Step 1: Install Microsoft SQL Server LocalDB

Silica Accounts Lite keeps your books in Microsoft SQL Server LocalDB — a free, small database from Microsoft that runs only on your PC. Install it before you run the Silica Accounts Lite installer.

You need administrator rights on the PC. Download only from microsoft.com. Silica Office does not supply or change Microsoft’s installer. LocalDB is licensed to you by Microsoft under its own terms.

A. Download LocalDB from Microsoft

  1. Open Microsoft’s SQL Server downloads page:
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sql-server/sql-server-downloads
  2. Scroll to Express and click Download now. A small file (for example SQL2022-SSEI-Expr.exe) downloads.
  3. Run that file. When it asks for an installation type, choose Download Media — not Basic or Custom.
  4. Select the package LocalDB (about 50 MB), choose a folder such as Downloads, and click Download.
  5. When it finishes, click Open folder. You will see SqlLocalDB.msi.

B. Install LocalDB

  1. Double-click SqlLocalDB.msi.
  2. Accept Microsoft’s licence terms and click Next, then Install. Allow the Windows “make changes” prompt.
  3. Click Finish. No restart is normally needed.

C. Check that it works

  1. Press the Windows key, type cmd and open Command Prompt.
  2. Type sqllocaldb info and press Enter.
  3. You should see MSSQLLocalDB in the list. That means LocalDB is ready.

If you see “'sqllocaldb' is not recognized”, the install did not complete — run SqlLocalDB.msi again, or restart the PC and try once more.

D. Now install Silica Accounts Lite

  1. Use the download link in the email we sent after approving your registration (valid for 48 hours).
  2. If Windows says the file is “unrecognised”, click More info → Run anyway — only for the file from our link.
  3. Open Silica Accounts Lite and enter the licence key from the same email.

The installer checks for LocalDB. If it is missing, setup stops and tells you to complete this page first.

Important