One of the most common questions I hear from new PostgreSQL users is: "How do I safely set or change the password for the postgres user?"

If you're starting your journey with PostgreSQL — welcome! You're in for a powerful, flexible database experience. But first things first: you need to connect to it safely.

📌Quick Intro: The postgres User

The postgres user is the superuser of PostgreSQL. I personally recommend using this account only for:

Managing global objects (roles, tablespaces, databases)

Performing system-level administration

💡 Tip: Never use the postgres superuser for your everyday applications. It's like using the root account to browse the web — risky and unnecessary.

My Preferred Connection Method (Console Style)

As a console-first person, I like to:

Become the postgres system user Either via sudo, switching from the root user, or using SSH public key authentication.

Connect locally using psql This avoids network-related security issues.

sudo -i -u postgres

GUI Lovers, Pay Attention

Many of our customers and students prefer graphical tools to manage PostgreSQL (especially if they come from database systems with fancy GUIs).

👉 These tools connect over the network and need proper password authentication.

By default, PostgreSQL disables password authentication for the superuser (postgres) on a fresh installation. So let's fix that — the right way.

✅Safest Way to Set the postgres Password

The most secure method is to:

Connect locally using psql

Run the password meta-command

postgres=# password Enter new password: Enter it again: postgres=#

✅ Why this method is best:

🔒 No password exposure in logs 🔒 No SQL history saved with your password 🔒 No config files involved 🔒 Quick and secure 💬 You're asked to input the password directly and safely — no traces left behind.

🚫Never Use the postgres User for Applications

Always create dedicated roles and users for your applications. PostgreSQL's role-based access system is one of its greatest strengths. You can: Assign fine-grained privileges Organize users into groups Separate administration from daily operations.

🎉 Wrapping Up

🔹 Use the postgres superuser only for administration 🔹 Connect locally via psql when managing passwords 🔹 GUI users: set the password securely before connecting over the network 🔹 Create application-specific users and roles

🚀 Bonus Tip:

After changing your password, don't forget to review your pg_hba.conf file to ensure your desired authentication method (like md5 or scram-sha-256) is correctly configured.