Link https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2216019 changed installer?

Question

Link https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2216019 changed installer?

Jens Schumacher 0

Hi,

For years whe have used a script to download and install SQL 2022 EXPRESS.

The link we used to download the SQL 2022 installer is

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2216019

But recently the link suddenly points to a SQL 2025 Express installer.

Is this intentional? And if it is what is the new official direct download link for SQL 2022 Express?

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Answer recommended by moderator

Anonymous

Hi @Jens Schumacher ,

You’re correct fwlink URLs are not universally “evergreen.” Many older SQL Express fwlinks (2016/2017/2019) have remained version-pinned for years, so relying on them historically did work.

What changed here is specific to linkid=2216019 Microsoft has repointed that fwlink from SQL 2022 Express to SQL 2025 Express, which is inconsistent with prior behavior and can indeed break prerequisite installers.

Practical takeaway (100% reliable):

Do not rely on fwlinks for scripted installs.
Use version-specific download.microsoft.com URLs and explicitly control the CU level.
Cache the installer internally if this is a hard prerequisite.

So yes this is a real regression/change, not user error.

Thanks,
Akhil.

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3 additional answers

Your answer

Answer 1

Erland Sommarskog 137.4K MVP Volunteer Moderator

I would guess the link is intended for "latest version", so it makes sense that you get SQL 2025.

If you want to stick to SQL 2022, you can use https://download.microsoft.com/download/5/1/4/5145fe04-4d30-4b85-b0d1-39533663a2f1/SQL2022-SSEI-Expr.exe + https://download.microsoft.com/download/a89001cb-9c99-48d3-9f14-ded054b35fe4/SQLServer2022-KB5068450-x64.exe. However, the latter link seems to be specifically for CU 22, so as new CU:s come out you need to update that link.

Then again, there is all reason to consider SQL 2025 Express, since with SQL 2025 the maximum database size has been increased from 10 GB to 50 GB.

Anonymous

2026-01-05T07:10:54.2+00:00
Hi @Jens Schumacher ,

Yes, the Super User’s Provided answer is correct.

go.microsoft.com/fwlink links are evergreen and always redirect to the latest SQL Server version. Now that SQL Server 2025 Express is released, the link points there by design.

To stay on SQL Server 2022 Express, use the version-specific installer (don’t use fwlinks):

SQL Server 2022 Express installer

https://download.microsoft.com/download/5/1/4/5145fe04-4d30-4b85-b0d1-39533663a2f1/SQL2022-SSEI-Expr.exe

Apply the latest SQL Server 2022 CU separately (CU links change over time).

Thanks,
Akhil.
Jens Schumacher 0 Reputation points

2026-01-05T07:31:07.1766667+00:00

RWhat nonsense is this. go.microsoft.com/fwlink are not in fact ever green and to not always redirect to the latest SQL Server version.?????

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=866658 directs to sql express 2019 and in fact still does.

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=853017 directs to sql express 2017 and in fact still does.

https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=853016 directs to sql express 2016 and in fact still does.

meanwhile https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2216019 used to direct to 2022 but now suddenly changed to 2025.

I have seen this cause issues in several installers that clearly use the https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2216019 for installing sql 2022 as prerequisites.

In the past the direct download links for sql 2016+17+19+22 have changed several times while the go.microsoft.com/fwlink links kept working and pointing to the same sql variant.
Anonymous

2026-04-15T04:16:56.08+00:00

Hi @Jens Schumacher ,

Just following up were you able to switch to a version-specific download.microsoft.com link instead of the fwlink?

That should stabilize the install. If you're still facing issues, share the exact SQL Express version/CU you're targeting and we can help with a direct link.

Thanks,
Akhil.

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