psql: command not found Mac

Question

I installed PostgreSQL via the graphical install on http://www.postgresql.org/download/macosx/

I see it in my applications and also have the psql terminal in my applications. I need psql to work in the regular terminal for another bash script I'm running for an app.

For some reason, when I run

psql

in the Mac terminal, my output is

-bash: psql: command not found

I ran the following in the terminal:

locate psql | grep /bin

and the output was

/Library/PostgreSQL/9.5/bin/psql

I then edited my ~/.bash_profile and added it to the path like so:

export PATH = /Library/PostgreSQL/9.5/bin/psql:$PATH

The only other thing in ~/.bash_profile is SDK man and it's at the bottom of the script as it says it should be. I've tried setting the bath to just the /Library/PostgreSQL/9.5/bin/ as well. I've restarted my terminal also.

How can I get psql to work?

EDIT After adding to .bashrc, this output is returned when I open terminal

-bash: export: `/Library/PostgreSQL/9.5/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin': not a valid identifier

Solution 1

You have got the PATH slightly wrong. You need the PATH to "the containing directory", not the actual executable itself.

Your PATH should be set like this:

export PATH=/Library/PostgreSQL/9.5/bin:$PATH

without the extra sql part in it. Also, you must remove the spaces around the equals sign.

Keywords: Postgresql, PATH, macOS, OSX, psql

Solution 2

From the Postgres documentation page:

sudo mkdir -p /etc/paths.d && echo /Applications/Postgres.app/Contents/Versions/latest/bin | sudo tee /etc/paths.d/postgresapp

restart your terminal and you will have it in your path.

Solution 3

For me this worked:

1. Downloading the App: https://postgresapp.com/downloads.html

2. Running commands to configure $PATH - note though that it didn't work for me. https://postgresapp.com/documentation/cli-tools.html

3. Manually add it to the .bash_profile or .zshrc document if you are using zsh:

    cd  # to get to your home folder
    open .bash_profile  # to open your bash_profile
    # Or
    open .zshrc  # to open your zshrc
   

   In your bash profile or zshrc add:

    # Postgres
    export PATH=/Applications/Postgres.app/Contents/Versions/latest/bin
   

   Save the file. Restart the terminal. Type 'psql'. Done.

Solution 4

If someone used homebrew with Mojave or later:

export PATH=/usr/local/opt/[email protected]/bin:$PATH

change version if you need!

Solution 5

If Postgresql was downloaded from official website. After installation, running these commands helped me resolve the psql issue.

Go to your home directory with cd ~

In your home directory, run ls -a. Edit the .bash_profile file with vim

vi .bash_profile opens the vim editor.

Insert by pressing i on the editor.

Add export PATH=$PATH:/Applications/Postgres.app/Contents/Versions/<Version Number>/bin

The Version Number refers to the version number of the postgresql installed on your local machine. In my case, version 12 was installed, so I inputed

export PATH=$PATH:/Applications/Postgres.app/Contents/Versions/12/bin .

Press the esc key and press :wq to exit the editor.

Enter source .bash_profile in your terminal to read and execute the content of a file just passed as an argument in the current shell script.

Run psql

terminal result

In summary:

• cd ~
• vi .bash_profile
• export PATH=$PATH:/Applications/Postgres.app/Contents/Versions/12/bin Take note of the version number
• exit vim
• source .bash_profile
• psql Works 😁

View more solutions

Comments

[Mark Setchell]

You have got the PATH slightly wrong. You need the PATH to "the containing directory", not the actual executable. Your PATH should be export PATH=/Library/PostgreSQL/9.5/bin:$PATH - without the extra psql bit in it. And also, you must remove the spaces around the equals sign.

[user3147424]

@MarkSetchell I've tried that as well and it still returns psql: command not found

[Julien Lopez]

Can you give the output of echo $PATH please?

[user3147424]

/Users/name/.sdkman/candidates/grails/current/bin:/usr/local‌​/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/‌​usr/sbin:/sbin

[user3147424]

I just added an edit - there is an issue w/ the path.

[user3147424]

@MarkSetchell I didn't see removing the spaces. That worked - if you want to add the answer I'll mark it as accepted.

[user3147424]

I have also added to the .bashrc - still returns the same output.

[user3147424]

Marked up for useful information, though it did not solve my specific problem. Thanks for the help.

[Julien Lopez]

Yes I didn't spot the extra spaces in your PATH line before Mark pointed that out. :-) Glad I could help.

[kevin11]

The instructions also say "Of course, you could also just edit your .profile file instead." My cli install did not work until I did this on MacOS 10.12 Sierra with Postgres 10 (the sudo command did not work for me): vi ~/.profile add this line: export PATH=$PATH:/Applications/Postgres.app/Contents/Versions/10/b‌​in .source ~/.profile

[russiansummer]

just RESTART YOUR TERMINAL, that might be all it is

[benjaminz]

Never, never, never forget the :$PATH at the end of this command, or it's gonna hit the fan and paralyze the shell :p

[Mark Setchell]

@Luffydude Questions are free. Feel free to ask a new one and we'll try and help.

[Luffydude]

Actually didn't realise I needed to install something, now it works, thanks :)

[Davide Carpini]

for Mojave users: export PATH=/usr/local/opt/[email protected]/bin:$PATH

[Jan Katins]

If you simply want to pin a single version of postgresql and still have the binaries in the default PATH, you can also run brew link [email protected] --force.

[avocado]

+1, don't understand why all the hustle, why not set things up automatically during the UI installation process

[Nuzhdin Vladimir]

if you work with "zsh", make sure you are modifying files with "z" prefix. It cost me an hour =(

[Hamza.am.i]

vi .zshrc for modern macos using zsh and at the end source .zshrc

[Androidz]

Thank! this is the only solution that worked for me.