Stack Overflow: How to connect to LocalDB in Visual Studio Server Explorer?
- Steps to connect LocalDB to Visual Studio Server Explorer
- Open command prompt
- Run SqlLocalDB.exe start v11.0
- Run SqlLocalDB.exe info v11.0
- Copy the Instance pipe name that starts with np:...
- In Visual Studio select TOOLS > Connect to Database...
- 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.
- Select the database on next dropdown list
- Click OK