Commands for installing Microsoft SQL Server 2017 Express without prompts, removing it again and detecting it from deployment tools. A command is shown only when it is certain: from the manifest or the installer technology’s documented default.
Related guide: Silent install switches: MSI, NSIS, Inno Setup · Uninstall a program with the registry or PowerShell
With winget
PowerShell
winget install --id Microsoft.SQLServer.2017.Express -e --silent --accept-package-agreements --accept-source-agreementswinget upgrade --id Microsoft.SQLServer.2017.Express -e --silentwinget uninstall --id Microsoft.SQLServer.2017.Express -e --silentBy installer
64-bit · EXE · en-US
Silent install
SQLServer2017-SSEI-Expr.exe /IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS /ENU /ACTION=Install /quiet /InstallPath="c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server"PowerShell: download, verify, install
Downloads the official file, checks its SHA256 and installs it silently.
install-microsoft-sql-server-2017-express.ps1
$url = 'https://download.microsoft.com/download/5/E/9/5E9B18CC-8FD5-467E-B5BF-BADE39C51F73/SQLServer2017-SSEI-Expr.exe'
$sha256 = 'D8A5CD8F4380BE195AF82D0DDC21316713AB2B41FF6C48D86F87C5778DE18411'
$file = Join-Path $env:TEMP 'SQLServer2017-SSEI-Expr.exe'
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri $url -OutFile $file -UseBasicParsing
if ((Get-FileHash $file -Algorithm SHA256).Hash -ne $sha256) { throw 'SHA256 mismatch' }
Start-Process -FilePath $file -ArgumentList '/IACCEPTSQLSERVERLICENSETERMS /ENU /ACTION=Install /quiet /InstallPath="c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server"' -Wait 
