SQL Server 2008 R2 can't connect to local database in Management Studio

Solution 1:

If your instance is called SQLEXPRESS, then you need to use .\SQLEXPRESS or (local)\SQLEXPRESS or yourMachineName\SQLEXPRESS as your server name - if you have a named instance, you need to specify that name of the instance in your server name.

Solution 2:

Your "SQL Server Browser" service has to be started too.

Browse to Computer Management > Services.

Find find "SQL Server Browser"

1. set it to Automatic
2. and also Manually start it (2)

Hope it helps.

Solution 3:

Follow these steps to connect with SQL Server 2008 r2 (windows authentication)

Step 1: Goto Control Panel --> Administrator Tools --> Services select SQL SERVER (MSSQLSERVER) and double click on it

Step 2: Click on start Service

Step 3: Now login to SQL server with Windows authentication and use user name : (local)

Enjoy ...

Solution 4:

I also received this error when the service stopped. Here's another path to start your service...

1. Search for "Services" in you start menu like so and click on it:

2. Find the service for the instance you need started and select it (shown below)
3. Click start (shown below)

Note: As Kenan stated, if your services Startup Type is not set to Automatic, then you probably want to double click on the service and set it to Automatic.