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Asked: 2024-09-27T06:08:40+05:30 In:

how to uninstall postgresql on mac

I’ve been trying to clean up my Mac and remove some software that I no longer need, and I’ve come across PostgreSQL. I installed it a while back for a project, but now that the project is complete, I want to uninstall it completely from my system. However, I’m having a bit of trouble figuring out the right steps to do this.

I’ve looked around online, and I see there are different methods — some suggest using Homebrew, while others recommend manual deletion of files. I’m concerned about leaving behind residual files or configurations that could cause issues later on. Also, I’m not entirely sure where PostgreSQL installed its files on my Mac and what I need to look for.

Could someone please provide a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to completely uninstall PostgreSQL on a Mac? Any tips on potential pitfalls to avoid or specific commands to use would be greatly appreciated. I just want to make sure that it’s fully removed and won’t interfere with anything else on my system. Thank you!

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    2 Answers

    1. Uninstalling PostgreSQL on Mac – A Rookie’s Guide

      So, you want to get rid of PostgreSQL on your Mac? No worries, I’ve got your back! It’s not as scary as it sounds, promise! Here’s what you can do:

      1. Check if PostgreSQL is installed

      First, let’s see if it’s really there. Open your Terminal (you can find it via Spotlight by hitting Command + Space and typing “Terminal”). Then type:

      brew list

      If you see postgresql there, cool – you’ll need to uninstall it!

      2. Uninstall using Homebrew

      If you installed PostgreSQL through Homebrew (which is super common), you can uninstall it with this command:

      brew uninstall postgresql

      Easy peasy, right? But wait, there’s more!

      3. Remove leftover files

      Sometimes, uninstalls leave stuff behind. You might want to check these places:

      • /usr/local/var/postgres (this is where your databases usually hang out)
      • /usr/local/etc/postgresql (configs might be lurking here)

      You can manually delete these folders if you really want to clean up. Use this command to remove them:

      rm -rf /usr/local/var/postgres
      rm -rf /usr/local/etc/postgresql

      4. Double-check

      Finally, you can run the brew list command again to see if it’s gone. If you don’t see it, victory dance!

      5. Enjoy your waste-free Mac!

      You did it! Now your Mac can breathe a little easier without PostgreSQL cluttering it up. Go grab a cookie or something.


    2. To uninstall PostgreSQL from your Mac, you’ll need to remove multiple components that were installed alongside it. First, stop the PostgreSQL server if it’s currently running. You can do this by executing `brew services stop postgresql` if you installed it via Homebrew. If installed from the official PostgreSQL distribution, use the command `/Library/PostgreSQL//uninstall-postgresql` where `` is the version number installed. Next, make sure to delete the data directory, which is typically located at `/usr/local/var/postgres`. You can confirm this location (or find where your installation is) by checking the configuration settings in the PostgreSQL system or running the command `psql -d postgres -c “SHOW data_directory;”` to retrieve the data directory location before removing it.

      After you’ve halted the service and removed the data directory, proceed with cleaning residual files. Check the `/usr/local` directory for PostgreSQL-related folders and remove them using `rm -rf /usr/local/var/postgres`. Additionally, you might want to remove any PostgreSQL launch agents by deleting the files in `~/Library/LaunchAgents/` pertinent to PostgreSQL. Finally, evaluate the `/usr/local/bin` directory for any symlinks that link to PostgreSQL executables and remove them if necessary. If you initially installed PostgreSQL using Homebrew, you can instead simply run `brew uninstall postgresql` to cleanly remove it along with its dependencies and all configuration files, thus streamlining the process.

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