How to fix Error 2256 on Windows Server 2025 / Windows 11

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Troubleshooting Guide: SQL Server Error 2256 – “Syntax error near ‘%ls'”

Why This Error Happens

Error 2256 occurs when the SQL Server parser encounters a Transact-SQL statement that violates the expected grammar rules, such as a misplaced keyword, unmatched bracket, or an unsupported syntax construct for the current compatibility level. This often happens after migrating scripts from an older SQL Server version to SQL Server 2025 where certain legacy syntax has been deprecated or new reserved keywords conflict with existing object names. It can also occur due to copy-paste artifacts (hidden Unicode characters, smart quotes) introduced by text editors or corrupted script files.

Step-by-Step Resolution Guide

Step 1: Isolate the Offending Statement

  • Run the query in SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and note the exact line/column number referenced alongside the %ls placeholder in the error output.
  • Comment out sections of the batch using /* */ to binary-search for the specific line causing the failure.
  • Check the Messages tab in SSMS for the full expanded error text, as it replaces %ls with the actual problematic token.

Step 2: Validate Syntax Against Current Compatibility Level

  • Run SELECT compatibility_level FROM sys.databases WHERE name = 'YourDatabaseName'; to confirm the database compatibility level (SQL Server 2025 defaults to 170).
  • Cross-reference the flagged keyword against the Transact-SQL reference for deprecated or renamed syntax (e.g., old-style *= outer joins are no longer supported).
  • If the object name matches a new reserved word (e.g., a column named GRAPH or JSON), wrap it in square brackets: [ColumnName].

Step 3: Clean the Script File for Hidden Characters

  • Open the .sql file in a plain-text editor like Notepad++ and enable “Show All Characters” to detect non-breaking spaces, smart quotes (“ ”), or BOM markers.
  • Re-save the file with UTF-8 encoding (without BOM) via File > Encoding in Notepad++.
  • Re-run the script in a fresh SSMS query window to rule out cached parser state issues.

Step 4: Update SQL Server Tools and Engine

  • Confirm you are running the latest Cumulative Update (CU) for SQL Server 2025 via SELECT @@VERSION;, as parser bugs are occasionally patched.
  • Update SSMS to the latest build, since older SSMS versions may mis-render or incorrectly transmit certain Unicode characters in scripts.
  • Restart the MSSQLSERVER service via services.msc on Windows Server 2025 after applying any updates.

Alternative or Verification Steps

  • Verify the fix by executing the corrected statement with SET PARSEONLY ON; first — if no errors return, the syntax is now valid before you run it against live data.
  • If the error persists only in SSMS but not via sqlcmd, the issue is likely a client-side encoding problem — try executing the script directly through sqlcmd -i script.sql to confirm.