SQL Server has long been criticized for lacking the slow query log feature found in MySQL. As a result, developers and administrators cannot identify the historical slow-running SQL queries. By default, SQL Server does not capture past long-running SQL statements that block other queries, leading to a significant challenge in monitoring and optimizing database performance. This is where enabling the slow query log comes into play. By leveraging this feature, developers and administrators can gain valuable insights into query performance, track down queries that cause bottlenecks, and optimize database queries for better performance. In this article, we will explore the ways to enable and utilize the slow query log in SQL Server, making it easy to uncover and optimize slow-running queries, ultimately improving database performance and achieving better query execution times.