Overview
The RESTORE … WITH RECOVERY option puts the database into a useable state, so users can access a restored database.
Explanation
When you issue a RESTORE DATABASE or RESTORE LOG command the WITH RECOVERY option is used by default. This option does not need to be specified for this action to take place.
If you restore a “Full” backup the default setting it to RESTORE WITH RECOVERY, so after the database has been restored it can then be used by your end users.
If you are restoring a database using multiple backup files, you would use the WITH NORECOVERY option for each restore except the last.
If your database is still in the restoring state and you want to recover it without restoring additional backups you can issue a RESTORE DATABASE .. WITH RECOVERY to bring the database online for users to use.
Restore full backup WITH RECOVERY
As mentioned above this option is the default, but you can specify as follows.
RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks FROM DISK = 'C:\AdventureWorks.BAK'
WITH RECOVERY
GORecover a database that is in the “restoring” state
The following command will take a database that is in the “restoring” state and make it available for end users.
RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks WITH RECOVERY
GORestore multiple backups using WITH RECOVERY for last backup
The first restore uses the NORECOVERY option so additional restores can be done. The second command restores the transaction log and then brings the database online for end user use.
RESTORE DATABASE AdventureWorks FROM DISK = 'C:\AdventureWorks.BAK'
WITH NORECOVERY
GO
RESTORE LOG AdventureWorks FROM DISK = 'C:\AdventureWorks.TRN'
WITH RECOVERY
GOSQL Server Management Studio
When restoring using SSMS the WITH RECOVERY option is used by default, so there is nothing that needs to be set but this can be set or changed on the options page when restoring.
Greg Robidoux has been working with databases for 35+ years with extensive hands on SQL Server experience from version 6.5 to 2025. He has authored over 250 technical articles and delivered several presentations online and at various conventions. Greg is also the President and founder of Edgewood Solutions, a technology services company delivering services and solutions for Microsoft SQL Server.
Thank you so much for the help!!!