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When I go to SQL Server Management Studio -> Management -> Maintenance Plans -> Right click on the maintenance plan that I want to execute but the option is greyed out.

enter image description here

  • I have checked and SQL Server Integration Services is running.
  • I can execute other maintenance plans.
  • I have even tried modifying this plan without an issue but Execute stays greyed out.
  • There is no other instance of the plan running at the moment.
  • I have also disconnected from the SQL Server and connected back but that didn't help either.
  • SQL Agent is running.
Oxon
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  • Is your SQL Agent is running? – Yuri Jun 01 '15 at 13:17
  • Yes. Agent was running. I restarted my machine and Execute option is not greyed out anymore. I shouldn't have to restart the machine. Anyways, don't know how/why it happened but the issue is fixed now. – Oxon Jun 02 '15 at 11:45

3 Answers3

127

I had the same problem. Turns out it was an execution window that was buried. It doesn't show as an "open window" when you look at the taskbar at the SSMS icon, so it's deceptive. ALT-TAB your way through the windows and you should find it.

The open windows was:

the hidden window

erikvold
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user35762
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    Pop unders are the devil. – aydjay Sep 02 '16 at 10:07
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    Sometimes I wonder how many hours SO answers has saved me from trivial and confusing stuff like this. Thanks! – MacGyver Sep 13 '17 at 12:36
  • My Lord, thankfully we have stackexachange websites, because I started thinking about reinstalling sql server ;) – integratorIT Dec 03 '17 at 18:12
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    4 years later, SQL2016, and this is still valid. – callisto Nov 13 '19 at 11:15
  • @callisto Happens to me in the most recent build of SSMS17 too (I think this also happens in SSMS18 too... ugh). I appreciate that at least it's not a needlessly blocking modal dialog, but why can't SSMS use a tool window to show task execution status? – Dai Apr 02 '20 at 05:00
  • Well, I did not expect to be this answer :-D – zdarsky.peter Jan 27 '21 at 08:24
  • SSMS UI is a long standing abomination. Some popups are unusable with screen scaling. I had to turn my 4K monitor down to 100% and use a magnifying glass to use the dialog! – Greg Woods Mar 30 '21 at 13:35
4

Just try to restart SQL Management Studio

Oussama Saissi
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3

Restarting SSMS worked for me. I had a hidden dialog stuck in the back ground.

joeldub
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