SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 – Error Locating Server/Instance Specified

Users often see “SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 – Error Locating Server/Instance Specified” error message while connecting to SQL Server.

Steps to resolve this error

First check SQL Server is running or not

Go to All Programs >> Microsoft SQL Server 2017 >> SQL Server Configuration Manager >> SQL Server Services, and check if SQL Server service status is “Running”.

If SQL Server is ‘Stopped’ then Right-click on the SQL Server & click Start.

Hope your issue will solve. If you are still getting the same error, then check ‘TCP/IP in SQL Server Configuration’

Check TCP/IP in SQL Server Configuration

Go to All Programs >> Microsoft SQL Server 2017 >> SQL Server Configuration Manager >>SQL Server Network Configuration >> Protocols for xxxx [Here xxxx will be your SQL Server name]

If TCP/IP is ‘Disabled‘ then Right-click on the TCP/IP & click Enable

Hope your issue will solve. If you are still getting the same error, then Enable Remote Connection

Enable Remote Connection

Right-click on the SQL Server node and select Properties.

Go to ‘Connections’ & “Allow remote connections to this server” if it is not allowed previously.

Hope your issue will solve.