PostgreSQL, fix the `psql: error: could not connect to server` error
I had this problem: I had installed PostgreSQL in the past using Homebrew, then I think I updated its version mindlessly with brew upgrade
, and I couldn’t start it again.
It used to work, but now whenever I tried to access it, I got this error:
psql: error: could not connect to server: No such file or directory
Is the server running locally and accepting
connections on Unix domain socket "/tmp/.s.PGSQL.5432"?
The server was running fine, as ps aux | grep postgres
showed its process.
I tried various solutions, until simply reinstalling it worked fine.
I ran
brew uninstall postgresql
brew install postgresql
brew services start postgresql
and I was able to connect to the database again.
→ I wrote 17 books to help you become a better developer, download them all at $0 cost by joining my newsletter
→ JOIN MY CODING BOOTCAMP, an amazing cohort course that will be a huge step up in your coding career - covering React, Next.js - next edition February 2025