What Causes SQL Recovery Pending? Get All Answers
Want to know what causes SQL recovery pending errors? Read this blog and learn how to remove recovery pending in SQL server in a simple manner.

What Causes SQL Recovery Pending? Reasons & Solutions
When managing Relational Databases no other system comes close to SQL servers. However, there are times when users want the answer to the question “What causes SQL recovery pending?”. This issue is pretty frustrating to deal with and takes up the productive time of many SQL database admins.
Apart from negatively affecting the workflow, this fault can further result in missing data. But don't worry this blog will provide top-notch solutions for dealing with this issue. First, let's find out the various reasons why a SQL server gets into this state.
Reasons Behind SQL Recovery Pending Error Explained
Before we answer how to remove recovery pending in SQL server, it is vital to go through the various causes behind it. Any SQL server is said to be in a recovery pending state when it fails to start or complete the recovery process. Another way to look at it is that the database cannot be accessed by the user due to the corruption of both LDF & MDF flies. Given below are the common reasons behind this error.
Database Corruption: A database may become corrupt due to many different reasons including hardware failures, software bugs, or even unexpected shutdowns. To prevent any further damage SQL server marks the database into a "Recovery Pending" state.
Insufficient Storage: Lack of adequate disk space can also force the database to go into the recovery pending state. It is to protect the critical data from being overwritten. Users can prevent this by ensuring sufficient free space on the disk where the database is stored on.
Cyber Attacks: Viruses, malware, ransomware, etc can all force a SQL server into a Recovery Pending state. Therefore, it is all the more important to have cybersecurity features to prevent data loss. Otherwise, users will again ask what causes SQL recovery pending error.
Server Errors: Problems may arise within the SQL Server itself. Startup failures, and server crashes, are major causes that lead to the recovery pending state. Users should regularly check the SQL Server error logs for related error messages.
Log Issues: Users may fail to perform log backups routinely. This prevents issues within the transaction log, such as corruption or log file space exhaustion to go unnoticed. Which in turn results in SQL Server going into the recovery pending state.
In the following section, we will discuss the manual steps to resolve the SQL Recovery Pending Error.
How To Remove Recovery Pending in SQL Server Manually
Users can go with either of the two manual approaches here to fix the SQL recovery pending status. Follow the procedure given properly to avoid any data loss:
The first method is to change the SQL Database in EMERGENCY MODE and force start the repair process
Execute the following DBCC CHECKDB queries:
ALTER DATABASE [DB_Name] SET EMERGENCY;
GO
ALTER DATABASE [DB_Name] set single_user
GO
DBCC CHECKDB ([DB_Name], REPAIR_ALLOW_DATA_LOSS) WITH ALL_ERRORMSGS;
GO
ALTER DATABASE [DB_Name] set multi_user
GO
EMERGENCY mode marks the SQL database as READ_ONLY. It deactivates logging and grants authorization only to the system administrator.
This method answers “What causes SQL recovery pending” and fixes technical problems to restore the database in an accessible state. Users don't have to worry about exiting the EMERGENCY STOP mode it happens automatically.
The second method also marks the SQL database in EMERGENCY MODE but here user needs to disconnect the main database and re-attach it.
To avoid the DBCC CHECKDB method type in the following query:
ALTER DATABASE [DB_Name] SET EMERGENCY;
ALTER DATABASE [DB_Name] set multi_user
EXEC sp_detach_db ‘[DB_Name]’
EXEC sp_attach_single_file_db @DBName = ‘[DB_Name]’, @physname = N'[mdf path]’
The above mention code should be able to resolve all the problems the user is facing. For non-technical users, we have a better alternative.
Professional Answer to What Causes SQL Recovery Pending?
The cutting-edge solution for eliminating the recovery pending error is none other than
the SysTools SQL Database Recovery Software. This tool allows all users to recover their SQL database with all objects intact. Moreover, users have the option to recover deleted database objects from the SQL table and display a preview of the records.
The expert-recommended utility has a feature to export the recovered data to SQL Server on the same machine or a network connected to the SQL server. Follow these quick steps to sort out the issue.
Step-1. Install and Start SQL Database Recovery Software.
Step-2. Next, Select "Auto-Detect SQL Server" File & Version.
Step-3. Recover SQL Server database objects: Table, Views, etc.
Step-4. Then, Click on "MS SQL Server version" & Collation Settings.
Step-5. After that, Click on "SQL Server Database": New / Existing Database.
Step-6. At last, choose Restore data "With Only Schema" or "Schema with data".
Why Choose the Practical Response to What Causes SQL Recovery Pending?
It is a market-leading tool to recover corrupt SQL database MDF and NDF files. Once the data is recovered, it gives the option to restore complete or selective data directly to the live SQL Server database. Some of the many features that the tool provides are as follows:
- Friendly UI.
- Fix many SQL errors.
- Recover deleted records.
- All SQL versions from 2000 are supported.
- Ability to recover SQL data without backup.
Next, we will tell the users, some of the best practices to follow when it comes to dodging recovery pending scenarios.
Also, visit this site for more info
How to Remove Recovery Pending in SQL Server - Precautions And Best Practices
Regular Data Backups -
- Conduct disaster testing to assess your SQL Server's readiness in handling unexpected errors.
- Additionally, dedicate specific time intervals, be it daily or weekly, exclusively for backup operations, monitoring, and other maintenance tasks. This proactive approach keeps users from asking “What causes SQL recovery pending”. They will be well-prepared and a step ahead of any situation.
Dedicated Power Backup -
- Eliminate the risk of power failures leading to SQL server collapses.
- Avoid all user-side unexpected shutdown scenarios
- To tackle this issue at its core, implement dual power sources as a prudent measure.
Round-the-Clock Server Monitoring -
- Vigilantly monitor your SQL server at all times.
- If constant monitoring is unfeasible, prioritize regular checks to promptly address concerns such as low disk space or memory overutilization.
In Summary
Via this blog, we have answered the common question “What causes SQL recovery pending?”. Apart from that step-by-step guidelines are provided for the users to fix the SQL Server recovery pending error manually.
A state-of-the-art tool for resolving this issue is also provided for the user's convenience. Follow the best practices to avoid this problem in the future. We hope that users prioritize their time as well as data and make the correct decision of going for the professional utility.




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