--- description: In this tutorial, we are going to import data from a SQL external database. This exercise assumes you have a working instance of SQL Server and basics of SQL Server. First we create SQL file to import title: How to Import SQL Database Data into Excel File [Example] image: https://www.guru99.com/images/how-to-import-sql-database-into-excel.png --- [Skip to content](#main) **⚡ Smart Summary** Importing SQL database data into Excel links a worksheet to a live table in SQL Server or Access. This page creates a sample employees table, imports it through the Data Connection Wizard, imports an Access table, and covers refreshing the connection. * 🗄️ **Source:** The data comes from an external SQL Server or Microsoft Access database rather than from inside Excel. * 🧱 **Prepare:** A CREATE TABLE and INSERT script builds a sample employees table to import. * 🔌 **Connect:** The DATA tab, From Other Sources, From SQL Server opens the Data Connection Wizard. * 🔑 **Authentication:** A local server can use Windows authentication, while a remote server needs a user id and password. * 📋 **Select:** Pick the database and the table, save the connection, and place the data in the worksheet. * 🗂️ **Access:** The From Access button imports a table from a Microsoft Access database in the same way. * 🔄 **Refresh:** Data, Refresh All updates the imported table whenever the database changes. [ Read More ](javascript:void%280%29;) ![How to Import SQL Database into Excel](https://www.guru99.com/images/how-to-import-sql-database-into-excel.png) ## Import SQL Data into Excel File In this tutorial, we are going to import data from a external SQL database. This exercise assumes you have a working instance of SQL Server and basics of SQL Server. First we create [SQL](https://www.guru99.com/sql.html) file to import in Excel. If you have already SQL exported file ready, then you can skip following two step and go to next step. 1. Create a new database named EmployeesDB 2. Run the following query USE EmployeeDB GO CREATE TABLE [dbo].[employees]( [employee_id] [numeric](18, 0) NOT NULL, [full_name] [nvarchar](75) NULL, [gender] [nvarchar](50) NULL, [department] [nvarchar](25) NULL, [position] [nvarchar](50) NULL, [salary] [numeric](18, 0) NULL, CONSTRAINT [PK_employees] PRIMARY KEY CLUSTERED ( [employee_id] ASC )WITH (PAD_INDEX = OFF, STATISTICS_NORECOMPUTE = OFF, IGNORE_DUP_KEY = OFF, ALLOW_ROW_LOCKS = ON, ALLOW_PAGE_LOCKS = ON) ON [PRIMARY] ) ON [PRIMARY] GO INSERT INTO employees(employee_id,full_name,gender,department,position,salary) VALUES ('4','Prince Jones','Male','Sales','Sales Rep',2300) ,('5','Henry Banks','Male','Sales','Sales Rep',2000) ,('6','Sharon Burrock','Female','Finance','Finance Manager',3000); GO ## How to Import Data to Excel using Wizard Dialog * Create a new workbook in [MS Excel](https://www.guru99.com/introduction-to-microsoft-excel.html) * Click on DATA tab [](https://www.guru99.com/images/5-2015/050215%5F1128%5FConnectingM14.png) 1. Select from Other sources button 2. Select from SQL Server as shown in the image above [](https://www.guru99.com/images/5-2015/050215%5F1128%5FConnectingM15.png) 1. Enter the server name/IP address. For this tutorial, am connecting to localhost 127.0.0.1 2. Choose the login type. Since am on a local machine and I have windows authentication enabled, I will not provide the user id and password. If you are connecting to a remote server, then you will need to provide these details. 3. Click on next button Once you are connected to the database server. A window will open, you have to enter all the details as shown in screenshot [](https://www.guru99.com/images/5-2015/050215%5F1128%5FConnectingM16.png) * Select EmployeesDB from the drop down list * Click on employees table to select it * Click on next button. It will open a data connection wizard to save data connection and finish the process of connecting to the employee’s data. [](https://www.guru99.com/images/5-2015/050215%5F1128%5FConnectingM17.png) * You will get the following window [](https://www.guru99.com/images/5-2015/050215%5F1128%5FConnectingM18.png) * Click on OK button [](https://www.guru99.com/images/5-2015/050215%5F1128%5FConnectingM19.png) [Download the SQL and Excel File](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1kJTZAfpH-WugRnUr3%5FXtzlbTUgAFEfU0) ### RELATED ARTICLES * [How to Open & Convert XML File to Excel ](https://www.guru99.com/connecting-microsoft-excel-to-external-data-sources.html "How to Open & Convert XML File to Excel") * [Top 10 Excel Formulas Interview Questions and Answers (2026) ](https://www.guru99.com/excel-formulas-interview-questions.html "Top 10 Excel Formulas Interview Questions and Answers (2026)") * [6 BEST Data Entry Courses & Certificates (2026) ](https://www.guru99.com/best-data-entry-courses-and-online-training.html "6 BEST Data Entry Courses & Certificates (2026)") * [9 BEST Financial Modeling Courses (2026) ](https://www.guru99.com/best-financial-modeling-courses-online-certifications.html "9 BEST Financial Modeling Courses (2026)") ## How to Import MS Access Data into Excel with Example Here, we are going to import data from a simple external database powered by Microsoft Access database. We will import the products table into excel. You can download the [Microsoft Access database](https://www.guru99.com/ms-access-tutorial.html). * Open a new workbook * Click on the DATA tab * Click on from Access button as shown below [](https://www.guru99.com/images/5-2015/050215%5F1128%5FConnectingM1.png) * You will get the dialogue window shown below [](https://www.guru99.com/images/5-2015/050215%5F1128%5FConnectingM2.png) * Browse to the database that you downloaded and * Click on Open button [](https://www.guru99.com/images/5-2015/050215%5F1128%5FConnectingM3.png) * Click on OK button * You will get the following data [](https://www.guru99.com/images/5-2015/050215%5F1128%5FConnectingM4.png) [Download the Database and Excel File](https://drive.google.com/uc?export=download&id=1qV-EHWE9ZSbIHFT4ATz8JLqrD8TeXDpL) ## Refreshing and Managing the Database Connection The advantage of importing over pasting is that Excel keeps a live connection to the database, so a single refresh brings in the latest rows without repeating the wizard. Managing that connection keeps the report both current and secure. 1. **Refresh the data:** Click any cell in the imported table, open the DATA tab, and choose Refresh, or Refresh All to update every connection. 2. **Refresh on open:** In Connection Properties, tick “Refresh data when opening the file” so the report is up to date every time it is opened. 3. **Manage connections:** Use Queries & Connections to rename, edit, or delete a connection, and to check the server and database it points to. 4. **Protect credentials:** Prefer Windows authentication where possible, and never save a database password in a shared workbook. **⚠️ Warning:** A workbook that carries a live database connection can expose the server name and the query. Remove the connection with Queries & Connections before sharing the file outside the organisation, or paste the values as static data first. ## FAQs ⚡ What is the difference between Windows and SQL Server authentication? Windows authentication signs in with the current Windows account, so no password is typed, which suits a local server. SQL Server authentication needs a separate user id and password, and is used for remote servers. 🔄 Does the Excel table update when the database changes? Only after a refresh. The imported table keeps a connection but does not update on its own. Click Refresh on the DATA tab, or set the connection to refresh when the file opens, to see the newest rows. 📊 Can I import the result of a SQL query instead of a whole table? Yes. In the connection properties, change the command type to SQL and paste a SELECT statement. Excel then imports only the rows and columns that the query returns, which is faster for a large table. 🤖 Can AI write the SQL query for an Excel import? Yes. AI features such as Copilot turn a plain request like “employees in Sales earning over 2000” into a SELECT statement. The user reviews the query and pastes it into the connection before importing. 🧠 Can AI analyse the data after it is imported from SQL? Yes. AI assistants summarise the imported table, build a pivot or chart, and answer questions about it in plain language. The live connection means a refresh keeps the analysis current with the database. #### Summarize this post with: ChatGPT Perplexity Grok Google AI **Stay Updated on AI** **Get Weekly AI Skills, Trends, Actionable Advice.** ##### Sign up for the newsletter Subscribe for Free You have successfully subscribed. 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