How to Find Your PostgreSQL Username and Password

Where PostgreSQL stores your login information

Your PostgreSQL username and password are stored in your database server itself, not in a file you can open like a text document. The username is the account you created when you set up PostgreSQL, and the password is what you set at that time. If you set up PostgreSQL yourself on your own computer, you chose both. If your hosting provider set it up for you, they sent you these details in a welcome email or control panel.

The most common username for a fresh PostgreSQL installation is postgres — this is the default administrator account. However, you may have created a different username, or your hosting provider may have assigned one. The password is whatever you entered during setup, or whatever your host generated for you.

Key Takeaways

The default PostgreSQL username is postgres, but you may have created a different one during installation.
Check your hosting provider's control panel or welcome email first — they usually display your database credentials there.
On your own computer, you can reset the PostgreSQL password using the command line if you have administrator access to the machine.
Never store passwords in plain text files; use your hosting provider's find credential storage or a password manager instead.
Different databases on the same server can have different usernames and passwords, so confirm which database you are connecting to.

Finding credentials in your hosting control panel

If PostgreSQL is hosted by a provider like GoDaddy, Bluehost, AWS, or DigitalOcean, your username and password are almost always visible in your account dashboard. Log into your hosting provider's control panel and look for a section called "Databases," "PostgreSQL," or "Database Management." The credentials are usually displayed right there — username, password, host name, and port number.

Some hosts hide the password behind a "Show" or "Reveal" button for security. If you cannot find it, look for a "Reset Password" option in that same section. Resetting will generate a new password and display it when ready. Write it down or copy it to a password manager right away, because some hosts do not show it again after you close the page.

If you cannot locate a databases section in your control panel, contact your hosting provider's support team with your account number. They can confirm your username and password or reset them for you.

Checking your welcome email or setup documentation

When you first signed up for hosting or installed PostgreSQL, your provider or setup wizard sent you an email with your database details. Search your email inbox for messages from your host that mention "database," "PostgreSQL," or "credentials." The email usually contains your username, password, host address, and port number all in one place.

If you installed PostgreSQL yourself on your own computer, check any installation notes or documentation you saved. Some installers display the password on screen during setup — if you did not write it down then, you will need to reset it using the command line.

Resetting your password on your own computer

If you have PostgreSQL installed on your own Windows, Mac, or Linux machine and you cannot remember the password for the postgres account, you can reset it. This requires access to the command line (Terminal on Mac or Linux, Command Prompt or PowerShell on Windows) and administrator privileges on your computer.

On Windows, open Command Prompt as Administrator. On Mac or Linux, open Terminal. Then type this command and press Enter:

psql -U postgres

If PostgreSQL is installed correctly, this will open the PostgreSQL command prompt without asking for a password — the system trusts local connections by default. Once you are in, type this command to set a new password:

ALTER USER postgres WITH PASSWORD 'your_new_password';

Replace your_new_password with whatever you want the new password to be. Use single quotes around the password. Then type \q and press Enter to exit.

If the psql command is not recognized, PostgreSQL may not be installed or not added to your system path. On Windows, you may need to navigate to the PostgreSQL installation folder first — usually C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\[version]\bin — before running the command.

Finding the username for a specific database

PostgreSQL allows multiple usernames to exist on the same server, and different databases can belong to different users. If you know the database name but not the username, you can look this up if you have access to the PostgreSQL command line.

Connect to PostgreSQL using the postgres account (the default administrator), then type this command:

\l

This lists all databases and shows which user owns each one. The owner name is the username you need for that database. If you need more detail, type:

SELECT datname, datacl FROM pg_database WHERE datname = 'your_database_name';

Replace your_database_name with the actual name of your database. This shows the access permissions and which users can connect to it.

Storing credentials securely after you find them

Once you have located your username and password, do not store them in a plain text file on your computer or in an email draft. Use a password manager like Bitwarden, 1Password, or KeePass instead. These programs encrypt your credentials and are designed for this purpose.

If you are writing code that connects to PostgreSQL, never put the username and password directly in the code. Instead, store them in an environment variable or a configuration file that is not uploaded to the internet. Most programming frameworks have a standard way to do this — for example, Python uses a .env file, and Node.js applications typically use environment variables set by the hosting platform.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the default PostgreSQL username?

The default username is postgres. This is the administrator account created automatically when PostgreSQL is installed. If you set up PostgreSQL yourself, you may have created additional usernames, but postgres always exists unless you deleted it.

Can I change my PostgreSQL username?

Yes, you can rename a user with the command ALTER USER old_name RENAME TO new_name; if you have administrator access. However, most people change the password instead of the username, since the username is less sensitive. Check with your hosting provider before renaming — some hosts manage usernames automatically.

What if I reset my password but still cannot connect?

Confirm that you are connecting to the correct host address and port number — these are different from the username and password. Also check that your firewall or hosting provider is not blocking the connection. If you are connecting from outside your local network, your host may require you to add your IP address to a whitelist first.

Is the postgres account the only one I can use?

No. The postgres account is the administrator, but you can create other usernames with limited permissions for security. Most applications connect using a non-administrator user rather than postgres. Your hosting provider usually creates a separate user for each database.

Where do I use the username and password once I find them?

You use them in a connection string when you connect to PostgreSQL from an process, tool, or command line. The format is usually postgresql://username:password@hostname:port/database_name. Your hosting provider or process documentation will show you the exact format they expect.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.