How to Reset an Identity Column in SQL Server
Last updated July 25, 2026 · By the SaturnSQL team
DBCC CHECKIDENT ('table', RESEED, new_value) resets the identity counter; the next insert normally gets new_value + 1. Run it with NORESEED to just check the current value without changing it.
DBCC CHECKIDENT ('orders', RESEED, 0);
-- next inserted id will be 1Check the current value
DBCC CHECKIDENT ('orders', NORESEED);TRUNCATE TABLE resets the identity to its original seed automatically. One quirk: on a table that has never contained rows, the next insert uses the reseed value itself rather than new_value + 1.
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