Complete the Database Engine upgrade

Applies to: SQL Server - Windows only

After upgrading the Database Engine, complete the following tasks:

• Back up your databases:

  Perform a full backup of each database.

• Enable new features:

  In SQL Server 2016 (13.x) and later versions, some changes are only enabled once the DATABASE_COMPATIBILITY level for a database is changed to 130 or greater. For more information and for the recommended workflow, see Change the database compatibility level and use the Query Store. If your database has memory-optimized tables created in SQL Server 2014 (12.x), review Statistics for Memory-Optimized Tables.

• Integration Services:

  Migrate Integration Services packages to the latest format. For more information, see Upgrade Integration Services Packages.

• Reporting Services:

  For a new installation upgrade, restore the Reporting Services encryption Keys. For more information, see Back up and restore SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) encryption keys.

• Master Data Services:

  Upgrade the Master Data Services (MDS) database schema and create the SQL Server 2019 (15.x) web application. For more information, see Upgrade Master Data Services.

  Note

  MDS is discontinued in SQL Server 2025 (17.x) Preview.

• Data Quality Services:

  Upgrade the Data Quality Services (DQS) databases schema and verify the DQS databases schema upgrade. For more information, see Upgrade Data Quality Services.

  Note

  DQS is discontinued in SQL Server 2025 (17.x) Preview.

• Full Text Search:

  Repopulate full-text catalogs to ensure semantic consistency in query results. For more information, see Populate Full-Text Indexes.