Where does SQL Server 2012 store database files by default?

If you're playing around with SQL Server 2012 and you've created a couple of databases, e.g. in SQL Server Management Studio, you may not actually know where the databases are stored as during the whole database creation process you don't get asked to specify a file path.

To find out where your database files are stored do the following:-

1. Open SQL Server Management Studio
2. Right click the server name in the Object Explorer pane on the left and choose Properties.
3. In the Properties dialog, choose Database Settings in the Select a Page pane on the left.

The database file locations are then shown on the right.