Here we will discuss how to solve the error message “Failed to update database because the database is read-only” that you can face with working with SQL Server. Below is the complete text of this error:

Msg 3906, Level 16, State 1, Line 10
Failed to update database "MyData" because the database is read-only.

Of course, an experienced DBA can say that your database is read-only, and you don’t have any way to write into it. All you need is simply mark the database as read-write. That’s it. But still, we are going to show you, how you can solve this issue using simple T-SQL Commands or SQL Server Management Studio.

Failed to update database because the database is read-only – Reproducing

• Create a database with one table

  CREATE DATABASE MyData CONTAINMENT = NONE
  ON PRIMARY
  ( NAME = N'MyData', FILENAME = N'D:\Backups\MyData.mdf' , SIZE = 5120KB , FILEGROWTH = 1024KB )
  LOG ON
  ( NAME = N'MyData_log', FILENAME = N'D:\Backups\MyData_log.ldf' , SIZE = 2048KB , FILEGROWTH = 10%)
  GO
  USE MyData
  GO
  CREATE TABLE tbl_Table (id INT)
  GO

• Mark “MyData” database as Read Only

  USE master
  GO
  ALTER DATABASE MyData SET READ_ONLY
  GO

• Insert any value into the table

  USE MyData
  GO
  INSERT INTO tbl_Table VALUES (1), (2)
  GO

After you have executed “INSERT INTO” operation, you will receive the following error message:

Msg 3906, Level 16, State 1, Line 10 
Failed to update database "MyData" because the database is read-only.

Failed to update database because the database is read-only – Solution

We successfully reproduced the error, now let’s solve it using T-SQL Commands

All we need to do is to mark the database “MyData” as read-write. We can simply do it using the next T-SQL Commands:

USE master
GO
ALTER DATABASE MyData SET READ_WRITE WITH NO_WAIT
GO

Now, database “MyData” is marked as “read-write”. To ensure the issue is solved, insert any value into the table.

USE MyData
GO
INSERT INTO tbl_Table VALUES (1), (2)
GO

That’s it! All 2 rows were affected successfully!

Using SQL Server Management Studio

The another way to solve “Msg 3906, Level 16, State 1, Line 10 Failed to update database because the database is read-only” is to use SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS). Follow these simple steps and mark your database “read-write”.

1. Right-click the database you need to mark as read-write
2. Select “Properties”
3. In the “Database Properties” window select the “Options” tab
4. Scroll down and find the “State” tab, go to the “Database Read-Only” statement and select “True”