// Connect directly to new DB connString = @"Server=(localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB;Database=TestDB;Integrated Security=true;"; conn.ConnectionString = connString; conn.Open();
// Create table cmd.CommandText = "CREATE TABLE Users (Id INT PRIMARY KEY, Name NVARCHAR(100))"; cmd.ExecuteNonQuery(); // In DbContext OnConfiguring or Startup.cs optionsBuilder.UseSqlServer(@"Server=(localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB;Database=MyAppDb;Integrated Security=true;"); 5. Limitations & Workarounds | Limitation | Workaround | |------------|-------------| | Max 10 GB per database | Use multiple databases or migrate to SQL Server Express / Standard | | No SQL Server Agent | Use Task Scheduler or background service for scheduled jobs | | No TCP/IP (named pipes only) | Cannot connect from another machine; use full Express for remote | | Single user process per MDF | Design for exclusive file access; use connection pooling | | Memory limited to user process | Monitor with sqllocaldb ; restart instance if needed | 6. Debugging & Management Tips View current instances: sql server express localdb
sqllocaldb info MSSQLLocalDB
// Create a new database string sql = "CREATE DATABASE TestDB"; using var cmd = new SqlCommand(sql, conn); cmd.ExecuteNonQuery(); // Connect directly to new DB connString =
sqllocaldb stop MSSQLLocalDB sqllocaldb delete MSSQLLocalDB Server type: (localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB (or (localdb)\. for default) for default)