This is an unofficial community guide for PostgreSQL on Windows. The official PostgreSQL website is postgresql.org.
What is PostgreSQL?
PostgreSQL for Windows — the world's most advanced open source database
PostgreSQL (also called Postgres) is a powerful, free and open-source relational database management system. It has been in active development for over 35 years and is used by companies of all sizes for web applications, analytics, data warehousing and more. On Windows it runs as a background service and includes pgAdmin 4, a full-featured GUI administration tool.
The official Windows installer from EDB (EnterpriseDB) bundles PostgreSQL Server, pgAdmin 4, the Stack Builder extension manager and command-line tools including psql, pg_dump and pg_restore.
All guides
PostgreSQL on Windows — complete guide index
| Guide | What it covers |
|---|---|
| Download & install | Installer, setup wizard, post-install verification |
| Offline installer | Install without internet, USB transfer |
| Windows service | Auto-start, service account, recovery |
| Fix PATH / psql | ‘psql is not recognized’ fix |
| pgAdmin 4 | GUI setup, first connection, tips |
| postgresql.conf | Port, memory, logging configuration |
| Port 5432 | Change port, fix conflicts |
| Remote connections | pg_hba.conf + firewall |
| Reset password | Recover lost postgres password |
| psql commands | Essential commands cheat sheet |
| Backup & restore | pg_dump, pg_restore on Windows |
| Service not starting | Fix startup failures |
| Python & psycopg2 | Connect Python to PostgreSQL |
| ODBC driver | psqlODBC x64 and x86 setup |
| Migrate & upgrade | pg_upgrade, dump/restore |
| Windows Server | Server 2019 / 2022 setup |
| Uninstall | Complete removal guide |
| FAQ | Common questions answered |
System requirements
Minimum requirements for PostgreSQL on Windows
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| OS | Windows 10 64-bit | Windows 11 or Server 2022 |
| RAM | 1 GB | 4 GB or more |
| Disk | 512 MB (binaries) | 10+ GB for data |
| Architecture | x64 only | x64 |
Quick answers
Common questions
Is PostgreSQL free on Windows?
Yes. PostgreSQL is released under the PostgreSQL License, which is a permissive open-source license similar to BSD/MIT. It is free for personal and commercial use with no restrictions.
What is the latest version of PostgreSQL?
PostgreSQL 18.3 is the latest stable release (May 2026). For production use on Windows, always use the latest minor release of a supported major version. See the full download guide.
Does PostgreSQL run as a Windows service?
Yes. The EDB installer registers PostgreSQL as a Windows service that starts automatically on boot. You can manage it via Services (services.msc) or the
pg_ctl command. See the Windows service guide.