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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-06-13T20:34:50+00:00

I cannot connect to my local SQL Server Express (2012, but the version shouldn’t

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I cannot connect to my local SQL Server Express (2012, but the version shouldn’t matter) from my server (Windows 2008 R2) to use a tool on it (APEX SQL Data Diff if you are wondering). I can browse the network servers fine, and select my local instance from the dropdown of available servers, but when I go to search tables on the server, it times out with this error message (same is true of SSMS).

A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or
was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that
SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: SQL
Network Interfaces, error: 28 – Server doesn’t support strong text
requested protocol) (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: -1)

I have enabled the firewall – that’s not it.

I have allowed remote connections – that’s not it.

SQL Server Browser service is on and passed through the firewall – that’s not it.

I can connect fine with the same tools TO the server, but FROM the server it fails.

Any ideas?

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1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    Thanks to this article for getting me somewhere with the error message.
    The issue is the necessary network protocols are disabled by default in SQL Server Express. I had to go to Sql Server Configuration Manager locally and turn on "Named Pipes" and "TCP/IP".
    After that, you need to restart the SQL Server Browser and SQL Server(instance) services.

    SQL Server Config manager

    While I did not have to, you may also need to check in "SQL Server Network Configuration" under "Protocols" for settings that need adjusted there.

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