PostgreSQL 101

 🐘 How to Install and Run PostgreSQL (Windows)

Step 1: Download PostgreSQL

Go to the official website:

🔗 https://www.postgresql.org/download/windows/

Click Download the installer → it will redirect to EnterpriseDB.

Choose:

• Latest stable version (e.g., PostgreSQL 16)

• Windows x86-64

Download the .exe installer.

Step 2: Install PostgreSQL

Run the installer and follow this setup:

1. Installation Directory
   Leave default (recommended).

2. Components
   ✔ PostgreSQL Server
   ✔ pgAdmin 4
   ✔ Command Line Tools

3. Data Directory
   Leave default.

4. Set Password for Superuser (postgres)
   ⚠️ VERY IMPORTANT
   Remember this password. You will use it to login.

5. Port Number
   Default is:

   5432
   

   Leave it unless you already have something using that port.

6. Click Next → Install → Finish.

To add psql to Windows Environment Variables

✅ Step 1: Find PostgreSQL bin Folder

Go to where PostgreSQL is installed.

Usually it is:

C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\16\bin

(Replace 16 with your version.)

Inside that folder, you should see:

psql.exe
pg_dump.exe
pg_restore.exe

Copy the full path of that bin folder.

✅ Step 2: Add to Environment Variable (PATH)

1. Press Windows Key

2. Search:

   Environment Variables
   

3. Click
   Edit the system environment variables

4. Click Environment Variables

5. Under System variables

   • Find Path

   • Click Edit

6. Click New

7. Paste:

C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\16\bin

8. Click OK → OK → OK

✅ Step 3: Restart Command Prompt

⚠️ Important: Close ALL Command Prompts.

Open a new one.

Type:

psql --version

If successful, you’ll see:

psql (PostgreSQL) 16.x

🎉 Done.

Step 3: Check if PostgreSQL is Running

After installation:

Option A: Check via Services

Press:

Windows + R

Type:

services.msc

Look for:

postgresql-x64-16 (or your version)

Status should be:

Running

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🚀 How to Run PostgreSQL

There are 2 main ways:

Method 1: Using pgAdmin (GUI – Easy Way)

1. Open pgAdmin 4

2. It will ask for master password

3. Expand:

   Servers → PostgreSQL 16 → Databases
   

4. Right click Databases

5. Click Create → Database

6. Give name → Save

Now your database is ready 🎉

To run SQL:

• Click your database

• Click Query Tool

• Write:

SELECT version();

Click ▶ Run.

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Method 2: Using Command Line (psql)

Open:

SQL Shell (psql)

It will ask:

Server [localhost]:
Database [postgres]:
Port [5432]:
Username [postgres]:
Password:

Press Enter for defaults.
Enter your password.

If successful, you’ll see:

postgres=#

Now you can run:

CREATE DATABASE testdb;

Connect to it:

\c testdb

Create table:

CREATE TABLE users (
    id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
    name VARCHAR(100)
);

Insert data:

INSERT INTO users (name) VALUES ('Nurah');

Check:

SELECT * FROM users;

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🔍 If PostgreSQL Doesn’t Start

Check:

• Port 5432 already used?

• Windows Firewall blocking?

• Service not running?

You can restart service from:

services.msc

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🚀 Now You Can Import Dump

Example:

psql -U postgres -d tacdb -f "C:\Users\Nurah\Downloads\database_dump.sql"