Connecting via network

Use SQL authentication

Server name:

[pcnetworkname]\SQLEXPRESS,portnumber

for example a working string used in the ‘Server name’ box:

MY-PC-NAME\sqlexpress,1051

Check the log of the target PC’s SQL server to confirm the PC name and the port it is listening on

SQL Server Log

You can check the log a PC’s SQL Server:
SQL install folder > MSSQL\LOG\ERRORLOG (ERRORLOG is the file name, no extension)
One of the first few entries will give you the IP, port, and name of the instance – check these are right for what your trying to do. Using the correct port number is a typical issue.