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Description

This error indicates that the authentication credentials provided for connecting to the PostgreSQL database are incorrect. It typically occurs when a client application or user attempts to establish a connection with an invalid password for the specified username.

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Error Message

invalid password

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Known Causes

4 known causes

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Incorrect Password Input

The user or application provided a password that does not match the one stored for the specified database user.

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Wrong Username

The username provided during the connection attempt does not exist or is not recognized by the PostgreSQL server.

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Outdated Credentials

The password for the database user was recently updated, but the client application is still using an old, incorrect password.

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Authentication Method Mismatch

The client is trying to authenticate using a method (e.g., MD5, SCRAM) that the PostgreSQL server is not configured to accept for that user or connection.

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Solutions

4 solutions available

1. Verify Password easy

Check password is correct

1

Test connection with psql

psql -U username -h localhost -d database

2

Reset password if forgotten

-- As superuser:
ALTER USER username WITH PASSWORD 'new_password';

2. Check pg_hba.conf Authentication medium

Verify authentication method settings

1

Find pg_hba.conf location

SHOW hba_file;

2

Check authentication method

# In pg_hba.conf:
# TYPE  DATABASE  USER  ADDRESS       METHOD
local   all       all                 md5
host    all       all   127.0.0.1/32  md5
host    all       all   ::1/128       md5

3

Reload configuration

SELECT pg_reload_conf();
-- or from command line:
pg_ctl reload

3. Fix Password in Connection String easy

Ensure password is correctly formatted

1

Check connection string format

# Standard format:
postgresql://username:password@hostname:5432/database

# URL-encode special characters in password:
# @ → %40
# : → %3A
# / → %2F
# # → %23

2

Or use environment variables

export PGPASSWORD='your_password'
psql -U username -h localhost -d database

4. Check Password Encryption medium

Ensure client and server use same encryption

1

Check password encryption setting

SHOW password_encryption;

2

Reset password with correct encryption

-- For scram-sha-256 (PostgreSQL 10+):
SET password_encryption = 'scram-sha-256';
ALTER USER username WITH PASSWORD 'password';

-- For md5 (older):
SET password_encryption = 'md5';
ALTER USER username WITH PASSWORD 'password';

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Related Errors

5 related errors

PostgreSQL Error 28P01: Invalid Password or User