- 11 Sep, 2025
- 0 Comments
- 1 Min Read
psql: FATAL: role “username” does not exist
Error
psql: FATAL: role "username" does not exist
Solution
🚨 PostgreSQL Role Does Not Exist – Error Explained
If you are working with PostgreSQL, you might have encountered the error:
psql: FATAL: role "username" does not exist
This error indicates that PostgreSQL is trying to authenticate a user that does not exist in the system catalog of roles. Unlike the password error, this means the user itself is missing from the database.
Why Does This Happen?
The PostgreSQL role does not exist error usually occurs because:
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The role (user) was never created.
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The role was dropped accidentally.
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You are connecting with the wrong username.
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A script or application is configured with a non-existing role.
How to Fix the Error
1.Check existing roles
Login with a superuser (like postgres):
\du
This lists all existing roles.
2. Create the missing role
If the role is not found, create it:
CREATE ROLE username LOGIN PASSWORD 'your_password';
3 . Grant privileges (if needed)
To give database access:
GRANT CONNECT ON DATABASE dbname TO username; GRANT USAGE ON SCHEMA public TO username;
4 . Assign role as database owner (optional)
ALTER DATABASE dbname OWNER TO username;
Conclusion
At Learnomate Technologies, we’re here to support you every step of the way with top-notch training in PostgreSQL DBA and more.
For more detailed insights and tutorials, do check out our YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@learnomate, where we regularly share practical tips and deep dives into essential database topics. And if you’re serious about mastering PostgreSQL DBA, head over to our website for our full training program: learnomate.org/training/postgresql-training/.
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