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How to Fix the Cannot Copy Database SQL Server Error?

👤 Andrew Jackson | Published: February 11th, 2025 | SQL | 7 Minutes Reading

The SQL Server Database has made it easier for users to manage and store data but it has also complicated the operations with errors like ‘Cannot Copy Database SQL Server’. There are many situations where a user needs to copy the database, but fails to do so because of certain challenges. 

With the help of this technical write-up, we will discuss the causes of what leads to this error and how it affects the users in their day-to-day tasks. So, without wasting another minute let’s start with understanding the error. 

Can’t Copy SQL Database Error and Its Causes 

When a database administrator tries to copy database between SQL servers, they might encounter an error message stating that the file cannot be copied. There can be multiple reasons that might result in the inability to copy the database. 

If we talk about the causes that restrict the database from being copied, there are many of them. So, here we will take a look and understand these causes one by one to know why the Cannot Copy Database SQL Server error occurs.

Causes for the Error

Insufficient Permissions

If the user doesn’t have sufficient permissions, they will face challenges while copying the database. Without the required permissions, the users will be unable to move the database to any other server. 

Issues with File Path

The error can occur if there are any issues with the file path. The user might not be able to copy the database if they don’t have access to the specified file or if the path mentioned is incorrect. 

Network Connection Issues

With network issues or connection issues in the SQL database, the database copy process can fail and further create challenges for the users. 

Incompatibility of SQL Version

If the user tries to copy database between SQL servers with two different versions, one being newer than the other, this will result in possible challenges. Different versions of SQL Server databases can result in compatibility challenges during the copy process.

Database Corruption

One of the reasons for the ‘Cannot Copy Database SQL Server’ error can be database corruption. If the database you wish to copy is corrupted, this will fail in the process and further lead to data loss. 

All these causes create obstacles in the process of moving a database. Now, let’s see how the error and these causes affect the users and their tasks.

Challenges Encountered By Users

Operational Downtime

With the failures in the copy database process, it can become challenging for the users to continue with their desired operations. So these factors become one major reason for the downtime of operations in the SQL Database. 

Migration Challenges

Many methods are required to copy database between SQL servers for the migration process of the databases. When the database administrators are unable to copy the database, they end up with failed migration processes of the SQL Database.

Issues With Data Integrity

With the challenges created due to the inability to copy databases, the users also might end up losing data and compromising the data integrity through the process. 

With these challenges, a user might encounter other issues while trying to move the database. So, now we will take a look at a few solutions that will help to resolve the ‘Can’t Copy SQL Database’ error. 

How to Resolve the Cannot Copy Database SQL Server Issue?

As we read earlier, there can be multiple causes that might restrict the users from copying the databases. Hence, different solutions might help the users resolve the underlying causes and proceed with copying the databases. We will take a look at these solutions one by one now to understand how they work. Let’s take a look at the first method.

Method – 1: Copy Database Between SQL Servers Using Backup & Restore

The first method we are going to discuss is the backup and restore method. With the help of this solution, one can easily take a backup of the required database and then restore the database to the destination server. The steps for this solution are as follows:

To Take Backup:- 

  • Open SQL Server Management Studio, and then connect the required SQL Server instance.
  • Right-click on the database and then go to Tasks. After that select the Backup option to resolve the Cannot Copy Database SQL Server. 
  • Next, choose the desired Backup type and the destination to save the backup file. 
  • Click on the OK button to finally take the backup.

To Restore the Database:-

  • Open the SQL Server Management Studio on the Destination Server (wherever you wish to move the database) and connect it to SQL Server Instance.
  • Right-click on the databases and then click on Restore Database Option. 
  • Choose device as the Source option, and then locate the Backup file from the folder where you saved the .bak file. 
  • Click on the OK button to Restore the database to the destination server.  

By following these steps, you can easily copy the database and proceed with the desired tasks.

Moving on to the next method, let’s see how it will help with resolving the issue. 

Method – 2: Expert Solution to Fix The Error

One of the causes of the Cannot Copy Database SQL Server is corruption in the desired database. So, to resolve the error, we will need to use a solution that will not only help the users move the database but also repair the corrupted database. For this, we have an appropriate solution, the SQL Database Recovery Tool.

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The solution is the optimal solution for repairing a corrupted database. The steps to repair and copy the database are as follows:

  1. Install and run the software. Click on the Open button to add the Database files to the software. 
  2. After uploading the files, you will get two scanning options, Quick Scan and Advance Scan to check for corruption in the Server. 
  3. Once the scan is completed, you can preview the recovered files in the software. 
  4. After that, click on the Export button to copy database between SQL servers. 
  5. In the Export window, select the SQL Server database option and then configure the required authentication settings to move the database and fix the Cannot Copy Database SQL Server.
  6. Choose the files you wish to copy from the database and then click on the Export button to finish the process. 

This solution will help you to efficiently repair the corrupted database and also copy the database to the desired destination. Now moving to the next solution, let’s see how it will help the users. 

Method – 3: Resolve Can’t Copy SQL Database With SQL Server Copy Database Wizard 

To resolve the issue of being unable to copy the database, this method can also help the users. With the SQL Server Copy Database Wizard, you can copy the database at your convenience. 

  1. Open SQL Server Management Studio and connect it to the SQL Server instance. 
  2. Right-click on the databases and go to Tasks. Then choose the copy database option to fix the Cannot Copy Database SQL Server. 
  3. After this, the copy database wizard opens. Now, add the following details:
    1. In Source Server, add the current instance name.
    2. In the Destination Server, add the destination instance name. 
  4. Click on the Next button after adding these details. 
  5. Now, choose a transfer mode from the given options: 
    1. Detach and Attach method, and
    2. SQL Management Object method 
  6. After this, configure the copy database options and the SQL Server Agent job as per your requirements. 
  7. Run the Copy database process and click on the Finish button to move the database. 

This method will help you copy the database and resolve the underlying challenges for the can’t copy SQL database issue. With the help of all the provided solutions, one can easily move the database. 

Conclusion 

This article is a well-explained guide to the Cannot Copy Database SQL Server Error. Here, we have mentioned the possible causes and the challenges encountered by the users. We have also suggested a few solutions that will help the users resolve the error and copy the database easily.