Microsoft’s SSMS tooling quietly stepped into its next chapter this week with the public appearance of SSMS 22 Preview 1 — a preview build that brings a modernized settings experience, refreshed theming, results-grid zooming, and deeper alignment with SQL Server 2025 and Microsoft Fabric. Early adopters will be able to run the preview side‑by‑side with existing SSMS installs, while Microsoft continues to gate certain integrations (notably SSIS and some Copilot experiences) for later previews. The release signals a steady, iterative approach: deliver visible polish and productivity wins quickly, gather feedback, and expand integration points with Fabric and AI across subsequent builds. (windowsreport.com, techcommunity.microsoft.com)
Microsoft has been rebuilding SSMS over the last year with a Visual Studio‑based architecture, and the SSMS product team is now shipping more frequent preview channels to accelerate iterative changes. SSMS 22 Preview 1 focuses on UI/UX modernization and targeted productivity features while ensuring the tool remains compatible with the emerging SQL Server 2025 language additions. The preview model lets DBAs, developers, and platform teams try new capabilities in non‑production environments and provide feedback that informs subsequent updates. (learn.microsoft.com)
This preview is not merely cosmetic: it ties into a broader platform story — SQL Server 2025’s in‑database AI, vector search and regular‑expression improvements — and Microsoft is positioning SSMS as the modern on‑prem and hybrid management surface that understands those new constructs. If your organization is evaluating SQL Server 2025 or Microsoft Fabric, the SSMS previews are the first touchpoints where those platform changes become visible in your daily admin and development workflows. (microsoft.com)
The broader platform context is critical: SQL Server 2025 introduces built‑in vector search, AI model bindings, new T‑SQL functions for embeddings and chunking, and enhanced JSON and regex support. To manage and author code that targets those features, DBAs and developers need an updated, intelligent tooling surface — which is precisely what SSMS 22 previews aim to provide. (learn.microsoft.com, microsoft.com)
Fabric integration plans are aligned to make SSMS more useful for mixed cloud and Fabric SQL Database scenarios: group‑by‑schema handling, context menus tailored to Fabric objects, and future features that smooth migration and mirroring between on‑prem SQL and Fabric SQL Database. Expect this to be a multi‑preview effort. (learn.microsoft.com)
For database teams preparing for SQL Server 2025 or deeper Fabric adoption, the SSMS 22 preview series is worth a look now — it gives an early view into editor behavior, IntelliSense support for new language features like AI_GENERATE_EMBEDDINGS and regex enhancements, and a feel for how Microsoft intends to integrate Fabric operations into a classic DBA workflow. But treat this as a preview: validate assumptions, keep fallbacks in place, and feed back issues through the official channels so the product team can iterate quickly. (learn.microsoft.com, devblogs.microsoft.com)
Conclusion
SSMS 22 Preview 1 is an important, measured evolution of Microsoft’s primary SQL tooling: it modernizes the day‑to‑day experience while beginning to bridge SSMS with an AI‑first database platform and Fabric. Its feature set is immediately useful, but the preview nature — plus staged feature exposure and missing integrations — means enterprise teams should pilot carefully. Where the preview shines is in the pragmatic, incremental improvement model: rapid UI polish, precise authoring support for SQL Server 2025 features, and a clear roadmap toward deeper Fabric and Copilot integration in upcoming builds. (windowsreport.com, learn.microsoft.com, microsoft.com)
Source: Windows Report Microsoft launches SSMS 22 Preview 1 with fresh themes and Fabric upgrades
Microsoft has been rebuilding SSMS over the last year with a Visual Studio‑based architecture, and the SSMS product team is now shipping more frequent preview channels to accelerate iterative changes. SSMS 22 Preview 1 focuses on UI/UX modernization and targeted productivity features while ensuring the tool remains compatible with the emerging SQL Server 2025 language additions. The preview model lets DBAs, developers, and platform teams try new capabilities in non‑production environments and provide feedback that informs subsequent updates. (learn.microsoft.com)This preview is not merely cosmetic: it ties into a broader platform story — SQL Server 2025’s in‑database AI, vector search and regular‑expression improvements — and Microsoft is positioning SSMS as the modern on‑prem and hybrid management surface that understands those new constructs. If your organization is evaluating SQL Server 2025 or Microsoft Fabric, the SSMS previews are the first touchpoints where those platform changes become visible in your daily admin and development workflows. (microsoft.com)
Background: why SSMS is changing again
SSMS has long been an essential tool for SQL Server professionals, but decades of incremental changes left it burdened by older UI frameworks and installer mechanics. In 2024–2025 Microsoft re‑grounded SSMS on a Visual Studio 2022 base, introduced 64‑bit builds and a Visual Studio‑style installer, and began delivering features via Preview and Release channels. That rearchitecture unlocked a faster cadence for meaningful fixes, modern themes, Git integration, and AI add‑ons — setting the stage for SSMS 22’s preview series. (techcommunity.microsoft.com, github.com)The broader platform context is critical: SQL Server 2025 introduces built‑in vector search, AI model bindings, new T‑SQL functions for embeddings and chunking, and enhanced JSON and regex support. To manage and author code that targets those features, DBAs and developers need an updated, intelligent tooling surface — which is precisely what SSMS 22 previews aim to provide. (learn.microsoft.com, microsoft.com)
What’s new in SSMS 22 Preview 1 — feature breakdown
Unified Settings: a single, searchable, and scoped settings model
SSMS 22 Preview 1 introduces Unified Settings, a redesigned settings UI that offers search, filtering, and multi‑scope save options (user, instance, or solution level). This change shifts away from the old, sprawling Tools → Options model to a more discoverable, Visual Studio‑style experience that matches expectations set by modern IDEs. The unified approach speeds configuration discovery and reduces the number of clicks needed to find the option you want. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)New themes and accessible coloration
The preview retires the old “classic blue” motif and ships light and dark base themes with expanded color customization for fonts, backgrounds, and UI accents. The goal is more consistent theming across the editor, results panes, and dialogs, and to improve accessibility (contrast and focus visibility) for long sessions. While the new themes are generally welcome, accessibility and automation teams should validate focus indicators and color contrasts in their automation and assistive‑technology workflows before broad deployment. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)Results grid zooming and editor independence
A highly requested quality‑of‑life improvement in this preview is the ability to zoom the results grid independently of the editor. That lets users increase the font size of returned datasets without changing their script editor font, improving readability for large result sets or high‑DPI displays. Simple keyboard shortcuts and UI controls adjust the zoom level, and the new behavior persists per query window. (techcommunity.microsoft.com)Fabric improvements: group‑by‑schema and context refinements
For teams using Microsoft Fabric, SSMS 22 Preview 1 adds group‑by‑schema support for SQL databases and refined right‑click context menus that reduce friction when migrating or managing Fabric SQL databases. This is an initial integration — Microsoft plans deeper Fabric‑focused capabilities in later previews, including Fabric‑first connection workflows and richer mirroring/ingestion tools. (learn.microsoft.com)IntelliSense and language support: keeping pace with SQL Server 2025
SSMS 22 Preview 1 updates IntelliSense to recognize newer SQL Server 2025 syntax and constructs. That includes support for the AI‑related language extensions (for example, server‑side functions used for embedding and chunking), regular expression functions, and additional SQL operators introduced with SQL Server 2025. These editor improvements make authoring T‑SQL that targets the new engine features far less error‑prone. The platform side (SQL Server 2025) provides functions such as AI_GENERATE_EMBEDDINGS and REGEXP_LIKE; SSMS 22 aims to display them properly and offer autocompletion and parameter help. (learn.microsoft.com, devblogs.microsoft.com)What’s not yet included and the roadmap
- SSIS (SQL Server Integration Services) management UI is currently absent from Preview 1 and is planned to return in a future build.
- GitHub Copilot integration — a major promise for code and query assistance — is not yet present in Preview 1 but is earmarked for later previews with a move toward the GitHub Copilot experience that complements Visual Studio and VS Code integrations.
- Windows ARM64 native builds are planned in the roadmap, but ARM64 support will arrive in later previews rather than in this first build. (learn.microsoft.com, windowsreport.com)
Hands‑on: installing and running SSMS 22 Preview 1 safely
- Use a non‑production machine or a VM for any preview installs; never pilot previews first on a production management workstation.
- Install SSMS 22 Preview 1 using the Visual Studio Installer — the preview is designed to run side‑by‑side with SSMS 21 so you can keep using SSMS 21 for SSIS and other workloads that remain on that channel. (github.com, learn.microsoft.com)
- If you rely on third‑party SSMS extensions, check vendor compatibility notes before switching preview builds; some extensions may require updates to operate correctly in the new Visual Studio‑based environment.
- Capture baseline telemetry and key scripts, and validate your critical automation (PowerShell, RPA, screenshot‑based tests) against the preview to surface any UI or behavior regressions early.
Enterprise considerations: testing, accessibility, and compliance
The SSMS 22 preview series introduces many visual and behavior changes that can impact enterprise automation, accessibility, and compliance workflows. Two high‑impact considerations:- Accessibility and automation: Theming changes and altered dialog behaviors can disrupt screen readers and image‑based RPA scripts. Accessibility testing and keyboard navigation verification should be part of all pilot plans. Microsoft has used staged enablement for UI elements in other preview cycles; behavior and appearance can differ by device due to server‑side gating — test thoroughly.
- Licensing and data flow for AI features: AI capabilities tied to Copilot or Fabric may require licensing and could invoke cloud backends for model inference. For on‑prem SQL Server 2025 features that enable local ONNX runtime embeddings, there are on‑device options, but organizations must validate data governance and telemetry policies for each scenario. The SQL Server 2025 docs and Azure blog posts describe both cloud and local model deployment patterns. (devblogs.microsoft.com, microsoft.com)
The SSMS 22 preview in the context of SQL Server 2025 and Fabric
Microsoft is not reinventing SSMS in isolation — the product changes directly reflect the platform changes in SQL Server 2025 and the evolving Microsoft Fabric ecosystem. SQL Server 2025 introduces native vector types, DiskANN vector indexes, AI functions (AI_GENERATE_EMBEDDINGS, AI_GENERATE_CHUNKS), and expanded regex/JSON capabilities. These engine features enable semantic search and RAG patterns directly in T‑SQL; SSMS 22 previews are the first to display and assist with authoring those constructs. For teams building GenAI‑enabled apps, that is a significant simplification of development and operations. (learn.microsoft.com, microsoft.com)Fabric integration plans are aligned to make SSMS more useful for mixed cloud and Fabric SQL Database scenarios: group‑by‑schema handling, context menus tailored to Fabric objects, and future features that smooth migration and mirroring between on‑prem SQL and Fabric SQL Database. Expect this to be a multi‑preview effort. (learn.microsoft.com)
Critical analysis — strengths, limitations, and risk profile
Strengths
- Modernization: Porting SSMS to a Visual Studio‑based framework and adding a unified settings UI addresses long‑standing user pain points and aligns SSMS with modern IDE expectations. (github.com)
- Productivity wins: Results‑grid zooming, improved IntelliSense for SQL Server 2025 constructs, and initial Fabric workflows give immediate user value for day‑to‑day tasks.
- Platform readiness: Aligning SSMS with SQL Server 2025’s AI and vector features reduces friction for DBAs and developers adopting those platform capabilities. (microsoft.com)
Limitations and risks
- Staged feature gating: Microsoft’s staged enablement approach means not every user will see the same UI or functionality even on the same build, complicating enterprise validation and support. Accessibility and automation regressions are real risks that require explicit testing.
- Preview‑only gaps: Missing components (SSIS, Copilot integration) in this Preview 1 reduce the utility for organizations that require end‑to‑end management from a single client today.
- Extension compatibility: Some popular third‑party SSMS extensions may need updates to function inside the new Visual Studio‑based shell; coordinate with vendors before broad adoption. (productsupport.red-gate.com)
Mitigation recommendations
- Maintain SSMS 21 (or your stable channel) on production workstations while piloting SSMS 22 in dedicated rings.
- Include accessibility and UI automation stakeholders early in pilots to catch regressions.
- Verify licensing and telemetry implications for any AI features planned for use, particularly those that route content to cloud services.
How to evaluate SSMS 22 Preview 1 in your environment
- Prioritize use cases where the new features matter: writing T‑SQL that targets SQL Server 2025 vector and AI functions; managing Fabric SQL Databases; or needing better results‑grid readability on high‑DPI screens.
- Build a short validation plan:
- Install SSMS 22 Preview 1 on a VM and confirm side‑by‑side coexistence with SSMS 21. (github.com)
- Run smoke tests for critical scripts, scheduled jobs, and SCM/extension integrations.
- Validate key automation (PowerShell runbooks, RPA, installer flows) and accessibility with assistive tools.
- Confirm that telemetry and data flows conform to privacy and compliance requirements when exercising AI features.
Final thoughts and practical takeaways
SSMS 22 Preview 1 represents a meaningful next step in modernizing the SQL Server management plane. Its Unified Settings, refreshed themes, independent results‑grid zoom, and IntelliSense updates aligned to SQL Server 2025 deliver tangible productivity gains for database professionals. The preview cadence and roadmap show Microsoft is building toward richer Fabric and Copilot experiences, but the preview model means certain integrations will lag initial UI improvements. Organizations should pilot aggressively but cautiously: test accessibility, automation, and extension compatibility, and keep stable SSMS channels for production tasks. (techcommunity.microsoft.com, learn.microsoft.com)For database teams preparing for SQL Server 2025 or deeper Fabric adoption, the SSMS 22 preview series is worth a look now — it gives an early view into editor behavior, IntelliSense support for new language features like AI_GENERATE_EMBEDDINGS and regex enhancements, and a feel for how Microsoft intends to integrate Fabric operations into a classic DBA workflow. But treat this as a preview: validate assumptions, keep fallbacks in place, and feed back issues through the official channels so the product team can iterate quickly. (learn.microsoft.com, devblogs.microsoft.com)
Conclusion
SSMS 22 Preview 1 is an important, measured evolution of Microsoft’s primary SQL tooling: it modernizes the day‑to‑day experience while beginning to bridge SSMS with an AI‑first database platform and Fabric. Its feature set is immediately useful, but the preview nature — plus staged feature exposure and missing integrations — means enterprise teams should pilot carefully. Where the preview shines is in the pragmatic, incremental improvement model: rapid UI polish, precise authoring support for SQL Server 2025 features, and a clear roadmap toward deeper Fabric and Copilot integration in upcoming builds. (windowsreport.com, learn.microsoft.com, microsoft.com)
Source: Windows Report Microsoft launches SSMS 22 Preview 1 with fresh themes and Fabric upgrades