Retrieve the SQL Server Version from a Backup File

Have you ever been in the need to retrieve the SQL Server version that was used on a backup file?

Well, if for some weird reason that happens to you, the following SQL can help you. It won’t restore the database, it’ll just retrieve some basic info about it.

With that, you’ll have the DatabaseVersion (Internal Number Version) where the backup was from. You can also grab some useful information like the Server Name, Creation Date, and more.

RESTORE HEADERONLY FROM DISK = N'b:\backup\data_backup.bak'

Below we have a table of  Versions x Internal Number.

I hope it helps!