PostgreSQL Database Error Code 28000: How to Fix It

Q: What does PostgreSQL error 28000 mean?

Error 28000 means 'invalid authorization specification' - your database connection is being rejected due to incorrect credentials, missing user roles, or wrong authentication method configuration.

Q: Why do I get error 28000 with correct username and password?

Even with correct credentials, you might get error 28000 if the user role doesn't exist in the database, lacks connection permissions, or if the pg_hba.conf file specifies an incompatible authentication method.

Q: How do I reset a PostgreSQL user password?

Connect as a superuser and run: ALTER USER username PASSWORD 'new_password'; Make sure to use single quotes around the password and choose a strong password.

Q: Can error 28000 occur due to network issues?

No, error 28000 is specifically an authentication error, not a network connectivity issue. Network problems would typically result in connection timeout or 'could not connect to server' errors.

Q: What's the difference between md5 and scram-sha-256 authentication?

Both are password-based authentication methods, but scram-sha-256 is more secure and is the default in newer PostgreSQL versions. Your pg_hba.conf authentication method must match what your client application supports.

Abstract

PostgreSQL error code 28000 indicates an invalid authorization specification, meaning your database connection is being rejected due to incorrect username, password, or authentication method. This is a security-related error that prevents access to your database server.