Due to Insufficient Permissions in SQL Server
• Database in mid of Database Mirroring
• SQL Database Being Offline 
• Due to Corruption in the Database

For these reasons, the recovery model required by users may not be available for implementation. Now, we are aware of the causes of this issue. Let’s now take a look at the solutions that will help the users resolve this issue and further use the SQL backup recovery model in a hassle-free way. 

How to Fix SQL Backup Recovery Model Greyed Out?

There are several solutions that will help the users to effectively resolve this issue. We will examine these solutions one by one and explore their benefits and implementation. Beginning with the first method, let’s see how that works. 

Method 1: Using T-SQL Command in Place of SQL Server Management Studio

As the issue is mainly encountered in SSMS, it is required for the users to try executing the T-SQL command rather than using the SQL Server Management Studio. Here is the command that might help you resolve this issue and further recover the database effectively. 

ALTER DATABASE [DatabaseName] SET RECOVERY FULL;

Here, we have used the FULL recovery model. In case you wish to implement any other recovery model, you can replace FULL with SIMPLE or BULK LOGGED recovery models at your convenience. Proceeding with the next method, let’s see how it will help.

Method 2: By Restarting the SQL Server Services to Fix the Issue

There is a chance that the SQL Backup recovery model greyed out issue might have occurred due to the incorrect status update in SSMS. There can be multiple reasons for this as well, such as:

• There are possibilities that the database in recovery state or a restore process. 
• The SQL Server system might have encountered issues related to resource consumption.
• Any internal locks within the database might not have been properly released, causing the incorrect status update in SSMS.

This can be resolved by restarting the SQL Server Services, as it can help the users with the following issues:

• Restarting the services will help unlock the greyed-out controls in the SQL Server Management Studio. 
• Doing this will also help the users by clearing up any temporary locks and blocked transactions in the database.
• Furthermore, it also ensures that the SQL Server evaluates the database status properly and gives more precise reports. 

Method 3: Using a Professional Tool To Repair SQL Backup Recovery Model Greyed Out

As we learned the reasons for this issue, we are well aware that one of the causes for this error can be due to corruption in the database, making the database inaccessible for recovery. In certain situations, the DBCC Command also fails to work to repair the corruption. In such conditions, we can use a professional tool, like SysTools SQL Database Recovery Tool, to fix the corruption and access the database again, effectively.

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Let’s take a look at the steps to use this advanced solution and see how it helps in repairing the issue.

1. Install and run the repair tool. Click on the Open Button to add the MDF file to the software.
   
   
2. After the file is loaded, you will get two scanning modes, Quick and Advanced Scan modes, respectively. Choose one as per the severity of the database corruption.
   
   
3. When the scan is complete, you will be provided with a preview of the recovered files.
   
   
4. After previewing, to resolve the issue completely and further export data, click on the Export tab.  In the Export Window, add the authentication details of the destination server and choose the required data to be transferred after recovery.
   
   
5. Click on the Export button to finally recover the database after a corruption.
   
   

This solution will help the database to be recovered in case of corruption, which might be a factor for the SQL backup recovery model greyed out issue in SSMS.

Method 4: Resolve the Issue By Updating SQL Server Management Studio

Sometimes, the issue can arise due to an outdated SSMS version, and further, can affect any operation being taken on the SQL Server Management Studio. There are other reasons as well, like a damaged or corrupted  SQL Server Management Studio or installation. Here are a few other factors that can be affected due to this issue:

• With the older version of SSMS, the tool might fail to recognize and sync properly with the newer versions of SQL Server instances. 
• In case the tool has bugs, they can cause issues with the operations or further disable the database options, making them complex to use. 
• With a damaged or corrupted installation, users might also encounter challenges such as failed communication with the SQL Database. 

All these issues can be resolved by updating and reinstalling SQL Server Management Studio. Here is how it can be done, and further help with resolving the SQL backup recovery model greyed out issue. 

To update the SQL Server Management Studio, follow the given steps:

1. Visit the official Microsoft site and find the SSMS latest version. 
2. Download the latest version of SQL Server Management Studio Installer.
3. Run the installer on your device. 
4. After the tool is installed successfully, restart the system.

In case you wish to repair the installation, the following methods will help you out:

1. Go to the Control Panel and then look for the Microsoft SQL Server. 
2. Then find the Change option, and go to Repair in SQL Server Installation Center. 
3. Next, follow the wizard to proceed with the repair process in the SQL Server Management Studio. 

Following these steps will allow you to effectively repair the SQL backup recovery model

issue, and also with a secure backup recovery in the SQL Server Database. These methods will help the database administrators to get over the recovery-related issues. Let’s now take a look at some safety measures that will help the users to secure their data and further help with using the backup recovery models effectively whenever required. 

Best Practices to Prevent SQL Backup Recovery Model Greyed Out

Here are some of the practices that will help protect the database and further allow users to prevent the issue and carry out the recovery process effectively. 

• The first safety measure is to implement the authoritative tasks with proper permissions. 
• It is also crucial to keep the database in a healthy state, and further keep it in an online state whenever performing any crucial processes like backup and recovery.
• Keeping a regular backup of the transaction logs prevents them from growing too large. Furthermore, it is also crucial for the users to truncate the logs after taking a backup to avoid any related issues. 
• Regularly monitor the database for any corruption and repair the database at an early stage before the corruption gets too severe. 

Conclusion

With the help of this write-up, we have learned about the SQL Backup Recovery Model Greyed Out issue and further the causes why this error occurred. We have also discussed the crucial factors of this issue and found the best ways that would help the users to resolve this issue effectively.