Server configuration: backup compression algorithm

2025-05-22

Applies to: SQL Server 2022 (16.x) and later versions

This article describes how to view or configure the backup compression algorithm server configuration option in SQL Server with Transact-SQL.

The backup compression algorithm option determines which compression algorithm is used by default for backups that use compression. The backup compression algorithm configuration option is required for you to implement integrated acceleration and offloading solutions.

Prerequisites

Windows operating system
SQL Server 2022 (16.x) and later versions

Permissions

Execute permissions on sp_configure with no parameters or with only the first parameter are granted to all users by default. To execute sp_configure with both parameters to change a configuration option or to run the RECONFIGURE statement, a user must be granted the ALTER SETTINGS server-level permission. The ALTER SETTINGS permission is implicitly held by the sysadmin and serveradmin fixed server roles.

Backup compression algorithms

You can use the backup compression algorithm option to specify the algorithm used for backup compression. The following algorithms are available:

MS_XPRESS: The default backup compression algorithm in all editions of SQL Server.
Intel QAT: The Intel QuickAssist Technology (QAT) based algorithm backup compression algorithm. This algorithm is available in SQL Server 2022 (16.x) and later versions.
ZSTD: The backup compression algorithm that uses the faster and more effective Zstandard (ZSTD) compression algorithm. This algorithm is available in SQL Server 2025 (17.x) Preview and later versions.

View the backup compression algorithm option

Note

There's currently a known issue with setting the backup compression algorithm to ZSTD.

In SQL Server Management Studio, connect to the Database Engine.
From the Standard bar, select New Query.
Copy and paste the following example into the query window and select Execute. This example queries the sys.configurations catalog view to determine the value for backup compression algorithm:
- 0 = Backup compression is off, specified by the backup compression default option.
- 1 = SQL Server uses the MS_XPRESS backup compression algorithm (default).
- 2 = SQL Server uses the Intel® QAT backup compression algorithm.
- 3 = SQL Server uses the ZSTD backup compression algorithm.
```
SELECT value
FROM sys.configurations
WHERE name = 'backup compression algorithm';
GO
```

Configure the backup compression algorithm option

In SQL Server Management Studio, connect to the Database Engine.
From the Standard bar, select New Query.
Copy and paste the following example into the query window and select Execute. This example shows how to use sp_configure to configure the server instance to use Intel® QAT as the default compression algorithm:
```
EXECUTE sp_configure 'backup compression algorithm', 2;

RECONFIGURE;
```
To change the compression algorithm back to the ZSTD algorithm (new in SQL Server 2025 (17.x) Preview), use the following script:
```
EXECUTE sp_configure 'backup compression algorithm', 3;

RECONFIGURE;
```
To change the default compression algorithm back to the default, use the following script:
```
EXECUTE sp_configure 'backup compression algorithm', 1;

RECONFIGURE;
```

For more information, see Server configuration options.

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