IntelliSense is not working in SQL Server Management Studio

Question

We use SQL Server Management Studio 2008 R2. IntelliSense works with SA account perfectly. But it is not working with Windows Authentication user. The user has access master db

Answer 1

I had the same issue. Everything was enabled to ensure proper Intellisense functions, but didn't work. I realized I had SQLCMD mode enabled by default. Disabling it restored Intellisense functionality :)

Answer 2

I fixed this in 2 simple steps:

1. Go to Tools > Options > Text Editor > Transact-SQL > IntelliSense, tick everything and setup the settings this way:

2. Go to Query > SQLCMD Mode, and disable that:

Answer 3

Missing from other solutions, but fixed it for me:

Edit > IntelliSense > Toggle Completion Mode

or CTRL+ALT+Space

Answer 4

Turning Query > SQLCMD Mode on and off again fixed the issue for me in SSMS 18.1, even though it was never enabled to begin with.

After trying all the answers here to no avail and giving up, I remained curious about the SQLCMD Mode mentioned in Chow Lover's answer. I turned it on to see what it did, but noticed no change so turned it off again. Intellisense suddenly awoke and has been working fine since.

Answer 5

If you have are seeing your text in red color, and have a bunch of statements, it could be because of a missing quote. Or a bad syntax check. Try typing a quote at the end. Then Intellisense should kick in again in your next statement.

Answer 6

I tried all the above/below suggestions... and nothing worked.

• Going to options and toggling everything off and on didn't work.
• Toggling SQLCMD didn't work
• Going to Edit > Intellisense and toggling everything off and on didn't work.
• Changing RAM and Cache size didn't work.
• I tried rebooting and that didn't work.

But the one thing that finally (in an act of desparation where I'd try anything ... even the stupidest idea ever suggested...) that finally... DID WORK was:

I opened a new query tab. Copied my code from the script file I had open, Pasted it into the new query tab. And proceeded to be stunned in horror as intellisense began working again.

Not only did it begin working in my new query tab... but it began working in my original one as well.

Sometimes I just want to bang my head againt the desk.

Hope this tid bit helps someone. :)

P.S. Yes... I waited a while after each of the failed attempts to make sure intellisense wasn't taking it's good ole time trying to find itself. The "New Query Tab" insanity worked instantly.