Disable or enable a SQL Server Agent job

Applies to: SQL Server Azure SQL Managed Instance

This article describes how to disable a SQL Server Agent job in SQL Server by using SQL Server Management Studio or Transact-SQL. When you disable a job, it isn't deleted and can be enabled again when necessary.

Security

For detailed information, see Implement SQL Server Agent security.

Use SQL Server Management Studio

1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of the SQL Server Database Engine, and then expand that instance.

2. Expand SQL Server Agent.

3. Expand Jobs, and then right-click the job that you want to disable or enable.

4. To disable a job, select Disable. To enable a job, select Enable.

Use Transact-SQL

1. In Object Explorer, connect to an instance of Database Engine.

2. On the Standard bar, select New Query.

3. Copy and paste the following example into the query window and select Execute. This example changes the name and description, and disables the status of the NightlyBackups job.

   USE msdb;
   GO
   
   EXECUTE dbo.sp_update_job
       @job_name = N'NightlyBackups',
       @new_name = N'NightlyBackups -- Disabled',
       @description = N'Nightly backups disabled during server migration.',
       @enabled = 0;
   GO
   

For more information, see sp_update_job.