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

Answer 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

Answer 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.

Answer 3

If someone used homebrew with Mojave or later:

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

change version if you need!

Answer 4

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 document:

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

   In your bash profile add:

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

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

Answer 5

Mojave, Postgres was installed via

brew install https://raw.githubusercontent.com/lembacon/homebrew-core/bede8a46dea462769466f606f86f82511949066f/Formula/[email protected]

How to get psql in your path:

brew link [email protected] --force

Answer 6

Modify your PATH in .bashrc, not in .bash_profile:

http://www.gnu.org/software/bash/manual/bashref.html#Bash-Startup-Files

Answer 7

Open the file .bash_profile in your Home folder. It is a hidden file.

Add this path below to the end export PATH line in you .bash_profile file :/Applications/Postgres.app/Contents/Versions/latest/bin

The symbol : separates the paths.

Example:

If the file contains: export PATH=/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin

it will become: export PATH=/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin:/Applications/Postgres.app/Contents/Versions/latest/bin

How to show hidden files

In Terminal, paste the following: defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES

Answer 8

If Postgres was downloaded and installed, running this should fix the issue:

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

Restart the terminal and you'll be able to use psql command.

Ref: https://postgresapp.com/documentation/cli-tools.html

Answer 9

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 😁

Answer 10

As a postgreSQL newbie I found the os x setup instructions on the postgresql site impenetrable. I got all kinds of errors. Fortunately the uninstaller worked fine.

cd /Library/PostgreSQL/11; open uninstall-postgresql.app/

Then I started over with a brew install followed by this article How to setup PostgreSQL on MacOS

It works fine now.

Answer 11

ANSWERED ON OCTOBER 2017

run

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

and then restart your terminal.

Answer 12

I know some others have already mentioned that the path needs to be updated however for me it did not work till I added the path itself in quotations. I an not 100% sure why that happened for me but this is the command that worked for me (on MacOS Terminal)

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