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> Full Neon documentation index: https://neon.com/docs/llms.txt

# How to Create Superuser in PostgreSQL

**Summary**: in this tutorial, you will learn about PostgreSQL superusers and how to create them using the `CREATE` `ROLE` statement.

## Introduction to PostgreSQL superuser

In PostgreSQL, a superuser is a special role with the highest privileges. A superuser has full access to all databases and tables. Additionally, it can perform administrative tasks such as [creating databases](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-create-database), [dropping databases](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-drop-database), [managing user roles](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-roles), modifying database configuration, and so on.

In other words, a superuser can bypass all security checks except the right to log in.

**Tip: Neon Note** Neon is a managed Postgres service, so you cannot access the host operating system or connect using the Postgres `superuser` account like you can in a standalone Postgres installation. Instead, Neon provides the `neon_superuser` role with elevated privileges. For more information about roles in Neon, see [Manage roles](https://neon.com/docs/manage/roles).

By default, PostgreSQL has a superuser role called `postgres`. Typically, you use the `postgres` user role for performing administrative tasks and don't need to create additional users with the superuser privilege.

However, if you need additional superuser roles, you can create them using the `CREATE ROLE` statement or change a regular user to a superuser using the `ALTER ROLE` statement.

### Creating new superusers

First, connect to the PostgreSQL database using a client such as `psql`:

```bash
psql -U postgres
```

Second, execute the following `CREATE ROLE` command to create a superuser:

```sql
CREATE ROLE username SUPERUSER;
```

You need to replace `username` with your desired username for the superuser. For example:

```sql
CREATE ROLE spiderman SUPERUSER
LOGIN
PASSWORD 'moreSecurePass';
```

Third, verify the user creation:

```text
\du spiderman
```

Output:

```text
     List of roles
 Role name | Attributes
-----------+------------
 spiderman | Superuser
```

The output indicates that `spiderman` role is a superuser.

### Changing a user to a superuser

It's possible to change a user to a superuser using the `ALTER` `ROLE` statement.

First, create a regular role with a login privilege and a password:

```sql
CREATE ROLE batman LOGIN PASSWORD 'moreSecurePass';
```

Second, make the `batman` role become a superuser using the `ALTER` `ROLE` statement:

```sql
ALTER ROLE batman SUPERUSER;
```

Third, verify the user modification:

```text
\du batman
```

Output:

```text
     List of roles
 Role name | Attributes
-----------+------------
 batman    | Superuser
```

### Revoking superuser from a user

To revoke a superuser status of a user, you can use the following `ALTER` `ROLE` statement:

```sql
ALTER USER username NOSUPERUSER;
```

For example, the following statement revokes the `SUPERUSER` status from the `spiderman` role:

```sql
ALTER USER spiderman NOSUPERUSER;
```

You can verify the `spiderman` role as follows:

```text
\du spiderman
```

Output:

```text
     List of roles
 Role name | Attributes
-----------+------------
 spiderman |
```

## Summary

- In PostgreSQL, a superuser bypass all permission checks except the permission to log in.
- Use the `CREATE ROLE...SUPERUSER` statement to create a superuser.
- Use the `ALTER ROLE...SUPERUSER` statement to make a role a superuser.
- Use the `ALTER ROLE...NOSUPERUSER` statement to revoke the superuser from a user.

---

## Related docs (Roles & Privileges)

- [Create Roles](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-roles)
- [Grant Privileges](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-grant)
- [Revoke Privileges](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-revoke)
- [Alter roles](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-alter-role)
- [Drop Roles](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-drop-role)
- [Role Membership](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-role-membership)
- [SET ROLE Statement](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-set-role)
- [CURRENT_USER](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-current_user)
- [List Roles](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-list-users)
- [Change Password](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-change-password)
- [PostgreSQL Row-Level Security](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-row-level-security)