Uninstall PostgreSQL 17 on Linux (Installed Using RPM Method)

Table of Contents

0. Important Caution Before Proceeding

** Before uninstalling PostgreSQL PostgreSQL 17, first take a logical or physical backup. **

If PostgreSQL was installed using RPM packages, removing the package does not automatically remove:

Database files
WAL files
Backup directories
Custom configuration files

1. Check Installed PostgreSQL RPM Packages

[root@pgdb02 ~]# rpm -qa | grep postgres
postgresql17-libs-17.6-1PGDG.rhel9.x86_64
postgresql17-17.6-1PGDG.rhel9.x86_64
postgresql17-server-17.6-1PGDG.rhel9.x86_64
postgresql17-contrib-17.6-1PGDG.rhel9.x86_64
[root@pgdb02 ~]#

2. Stop PostgreSQL Service

[root@pgdb02 ~]# systemctl stop postgresql-17
[root@pgdb02 ~]# systemctl status postgresql-17
○ postgresql-17.service - PostgreSQL 17 database server
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/postgresql-17.service; enabled; preset: disabled)
Active: inactive (dead)
Docs: https://www.postgresql.org/docs/17/static/
[root@pgdb02 ~]#

3. Disable PostgreSQL Service

[root@pgdb02 ~]# systemctl disable postgresql-17
Removed "/etc/systemd/system/multi-user.target.wants/postgresql-17.service".
[root@pgdb02 ~]#

4. Remove and Verify PostgreSQL RPM Packages

WARNING: This permanently deletes all binaries, libraries, and data. Ensure your data is backed up before this step.

[root@pgdb02 ~]# rpm -qa | grep postgres
postgresql17-libs-17.6-1PGDG.rhel9.x86_64
postgresql17-17.6-1PGDG.rhel9.x86_64
postgresql17-server-17.6-1PGDG.rhel9.x86_64
postgresql17-contrib-17.6-1PGDG.rhel9.x86_64
[root@pgdb02 ~]#
[root@pgdb02 ~]# rpm -e postgresql17-contrib-17.6-1PGDG.rhel9.x86_64
[root@pgdb02 ~]# rpm -e postgresql17-server-17.6-1PGDG.rhel9.x86_64
[root@pgdb02 ~]# rpm -e postgresql17-17.6-1PGDG.rhel9.x86_64
[root@pgdb02 ~]# rpm -e postgresql17-libs-17.6-1PGDG.rhel9.x86_64
[root@pgdb02 ~]#

5. Verify Packages Are Removed

[root@pgdb02 ~]# rpm -qa | grep postgres
[root@pgdb02 ~]#

6. Remove PostgreSQL System User (Optional)

[root@pgdb02 ~]# id postgres
uid=26(postgres) gid=26(postgres) groups=26(postgres)
[root@pgdb02 ~]# userdel postgres
[root@pgdb02 ~]#
[root@pgdb02 ~]# groupdel postgres
groupdel: group 'postgres' does not exist
[root@pgdb02 ~]#
[root@pgdb02 ~]# id postgres
id: ‘postgres’: no such user
[root@pgdb02 ~]#

7. Remove PostgreSQL Configuration Files

# It's already removed in step no. 3

[root@pgdb02 ~]# ls -l /usr/lib/systemd/system/postgresql-17.service
ls: cannot access '/usr/lib/systemd/system/postgresql-17.service': No such file or directory
[root@pgdb02 ~]# 
[root@pgdb02 ~]# ls -l /etc/systemd/system/postgresql-17.service
-rw-r--r--. 1 root root 588 Jun 19 21:20 /etc/systemd/system/postgresql-17.service
[root@pgdb02 ~]#
[root@pgdb02 ~]# rm -f /etc/systemd/system/postgresql-17.service
[root@pgdb02 ~]#

8. Verify Complete Removal

[root@pgdb02 ~]# id postgres
id: ‘postgres’: no such user
[root@pgdb02 ~]#
[root@pgdb02 ~]# rpm -qa | grep postgres
[root@pgdb02 ~]#
[root@pgdb02 ~]# systemctl status postgresql-17
Unit postgresql-17.service could not be found.
[root@pgdb02 ~]#

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Thank you,
Rajasekhar Amudala
Email: br8dba@gmail.com
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rajasekhar-amudala/