Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio error at startup

Question

I get this error when I try to run Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio:

The application has failed to start because its side-by-side configuration is incorrect. Please see the application event log or use the command-line sxstrace.exe tool for more detail.

SxSTrace detail:

1, 2

What I did for solving the problem:

• reinstalled SQL Server
• reinstalled Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio
• updated at recent version of .NET Framework
• reinstalled Visual C++ Redistributable

And I still get that same error.

What should I do?

Answer 1

you should install an earlier version. I had the same error and I installed version 18.5 and it worked just fine.

https://docs.microsoft.com/pt-br/sql/ssms/release-notes-ssms?view=sql-server-ver15#185

Answer 2

I had the same error with version 18.9.2. I don't know if it's related to the problem, but I firstly installed SSMS in Program Files and not in Program Files (x86).

First I have tried to repair the installation, with no success.

Then I have uninstalled SSMS, rebooted by PC, re-installed SSMS (this time in the default Program Files (x86) folder) and rebooted my PC again. After these steps, I was able to start SSMS without errors.