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SSMS has an option that allows you to change the colour of your query banner, which is useful if you want visually mark a server that you work with every-day.

A while back, when I was frequently switching between live & test SQL instances, I set them to red/green. Red obviously meaning be cautious!

Nowadays, I think it’s unlikely you’ll have line-of-sight to both production & test environments from the same location (where SSMS is installed). So, if I’m honest, this isn’t a feature I find myself using all that often.

I thought I’d post it up for a laugh anyway. Follow the steps blow to make the change.

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Changing Connection Colours in SSMS

1. Click to connect to a SQL Server instance within SSMS.

2. Click Options.

3. Within the Connection Properties tab, check the box to use custom colours and select your preference.

4. Open a new query window to view the change.

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