Software Technical

SQL Server Database Error: 661

One of my customers had an issue where they failed to open a connection to a particular database they had been testing. The error read: ‘the database e:somepathsomefolderjermsmit.mdf’ cannot be opened because it is version 611. The server supports version 655 and earlier. A downgrade path is not supported.

This issue is caused because you are not permitted to use a database from a later release on an earlier system. i.e they are not backwards compatible

Problem: Databases created under a newer version of SQL Server are not compatible with previous versions of SQL Server

Solution(s) that I am aware of in this case:

  • You need to either upgrade your SQL Server instance to the same version as the database or one newer
  • Or copy out the data in that database into an earlier version (using the data migration wizard perhaps)

If you need to know the version of your source and destination databases use the following query:


The destination should be the same level or greater in in version.

Best of luck to ya