In this post, I am sharing basic steps for changing the default Windows Data Directory of the PostgreSQL in Linux.

When we install PostgreSQL on Linux operating system, by default it stores in “/var/lib/postgresql/[version]/data/”

Always best practice is to store database data on the separate drive instead of the system drives.

PostgreSQL: Change or Move Default Data Directory in Windows

Create a new directory:

mkdir postgres_data_dir

Give directory ownership to your Linux user:

chown user_name postgres_data_dir

Log in with your postgres user and initialize the database at the new location:

initdb -D /postgres/test/postgres_data_dir

OR

STOP and then START Postgres with new data directory:

postgres -D /postgres/test/postgres_data_dir

In this post, I am sharing complete steps for moving main PostgreSQL data directory to any new location in Linux.

When we install PostgreSQL on Linux operating system, by default it stores in “/var/lib/postgresql/[version]/data/”

Always best practice is to store database data on the separate drive instead of the system drives.

Check the current data directory:

postgres=# SHOW data_directory;

        data_directory
------------------------------
 /var/lib/postgresql/9.6/main

Stop the PostgreSQL Service:

sudo systemctl stop postgresql

Create a new directory:

mkdir postgres_data_dir

Give directory ownership to your Linux user:

chown user_name postgres_data_dir

Move existing PostgreSQL data/floder to the new location:

sudo rsync -av /var/lib/postgresql /test/postgres_data_dir/

Move old folder to the backup folder:

sudo mv /var/lib/postgresql/9.6/main /tmp/pg_backup

Change data folder in postgresql.conf file:

data_directory = '/test/postgres_data_dir/postgresql/9.6/main'

Start the service of PostgreSQL:

sudo systemctl start postgresql

Now check the data directory:

postgres=# SHOW data_directory; 

 		  data_directory
--------------------------------------------
/test/postgres_data_dir/postgresql/9.6/main

In this post, I am sharing basic steps to move or change the default Windows Data Directory of the PostgreSQL.

When we install PostgreSQL on Windows operating system, by default It store in “C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\.\Data\”

Always best practice is to store database data in separate drive instead of the system drive.

Here, It is step-by-step:

Step 1:

Go to Windows Service, and Stop running PostgreSQL service.
To Close all your running transactions and applications which are currently connected to PostgreSQL.

Step 2:

If you are ready with your new location path, copy old data directory and paste in the new location path.

Step 3:

Right click on the newly created folder and make sure that It has all type permissions for local postgres system user.

Step 4:

Open Windows Registry Editor and go to this path “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\postgresql”.

Double click on “ImagePath” and change the default path of the Data Directory after “-D”

"C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.5\bin\pg_ctl.exe" runservice -N "postgresql-x64-9.5" -D "D:\dbrnd\PostgreSQL\9.5\data" -w

Step 5:

Close all the open window and start the PostgreSQL Service.