What is the offline installer?

PostgreSQL offline installer for Windows — full setup without internet

The PostgreSQL Windows installer from EDB is a self-contained executable that includes the server, pgAdmin 4 and all command-line tools. It does not require an internet connection to install — everything is bundled in the single .exe file. Once downloaded on any machine with internet access, you can transfer it via USB drive and install on any Windows 10 or 11 computer.

The PostgreSQL installer is fully self-contained. There is no separate offline mode — the standard installer works offline by design.

How to install offline

Step-by-step offline installation

1
Download on a connected machine
On any PC with internet access, download the installer: postgresql-18.3-3-windows-x64.exe (~300 MB). The download page is postgresql.org/download/windows.
2
Verify the download (optional but recommended)
Check the SHA-256 hash against the value shown on the download page:

PowerShell
PS> Get-FileHash postgresql-18.3-3-windows-x64.exe -Algorithm SHA256
Algorithm Hash Path
SHA256 A1B2C3D4E5F6... postgresql-18.3...
3
Transfer to the offline machine
Copy the .exe file to a USB drive, network share or any other transfer method. No additional files are needed — everything is in the single executable.
4
Run the installer offline
On the offline machine, right-click the .exe → Run as administrator. The installer runs completely without internet access. Follow the setup wizard normally.

Windows SmartScreen may warn about an unrecognised app. Click More info → Run anyway. This is safe for the official PostgreSQL installer.
5
Skip Stack Builder
At the end of the wizard, Stack Builder will offer to download additional components. On an offline machine, uncheck all Stack Builder options and click Finish. Stack Builder requires internet to download its packages.
6
Verify the installation

cmd.exe — new window
C:\> psql -U postgres -c "SELECT version();"
Password for user postgres:
PostgreSQL 18.3, compiled by Visual C++ build 1940, 64-bit

Offline capabilities

What works offline, what does not

Feature	Works offline?
PostgreSQL server	Yes — fully local
pgAdmin 4	Yes — fully local
psql, pg_dump, pg_restore	Yes — fully local
Stack Builder packages	No — requires internet download
pgAdmin map tiles	No — loaded from map servers

FAQ

Offline installer questions

Is there a separate offline installer download?

No. The standard PostgreSQL Windows installer from postgresql.org is self-contained and works offline by design. There is no separate offline version to download.

Can I install PostgreSQL offline on Windows Server?

Yes. The installer works the same way on Windows Server 2016, 2019 and 2022. Transfer the .exe via USB or network share and run it as Administrator. See also Windows Server guide.

How do I transfer the installer to an air-gapped machine?

Any file transfer method works: USB drive, DVD, internal network share, secure copy (SCP), or even a shared folder if the machines are on the same local network. No internet connection is required on the target machine.

Do I need Visual C++ redistributables separately?

No. The PostgreSQL EDB installer bundles the required Visual C++ redistributables. They are installed automatically as part of the setup process, even on a clean Windows installation.

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