How do I install Jam SQL Studio?

Download Jam SQL Studio from jamsql.com for your operating system (macOS, Windows, or Linux). On macOS, drag to Applications. On Windows, run the installer. On Linux, use the AppImage or DEB package. No account required.

How do I connect to a SQL Server database?

Click the + button in the connections panel, select SQL Server as the engine type, enter your server address (e.g., localhost or myserver.database.windows.net), choose your authentication method (SQL Server auth, Windows auth, or Entra ID), and click Connect.

How do I run my first query?

After connecting to a database, click New Query in the toolbar to open the query editor. Type your SQL (e.g., SELECT * FROM sys.tables) and press Cmd+E (Mac) or Ctrl+E (Windows/Linux) to execute. Results appear in the panel below.

Is Jam SQL Studio free to use?

Yes, the Personal tier is free forever and includes unlimited SQL Server and PostgreSQL connections, IntelliSense, query execution, table explorer, and basic charting. Pro features are available with a 14-day free trial.

What databases does Jam SQL Studio support?

Jam SQL Studio supports Microsoft SQL Server (including Azure SQL), PostgreSQL (including Azure Database for PostgreSQL and Amazon RDS), MySQL (including MariaDB), Oracle Database (12.2+, 19c, 21c, 23ai), and SQLite. All engines include query execution and data export.

Last updated: 2026-02-12

Getting Started

Welcome to Jam SQL Studio! This guide will walk you through installing the app, connecting to your first database, and running your first query. You'll be up and running in just a few minutes.

Step 1: Install Jam SQL Studio

Download Jam SQL Studio for your operating system and follow the installation instructions.

macOS Windows Linux

Download the installer

Visit the download page and select your platform. The download will start automatically.

Install the application

macOS: Open the .dmg file and drag Jam SQL Studio to your Applications folder
Windows: Run the .exe installer and follow the setup wizard
Linux: Use the AppImage (chmod +x, then run) or install the .deb package

Launch Jam SQL Studio

Open the application from your Applications folder (macOS), Start menu (Windows), or application launcher (Linux).

Auto-updates

Jam SQL Studio checks for updates automatically in the desktop app. You can also run a manual check in Settings → Updates.

Privacy & analytics

Jam SQL Studio can send anonymous usage analytics to help improve the app. If a crash occurs, you can optionally send a sanitized crash report from the crash dialog. You can turn analytics off in Settings → Privacy. Reports never include SQL queries, database content, or connection strings.

The Jam SQL Studio welcome screen after first launch.

Step 2: Create Your First Connection

Connect to a SQL Server, PostgreSQL, MySQL, Oracle, or SQLite database to start exploring your data.

Click "New Connection"

In the sidebar, click the + New Connection button or use the keyboard shortcut Cmd+N (macOS) / Ctrl+N (Windows/Linux).

Enter server details

Server name: Your SQL Server hostname (e.g., localhost, server.example.com, or 192.168.1.100)
Authentication: Choose SQL Server Authentication or Windows Authentication
Username/Password: Enter your credentials (for SQL Server Auth)
Database: Optionally specify a default database

Test and save

Click Test Connection to verify your settings, then Save to store the connection for future use.

The connection dialog with server details and authentication options.

Connection Tips

For local development, use localhost or . as the server name. For SQL Server Express, try localhost\SQLEXPRESS. Make sure TCP/IP is enabled in SQL Server Configuration Manager.

Step 3: Run Your First Query

Now that you're connected, let's run a simple query to explore your data.

Open a new query tab

Click New Query in the toolbar or press Cmd+T (macOS) / Ctrl+T (Windows/Linux).

Write your SQL

Type a query in the editor. For example:

SELECT TOP 10 * FROM sys.tables ORDER BY name;

Execute the query

Press Cmd+E (macOS) / Ctrl+E (Windows/Linux) or click the Execute button. Results appear in the grid below.

The query editor with SQL syntax highlighting and results grid.

What's Next?

Now that you've connected and run your first query, explore more features:

Recommended Next Steps

Explore the database - Use the sidebar to browse tables, views, and procedures
Try Schema Compare - Compare schemas between two databases
Analyze queries - View execution plans to optimize performance
Organize scripts - Use the Scripts panel to pin and reopen .sql files
Set up AI - Enable AI Workspace or MCP for AI-assisted development

Ready for More?

Explore the full documentation to learn about advanced features.

Learn Schema Compare Set Up AI