[sql-server] SQL Server Express CREATE DATABASE permission denied in database 'master'

After I change the option as UserInstance="False", then the error starts to happen.

Because I want to use full-text search, the option change is required. BUT, it stopped to work. Is there any way to make it work again?

I'm running Application Pool as Network Service with full control.

This question is related to sql-server sql-server-express

The answer is


For SQL server 2012,

  1. First, log in to the SQL server as an administrator and go to Security tab

  2. Then move into Server Roles and double click on sysadmin role

  3. Now add user which you want to give permission to create Database by clicking Add button

  4. Click OK button and now run the query

Hope this will help for someone


What login are you connecting to SQL Server as? You need to connect with a login that has sufficient privileges to create a database. Network Service is probably not good enough, unless you go into SQL Server and add them as a login with sufficient rights.


Addition to @Kho dir answer.

This also works if you are not able to create a database with the windows user. you just need to login with the SQL Server Authentication then repeat the process mentioned by @Kho dir.


If you got the same error in Sql server 2008 management studio than below link will resolve this error after so much effort i found this link: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/sqlexpress/thread/76fc84f9-437c-4e71-ba3d-3c9ae794a7c4/


i have same problem, and i try this:

  1. log In As Administrator on your PC
  2. log In SQL Server Management Studio as "Windows Aunthication"
  3. Click Security > Login > choose your login where you want to create DB > right click then Properties > click server roles > then checklist 'dbcreator'.
  4. Close and log in back with your login account.

This worked for me, and hope will help you.

*sorry for my bad english


After I performed the following instructions in SSMS, everything works fine:

create login [IIS APPPOOL\MyWebAPP] from windows;

exec sp_addsrvrolemember N'IIS APPPOOL\MyWebAPP', sysadmin

I know, it is an old question, but no solution worked for me. Here is what I did:

USE master 
GO 
GRANT CREATE TABLE TO PUBLIC

Repeat this with every permission you need, for example GRANT CREATE DATABASE TO PUBLIC, ... You must have the server role "public" (yes, I am captain obvious).

Note 1: GRANT ALL TO PUBLIC is deprecated, does not work anymore in 2017.

Note 2: I tried to build an msi installer using the wix toolset. This toolset calls a powershell file, wich creates the databases, ... Just to give you some background information :)


That's because you have selected your Master table on the table drop down Table Selected

Select the table you want to use and proceed executing your query


Solution for Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 262

Click on Start -> Click in Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Now right click on SQL Server Management Studio Click on Run as administrator


  1. Download the script from this Microsoft Site
  2. Run it as Administrator
  3. Follow the instructions and your set.

UPDATE 9/3/2014

The Microsoft URL above is no longer valid, someone thou took the time to save it to GitHubGist and the link is as follows https://gist.github.com/wadewegner/1677788


  1. Log into on your Server/PC with administrator account

  2. Log into SQL Server Management Studio as "Windows Authentication"

  3. Click Security -> Logins -> choose your -> right click then choose Properties or Double click -> click Server Roles -> then checklist 'dbcreator' and 'sysadmin' then click the OK button.

  4. Refresh your databases.

Now, you can create new database.