Configuration Manager Shortcut on Windows 10 and Server 2016

(Last updated 2020-01-07)

This is more for my own reference than anything.

On newer versions of Windows desktop and Windows Server, we may find that the shortcut to SQL Server Configuration Manager is missing.

According to Microsoft Docs, the reason for this change is that Configuration Manager is a Management Console snap-in:

Because SQL Server Configuration Manager is a snap-in for the Microsoft Management Console program and not a stand-alone program, SQL Server Configuration Manager does not appear as an application in newer versions of Windows.

I think this is ridiculous because it does not maintain backward compatibility.

This is especially frustrating because the same article reminds us that all changes to SQL Server services should be managed through the Configuration Manager.

The workaround is to create our own shortcut as follows:

Share your frustrations with the “modern” Windows UI with me in the comments below.