How to install PostgreSQL
on macOS: 2 simple ways
This is where we'd like to show you how to install PostgreSQL on a Mac, create databases, and start managing them using a specialized IDE called dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL.
TL;DR
PostgreSQL can be installed on macOS using either a traditional installer or the Homebrew package manager. After installation, you can manage PostgreSQL databases through the terminal or with a GUI client like dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL, which simplifies tasks like creating databases, configuring users, and importing/exporting data. dbForge Studio also offers advanced tools for database management, making PostgreSQL easier to handle on macOS.
Why install PostgreSQL on macOS?
PostgreSQL is one of the most trusted open-source databases, valued for its stability, scalability, and support for both SQL and JSON queries. It powers everything from small applications to enterprise-grade systems, thanks to features like concurrency control, recovery options, and strong performance tuning.
When it comes to running PostgreSQL locally, macOS is a well-suited platform with its UNIX foundation and native tools like Terminal and Homebrew. It offers a straightforward way to install, configure, and manage PostgreSQL directly on your machine, making it easy to prototype applications, test features, or practice database administration without needing a separate server setup.
How to download and install PostgreSQL –
a step-by-step guide
There are two ways to install PostgreSQL on your Mac. The first one is just your usual way of installing a program, when you download an installer file, open it, and follow the wizard's instructions. The second way is installing PostgreSQL on your Mac via Homebrew, a specialized package manager. The guide below will thoroughly cover both of these ways.
Download the PostgreSQL installer and install it on macOS
1. Download the PostgreSQL installer for macOS
Your first step is to download the PostgreSQL installer for macOS. Once you are on the Download PostgreSQL page, select the preferred version.
2. Open the downloaded .dmg file
Open the downloaded .dmg file. Double-click the installer file within and click Open. If your Mac is locked with a password, you will be prompted to enter it.
3. Open the installation wizard
The wizard opens. Click Next.
4. Specify the installation directory
Specify the directory on your Mac where PostgreSQL will be installed and click Next.
5. Select the required components
Keep the components you want to install selected and click Next.
6. Specify the data directory
Specify the directory where your data will be stored and click Next.
7. Provide a password
Provide a new password for the database superuser. Later on, you will use it to connect to PostgreSQL. After that, click Next.
8. Specify the port
Change the default port, if necessary, and click Next.
9. Select the locale
Select the locale that will be used by PostgreSQL. By default, it will use the locale of your current operating system.
10. Review the pre-installation summary
Review the pre-installation summary. Once you make sure everything is correct, click Next.
11. Launch the installation
Now PostgreSQL is ready for installation. Click Next.
12. Let the installation proceed
Give the installer a few minutes to conduct the installation.
13. Complete the installation
Once the installation is complete, you will receive a notification. If you have previously selected Stack Builder to be installed, you will be prompted to launch it at exit. Afterwards, click Finish to exit the wizard. You have installed PostgreSQL on your Mac.
Use Homebrew to install PostgreSQL on macOS
2. Install PostgreSQL via Homebrew
Next, you start installing PostgreSQL by running the following command:
brew install postgresql
The installation will commence. If something doesn't run smoothly, Terminal will prompt you for additional actions.
Then give it a little time to be completed. What is great about this method is that Homebrew will automatically manage the dependencies required by PostgreSQL, and you won't have to install anything separately.
Once the installation is completed, you will see a message similar to the following:
Complete the installation
After installing PostgreSQL, it's important to verify that the setup is successful and that the service is ready to use. Follow the steps below to confirm.
Verify the installation: Open Terminal and check the version:
psql --version
If PostgreSQL is installed successfully, this command will return the version number (e.g., psql (PostgreSQL) 16.x).
Confirm the service is running: Depending on how you installed PostgreSQL, the server may not start automatically. For Homebrew installations, check the status.
brew services list
Start the service if needed.
brew services start postgresql
At this stage, your Terminal should display the output confirming that PostgreSQL was installed and initialized correctly.
Test connectivity with a client: You can now connect using either command-line tools or a GUI.
- pgAdmin is included in the installer package and provides a browser-based interface for database management.
- dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL offers a professional IDE with advanced tools for development, administration, and data import/export.
With these checks complete, your PostgreSQL environment is ready for use. You can now move on to creating your first database and configuring users.
First launch and connection to PostgreSQL
Start PostgreSQL via Terminal
Once PostgreSQL is installed via Homebrew, it must be started manually for first use. By default, the server is installed but not running – it won't accept connections until the service is enabled. Homebrew manages PostgreSQL as a background service; you can start, stop, or restart it as needed.
1. Start the PostgreSQL service
brew services start postgresql
This command launches PostgreSQL and ensures it starts automatically whenever your Mac boots. The result will look similar to the screenshot below:
2. Verify that PostgreSQL is running
pg_isready
This utility checks the server's status and will return a message indicating whether the server is accepting connections.
3. Connect directly to confirm (optional)
psql -U postgres
If successful, it opens the psql interactive shell as the default superuser, confirming the database is active and ready to use.
brew services stop postgresql command.
Create a root user
By default, PostgreSQL creates a single administrative account (postgres). However, the best practice is to create your own superuser account rather than relying solely on the default. A superuser has full control over the database cluster, including the ability to create new databases, manage roles, assign privileges, and perform maintenance tasks.
This separation also improves security and makes auditing easier, since activity can be tied to a specific account instead of the global postgres user.
To begin, connect to PostgreSQL using the default account:
psql postgres
The result will be as follows:
Once inside the PostgreSQL prompt, you can create a new superuser.
CREATE USER admin WITH PASSWORD 'yourpassword' SUPERUSER;
You can also fine-tune the user's role:
- CREATEDB: allows the user to create databases
- CREATEROLE: allows the user to create and manage other roles
- LOGIN: enables login access
Example with multiple options
CREATE USER dev_admin WITH PASSWORD 'mypassword' CREATEDB CREATEROLE LOGIN;
This flexibility lets you design accounts that fit your project needs while keeping administrative tasks under control.
How to manage PostgreSQL databases using a GUI client
But what if we suggest an alternative to Terminal that will make it all far easier and way faster? We believe that what you really need at this step is a multifunctional PostgreSQL GUI client that will help you create and manage databases. And we've got one for you! It's called dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL, and it delivers multiple tools for the development and management of your databases.
Although dbForge Studio is a classic Windows application, you can run it on macOS using a compatibility solution called CrossOver. You will find a detailed installation guide and a handy video tutorial on the Installation on Linux & macOS: Overview page of our documentation.
1. How to connect to a PostgreSQL database
Before you can create or manage data, you need to establish a reliable connection to your PostgreSQL server. Proper connection setup ensures that authentication, host information, and access rights are correctly configured; without it, queries and administration tasks won't succeed.
To connect to a PostgreSQL database using dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL, launch it and click New Connection on the Database menu.
In the Database Connection Properties window that opens, specify the connection properties:
- Enter host and port: Use localhost for local installations or the server's IP/domain for remote access. PostgreSQL defaults to port 5432 unless configured otherwise.
- Provide authentication details: Enter the username (commonly postgres) and the password you set during installation.
- Select the database: Choose the target database from the list, or leave this field blank to connect to the default database.
- Test the connection: Click Test Connection to confirm that the credentials and server details are correct.
Once validation passes, click Connect. dbForge Studio for PostgreSQL will establish the session and display your database in Database Explorer, and you can begin running SQL queries, managing schemas, or importing data.
2. How to create and configure users in PostgreSQL
Creating a new user is just as easy. Click New SQL and enter the CREATE ROLE <username>; command. Run it with the Execute button. Once the Studio finishes the process, you will see the following notification: Query executed successfully.
Let us show you a few options to diversify this command. First, we create a user with no password:
CREATE USER <username>;
Create a user with a password:
CREATE USER <username> WITH PASSWORD '<password>';
This is how you create a user with a password that is valid until a specified date:
CREATE USER <username> WITH PASSWORD '<password>' VALID UNTIL 'YYYY-MM-DD';
And this is how you create an account where the user can create databases:
CREATE USER <username> WITH PASSWORD '<password>' CREATEDB;
Similarly, you can configure users with the ALTER USER command. For instance, you can provide a user with the ability to create new users and databases:
ALTER USER <username> CREATEUSER CREATEDB;
Finally, this is how you delete a user:
DROP USER <username>
3. How to create and drop a PostgreSQL database
To create a new database, first, click New SQL.
In a new SQL document, enter the command, replacing my_database with your preferred name:
CREATE DATABASE <database name>;
In Database Explorer, click the Refresh button. Your new database will appear under your connection.
To drop the database, execute the following command:
DROP DATABASE my_database;
The specified database will be permanently removed.
4. How to export and import PostgreSQL data
Now let's see how to import PostgreSQL data into your new database. You have a whopping 10 formats to choose from, including TXT, XLS, XLSX, Google Sheets, MDB, XML, JSON, CSV, ODBC, and DBF. Go to the Database menu and click Import Data to open the wizard.
After you select a format, follow the wizard to configure the import settings. Note that the wizard tabs and available settings may vary depending on the format. After you configure everything as required, click Import, and wait a while for the process to be completed. Note that you can save your import settings as a template using the Save Template button.
Similarly, on the Database menu, click Export Data to get the export wizard ready. Here, you have even more formats to choose from, additionally including HTML, RTF, PDF, and SQL.
for a free 30-day trial today!
How to uninstall PostgreSQL from macOS
1. Initiate the uninstallation in Terminal
There are several reasons you might need to uninstall PostgreSQL: for example, upgrading to a newer major version, removing a corrupted installation, or preparing your system for a clean reconfiguration.
When installed via the official macOS installer, PostgreSQL includes an uninstaller utility that launches through an interactive prompt. Let us see how to use it. To begin the process, open Terminal and run the following command (adjust the path if your version differs).
open /Library/PostgreSQL/15/uninstall-postgresql.app
You will be prompted for administrator privileges, since the uninstaller must remove binaries, libraries, and data directories from protected system paths. Once authenticated, the wizard will guide you step by step through the removal process.
2. Let the uninstallation proceed
After confirming your choice, the wizard begins removing PostgreSQL and its associated files. This step is automatic and requires no further input. You will see a progress window indicating which components are being deleted.
3. Uninstall PostgreSQL from macOS via Homebrew
If you installed PostgreSQL through Homebrew, you can also remove it using Homebrew commands. Before uninstalling, it is best practice to stop the PostgreSQL service to avoid leaving background processes running.
Stop the PostgreSQL service
brew services stop postgresql
Uninstall PostgreSQL
brew uninstall postgresql
After running this command, Homebrew will remove PostgreSQL and its related files. The output should look similar to the screenshot below.
These commands will remove PostgreSQL while preserving your overall Homebrew setup. If you need to reinstall a different version later, Homebrew will handle the dependencies automatically.