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# How to Restart PostgreSQL on Ubuntu

**Summary**: in this tutorial, you will how to restart PostgreSQL on Ubuntu using `systemctl`, `service` command, and `pg_ctrl` command.

We assume that you have sufficient permissions to restart the PostgreSQL service or can use `sudo` to execute the commands with root privileges.

## Restarting PostgreSQL on Ubuntu using systemctl

First, open a terminal or SSH to the server where the PostgreSQL server is running.

Second, run the following command to restart the PostgreSQL server:

```bash
sudo systemctl restart postgresql

```

Third, check the status of the PostgreSQL service using the following command:

```bash
/etc/init.d/postgresql status

```

## Restarting PostgreSQL on Ubuntu using the service command

Alternatively, you can use the service command to restart the PostgreSQL service:

```bash
sudo service postgresql restart

```

## Restarting PostgreSQL on Ubuntu using the pg_ctl command

If you show more information about the restart process, you can use the `pg_ctl` command:

```bash
sudo -u postgres pg_ctl restart -D /var/lib/postgresql/<version>/main

```

In this command, you need to replace `<version>` with your PostgreSQL version number.

Note that the data directory is `/var/lib/postgresql/<version>/main` by default. If your PostgreSQL data directory is different, you need to adjust it accordingly.

For example, to restart PostgreSQL 16.x, you can use the following command:

```bash
sudo -u postgres pg_ctl restart -D /var/lib/postgresql/16/main
```

If you encounter the following error, the `pg_ctl` may not be in your system's PATH:

```bash
sudo: pg_ctl: command not found
```

To fix it, you need to create a symbolic link to pg_ctrl in `/usr/local/bin/`:

```bash
sudo ln -s /usr/lib/postgresql/<version>/bin/pg_ctl /usr/local/bin/pg_ctl
```

Replace the `<version>` with your PostgreSQL version number.

For example, the following command restarts the PostgreSQL 16.x on Ubuntu:

```bash
sudo -u postgres pg_ctl restart -D /var/lib/postgresql/16/main
```

Now, you should be able to use `pg_ctl` from any directory.

---

## Related docs (Administration Tips)

- [Reset Password](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-reset-password)
- [Describe Table](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-describe-table)
- [Show Databases](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-show-databases)
- [Show Tables](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-show-tables)
- [Practical psql Commands](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/psql-commands)
- [Restart PostgreSQL on Windows](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/restart-postgresql-windows)
- [Get PostgreSQL Version](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-version)
- [Check PostgreSQL Uptime](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-uptime)
- [Password File (.pgpass)](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-password-file-pgpass)
- [Terminate Backend Connections](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/postgresql-pg_terminate_backend)
- [Uninstall PostgreSQL on Ubuntu](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-administration/uninstall-postgresql-ubuntu)