OPENJSON requires Compatibility Level 130

Parse and Transform JSON Data with OPENJSON

OPENJSON requires Compatibility Level 130

The OPENJSON function is available only under compatibility level 130. If your database compatibility level is lower than 130, SQL Server can't find and run the OPENJSON function. Other built-in JSON functions are available at all compatibility levels.

You can check compatibility level in the sys.databases view or in database properties.

You can change the compatibility level of a database by using the following command:
ALTER DATABASE <DatabaseName> SET COMPATIBILITY_LEVEL = 130