Fix SQL Server Error 3023: Shrink failed for LogFile “Log File Name”

Today, I got below Microsoft SQL Server error 3023 when I was trying to manually shrink a log file. The error details are given below:

Shrink failed for LogFile ‘Logfile_Name”.
Backup, file manipulation operations (such as ALTER DATABASE ADD FILE) and encryption changes on a database must be serialized. Reissue the statement after the current backup or file manipulation operation is completed. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 3023)

Here is the screenshot of this error:

We get this error when there is a conflict between backup operation and Shrink operation. SQL Server are designed to follow some rules during Backup and Shrink operations. These are given below:

1. We can run only one database backup at a time. When a full database backup occurs, differential or incremental backups cannot occur at the same time.
2. Only one log backup can happen at a time. A log backup is allowed when a full database backup is occurring.
3. You cannot add or drop files to a database while a backup is occurring.
4. You cannot shrink files while database backups are happening.
5. There are limited recovery model changes allowed while backups are occurring.

When any of these conflicting operations are performed, the commands will be receiving the SQL Server error 3023, SQL Server error 3013 and SQL Server error 3041 messages.

You might also get below error when you perform another database backup if backup is already running for your database.

Msg 3013, Level 16, State 1, Line 1
BACKUP DATABASE is terminating abnormally.

Or if you try to run a differential backup for a database for which full backup is already running, you will get below error code:

Backup Error: 3041, Severity: 16, State: 1.
BACKUP failed to complete the command BACKUP DATABASE MyDatabase WITH DIFFERENTIAL. Check the backup application log for detailed messages.

Solution to fix such issues is to examine the schedules of the various database maintenance activities, and then adjust the schedules so that these operations or commands do not conflict with each other.

Make sure to not run any operation that will conflict with each other. If you get such errors check your SQL Server Agent jobs and wait till that job will be completed. In my case, database backup was running while I was trying to shrink a log file. I did wait for some time and then tried again to shrink that file and this time SQL Server allowed me to run this shrink operation.

Here, i have explained how to fix Microsoft SQL Server error 3023,  error 3013 and error 3041. I hope you like this article. Please follow our Facebook page and Twitter handle to get latest updates.

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Manvendra Deo Singh

I am working as a Technical Architect in one of the top IT consulting firm. I have expertise on all versions of SQL Server since SQL Server 2000. I have lead multiple SQL Server projects like consolidation, upgrades, migrations, HA & DR. I love to share my knowledge. You can contact me on my social accounts for any consulting work.

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Article Name

Fix Error 3023: Shrink failed for LogFile "Log File Name"

Description

Today, I got below error 3023 when I was trying to manually shrink a log file. The error details are given below: Shrink failed for LogFile 'Logfile_Name". Backup, file manipulation operations (such as ALTER DATABASE ADD FILE) and encryption changes on a database must be serialized. Reissue the statement after the current backup or file manipulation operation is completed. (Microsoft SQL Server, Error: 3023)

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Manvendra Deo Singh

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www.techyaz.com