Start using PostgreSQL

Install PostgreSQL 18 on macOS

Install the PostgreSQL 18 Homebrew formula without treating a major-version upgrade like an ordinary package update.

8 minute lesson

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On macOS, install the PostgreSQL 18 formula with Homebrew:

brew install postgresql@18
brew services start postgresql@18

Add the formula’s bin directory to your shell path if Homebrew asks you to. Then verify both programs:

psql --version
pg_config --version

Both commands should report PostgreSQL 18. Use the official PostgreSQL downloads for Windows or Linux.

A minor update inside PostgreSQL 18 is an ordinary package update. A future move from 18 to 19 is a database-cluster upgrade. Back up first and use pg_upgrade, dump and restore, or logical replication. Do not uninstall the old server and hope its data follows the new package.

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