SQL Server Agent Won’t Start Issue: Causes and Best Solutions

Have you recently encountered the SQL Server agent won’t start issue? If we talk about database maintenance, it is one of the most crucial tasks for the database administrators. It further includes tasks as scheduled backups, system maintenance, and further report generation. These jobs are handled as a background operation with the help of SQL Server agents. However, there are various situations where users encounter the SQL Server agent not running problem. With the help of this article, we will be learning more about the issues and problems that impact the working of SQL Server agents. 

But, before directly jumping to the causes and solutions, we will understand the role of the SQL Server Agents for a database administrator. 

What is SQL Server Agent & What Are Its Functions?

The SQL Server agent is a built-in feature offered by Microsoft SQL Server. This agent helps mainly with automating the routine scheduled tasks in the server. The SQL Server agents work as a background function managing the jobs, scheduling alerts, and further performing maintenance of the database without the need of manual intervention. Let’s now take a look at the functions of these SQL Server agents and understand why they are important for the database administrators. 

Why Are SQL Server Agents Used? Functionalities Explained

We will now take a look at how these agents help the database administrators with the maintenance of SQL Server environments. 

• Helps with Automating Tasks in SQL
  With the help of SQL Server agents, it becomes easier to automate tasks such as backups, data importing or report generation in the SQL Server database. This helps save the database administrators from the manual labor of fulfilling these tasks.
• Precise Scheduling of Jobs in SQL
  The SQL Agents help the users with scheduling the jobs in a more precise way, so that the desired operations are performed whenever required. 
• Centralized Management of Tasks and Alerts
  The SQL Agents allow users to monitor and track all the alerts, jobs, and other scheduled tasks in a single place.
  
• Helps With SQL Server Maintenance
  The SQL Server maintenance, such as clearing up unused data or rebuilding the indexes in SQL Server, to keep the database secure and healthy, the SQL Agents play an important role.  

These are a few functionalities of the SQL Server agents in the database. However, when the users encounter the SQL Server agent not starting issue, various scheduled tasks get delayed or stop. This results in degrading database health and performance, and can further lead to much bigger issues than anticipated. But why exactly does this SQL Server agent not starting occur? Let’s examine the causes of the problem.

Common Causes for the SQL Server Agent Won’t Start Problem

Here are some of the common causes that lead to this error. We will understand these causes one by one and further try to find the best solutions to resolve the issues. 

1. The SQL Server Services Stopped
   For the SQL Server Agent to run, it is required for the SQL Server Services to run. In case the SQL Services are not running or stopped due to any issues, users will encounter the SQL Server agent not starting problem.
   
2. Due to Issues With Service Accounts in SQL
   If the SQL Account running the agent has some issues, such as an incorrect password, an expired account, or a locked-out account, the agent will fail to run.
3. Corruption in the Specified SQL Master Database File
   If the desired agent and other jobs, alerts are running on a database with a corrupted database file, the agent will not run, further resulting in other issues within the database. 
4. Due to Misconfigurations in SQL Settings
   If the SQL Server account settings are misconfigured, like an incorrect path can lead to the SQL Server agent won’t start issue. 
5. SQL Server Agent Blocked by Firewall
   There are possibilities that the security software, such as Firewalls, can block the SQL Agents, considering them a threat to the server.  

These are the common causes for the SQL Server agent not starting problem in SQL Server. After learning these causes and understanding the issues, we will now find the appropriate and suitable troubleshooting ways that will allow the users to resolve the challenges efficiently. 

Best Troubleshooting Ways to Fix the SQL Server Agent Not Running Problem

As we read the causes for the SQL Server agent won’t start issue, it’s now time to find the best ways to resolve these issues using the most effective ways. We will discuss these solutions one by one and further learn the steps for how these methods can be implemented. 

Method 1: Resolve the SQL Server Services Stopped Issue

One of the causes for the SQL Server agent not running issue is due to the stopping of SQL Server Services. To fix the issue accordingly, we will now take a look at the steps to help the users. In this method, we will use the SQL Server Configuration Manager.

1. Open SQL Server Configuration Manager and locate MSSQLSERVER from the list.
2. If the SQL Server displays the Stopped message, start the server.
3. When the SQL Server starts, try running the SQL Server agent again. 

These steps will allow you to effectively resolve the issue due to the SQL Server service stopped problem. Moving on to the next method to resolve the SQL Server agent won’t start problem. 

Method 2: Repair SQL Service Accounts Issue to Run SQL Agents Effectively

We will now take a look at the steps that will allow the users to resolve the issue when it occurs due to SQL service accounts. 

1. Press Windows + R keys together, and in the given display box, run services.msc.
2. Next, locate SQL Server Services, and further move to Properties.
3. Go to the Log On tab and verify the account details from there. 
4. From the displayed page, check and note the following things:
   1. The account is not expired and is currently active. 
   2. The password being used is correct.

With the following settings configured, users can log in using the desired service accounts. Let’s proceed with the next method of resolving this issue. 

Method 3: Repair the msdb File Corruption From the Database

Corruption in the database file is another common cause that can lead to the SQL Server agent won’t start issue. Database file corruption can lead to various issues such as this one, and can further affect the entire workflow of the users. Now, it is important to check SQL Database corruption and use a professional solution for fixing the issues. Here, we suggest using the SysTools SQL Recovery Tool.

This utility is designed specially for repairing the corrupt database files in SQL Server and further recovering the affected data in a much secure and efficient way. Users can repair the SQL Server agent not running in just a few quick steps:

1. Install and run the suggested software. Add database files using the Open Tab. 
2. After the files are loaded, the tool offers a dual mode of scanning. Choose one. 
3. Once the scan is completed, a preview of the recovered files is displayed. 
4. Next, click on the Export Tab to recover these files. 
5. Lastly, add the authentication details of the destination database. Click on Export to repair the SQL Server agent not starting issue.

Method 4: Use SQL Server Configuration Manager to Fix the Problem

Here are the steps that will help the users resolve any issues created due to misconfigurations in the SQL Server database. 

1. Open SQL Server Configuration Manager.
2. Right-click on the SQL Server and then go to Properties. 
3. Next, find startup parameters and remove any invalid file paths. 
4. Reset the SQL Server to default settings and then restart the server to check the changes made. 

Method 5: Temporarily Turn Off the Security Software 

Another common cause for the SQL Server agent won’t start issue is due to the security software, like a firewall. Now, to resolve the issue caused due to this factor, it can be resolved by temporarily stopping the security software services. 

1. Turn off the firewall and proceed with starting the SQL Server agent.
2. Restart the SQL Server database and check if the SQL Server agent is working.

With the help of these troubleshooting methods, users can effectively get rid of the SQL Server agent not starting issue. 

Conclusion

With this technical write-up, we have learned about the SQL Server agent won’t start issue and the common causes due to which the error occurs. Furthermore, to make it easier for the users to proceed with the desired functions, we have suggested the best solutions for resolving the errors.