How to connect to LocalDB in Visual Studio Server Explorer?

Question

In Visual Studio 2012 all I had to do was enter:

(localdb)\v11.0

Visual Studio 2015 and Visual Studio 2017 changed to:

(localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB

as the server name when adding a Microsoft SQL Server Data source in:

View/Server Explorer/(Right click) Data Connections/Add Connection

and then the database names were populated. I didn't need to do all the other steps in the accepted answer, although it would be nice if the server name was available automatically in the server name combo box.

You can also browse the LocalDB database names available on your machine using:

View/SQL Server Object Explorer.

OK, answering to my own question.

Steps to connect LocalDB to Visual Studio Server Explorer

1. Open command prompt
2. Run SqlLocalDB.exe start v11.0
3. Run SqlLocalDB.exe info v11.0
4. Copy the Instance pipe name that starts with np:\...
5. In Visual Studio select TOOLS > Connect to Database...
6. For Server Name enter (localdb)\v11.0. If it didn't work, use the Instance pipe name that you copied earlier. You can also use this to connect with SQL Management Studio.
7. Select the database on next dropdown list
8. Click OK

Select in :

1. Data Source: Microsoft SQL Server (SqlClient)
2. Server name: (localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB
3. Log on to the server: Use Windows Authentication

Press Refresh button to get the database name :)

Use SQL Server Object Explorer (SSOX) Instead

Unlike the other answers, this approach uses:
- No special commands.
- No complicated configurations.
Just use the SQL Server Object Explorer

It's pretty straightforward...

• From the View menu, open SQL Server Object Explorer.

• Right click on the {YourTableName} table > View Designer

Done.

It worked for me.

1. Open command prompt
2. Run "SqlLocalDB.exe start"
3. System response "LocalDB instance "mssqllocaldb" started."
4. In VS， View/Server Explorer/(Right click) Data Connections/Add Connection
   • Data Source: Microsoft SQL Server (SqlClient)
   • Server name: (localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB
   • Log on to the server: Use Windows Authentication
5. Press "Test Connection", Then OK.