Jam SQL Studio Published: 2026-02-17
Azure Data Studio Is Retiring: Your Complete Migration Guide for 2026
Azure Data Studio reaches end of life on February 28, 2026. Microsoft confirmed the retirement on February 6, 2025, giving teams roughly one year to migrate. This guide covers the full timeline, what features you lose, how each alternative stacks up, and a step-by-step migration plan.
In This Guide
1. Retirement Timeline
Here is the complete timeline of Azure Data Studio's deprecation, from announcement through retirement and related product changes:
2. What Breaks After February 28
Azure Data Studio may continue to launch after the retirement date, but running deprecated database tooling in production carries real risks:
- No security patches — vulnerabilities discovered after retirement will not be fixed. Database credentials pass through ADS, making unpatched software a security liability.
- No bug fixes — existing bugs in query execution, IntelliSense, or connection handling will remain permanently.
- Extension ecosystem collapse — third-party extension authors will stop maintaining ADS extensions. Extensions relying on ADS-specific APIs will break over time.
- No Azure integration updates — as Azure services evolve (new authentication flows, API changes), ADS will fall behind. Entra ID token flows may stop working as Microsoft updates their identity platform.
- No download availability — Microsoft may remove ADS from their download servers, preventing new installations or reinstallations.
3. Why Microsoft Is Retiring Azure Data Studio
Microsoft is consolidating SQL development tooling around two products:
- VS Code + MSSQL Extension for cross-platform SQL development
- SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) for Windows-based SQL Server administration
Azure Data Studio was built on the Electron framework (same as VS Code) and shared significant code with VS Code. Rather than maintaining two overlapping Electron-based editors, Microsoft chose to invest in the VS Code extension model. The MSSQL extension receives the features that were previously exclusive to ADS.
This follows a broader industry pattern: Microsoft retired Visual Studio for Mac in 2024, consolidated .NET development into VS Code, and is now applying the same strategy to database tooling.
4. Feature Gaps in Microsoft's Official Alternatives
Microsoft recommends the VS Code MSSQL extension or SSMS. Neither fully replaces Azure Data Studio. Here are the specific features you lose with each:
VS Code + MSSQL Extension — What's Missing
No schema compare. No data compare. No built-in charting for query results. No SQL notebooks (Polyglot Notebooks are also being deprecated). No dedicated database object explorer sidebar. No visual execution plan comparison. The extension provides query execution and IntelliSense, but the integrated database management experience is gone.
SSMS — What's Missing
Windows only — no support for macOS or Linux. No PostgreSQL, MySQL, or SQLite support. No modern dark theme. No AI agent integration. No built-in charting. Heavy application with slow startup times. SSMS remains powerful for SQL Server administration on Windows, but it does not serve the cross-platform audience that ADS attracted.
5. Third-Party Alternatives Compared
Several third-party SQL IDEs can replace Azure Data Studio. Here's how they compare across the features that ADS users rely on most:
| Feature | DBeaver | DataGrip | Beekeeper Studio | Jam SQL Studio |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cross-platform | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free tier | ✓ Community | ✗ Paid only | ✓ Community | ✓ Personal |
| Execution plans | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Schema compare | ✓ Pro only | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Data compare | ✓ Pro only | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Built-in charting | ✓ Pro only | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| SQL notebooks | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| AI agent support (MCP) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Entra ID (Azure AD) | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Multi-database support | ✓ 100+ databases | ✓ 20+ databases | ✓ 10+ databases | ✓ SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite |
Key takeaway: DBeaver and DataGrip cover most ADS features but lock advanced capabilities (schema compare, charting) behind paid tiers. Beekeeper Studio provides a clean UI but lacks execution plans and schema compare entirely. Jam SQL Studio includes execution plans, schema compare, data compare, and charting in the free Personal tier, plus SQL notebooks and AI agent support via MCP that no other tool offers.
6. Step-by-Step Migration
A typical migration from Azure Data Studio takes 15–30 minutes. Follow these steps:
Step 1: Document Your Current Setup
Before uninstalling ADS, make a list of:
- Server addresses and ports for each connection
- Authentication method (SQL login, Windows auth, Entra ID)
- Default databases for each connection
- Custom snippets or keyboard shortcuts
- Any extensions you actively use
Step 2: Save Your SQL Files
Copy all .sql files and .ipynb notebook files to a known folder. SQL files are plain text and work in any SQL editor without modification. Jam SQL Studio can open .ipynb files directly — SQL and JavaScript cells are preserved.
Step 3: Install Your New Tool
Download Jam SQL Studio for your platform (macOS, Windows, or Linux). Installation is a standard app install — no admin rights required on Mac or Linux.
Step 4: Recreate Connections
Create new connections using the same server addresses, credentials, and authentication methods from Step 1. Jam SQL Studio supports SQL Server authentication, Windows authentication, and Microsoft Entra ID (Azure AD) with device code flow.
Step 5: Verify Your Workflows
Run your most common queries and verify:
- Query results match what you saw in ADS
- IntelliSense provides table and column suggestions
- Execution plans render correctly for your typical queries
- Schema compare detects differences between your dev and production databases
For the full migration documentation with screenshots, see the Migrate from Azure Data Studio docs page.
7. Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use Azure Data Studio after February 28, 2026?
The application may continue to launch, but it will not receive security patches or bug fixes. Running unpatched software that handles database credentials is a security risk. Microsoft recommends migrating before the deadline.
Will my Azure Data Studio extensions still work?
Extension authors are likely to stop maintaining ADS-specific extensions after retirement. Extensions that depend on ADS APIs may break as underlying dependencies become outdated. The VS Code MSSQL extension has its own extension ecosystem that is separate from ADS.
What about Polyglot Notebooks?
Polyglot Notebooks, which were tightly integrated with Azure Data Studio, were deprecated on March 27, 2026. Jam SQL Studio supports opening .ipynb files directly with SQL and JavaScript cell execution. See the Polyglot Notebooks migration guide.
Do I need to change my SQL scripts?
No. SQL scripts (.sql files) are plain text and are compatible across all SQL editors. Your queries will work identically in any replacement tool.
Does Jam SQL Studio support Azure SQL Database?
Yes. Jam SQL Studio supports Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, and Azure Synapse Analytics. It includes Microsoft Entra ID authentication with device code flow and persistent token caching for seamless reconnection.
Is Jam SQL Studio free?
The Personal tier is free forever with no account required. It includes unlimited connections, IntelliSense, query execution, table explorer, and basic charting. Pro features (AI workspace, execution plans, schema compare, advanced charting) are available with a 14-day free trial, then $9.99/month or $99/year.
Ready to Migrate?
Download Jam SQL Studio and start your migration today. Free for personal use, with execution plans, schema compare, and AI agent support.