# Change or Reset a User Password in PostgreSQL

> Use ALTER USER with PASSWORD to change a PostgreSQL user password, or sudo -u postgres psql and the \password command to reset the superuser password

**URL:** https://sentry.io/answers/how-to-change-user-password-in-postgresql/

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## The Problem

In PostgreSQL, how do you change a user's password? And how do you reset the superuser password if you forget it?

## The Solution

To change a user's password you need to be logged into PostgreSQL as a user with superuser or `alter role` permissions. Then run this command in your SQL terminal:

```sql
ALTER USER username WITH PASSWORD 'pword';
```

If you are working in a terminal and want to log in as the default postgres user to do the above, use:

```bash
psql -U postgres
```

If you have forgotten your postgres user password and need to reset it, you can run the following command in a terminal:

```bash
sudo -u postgres psql
```

Now in psql enter the command to change your password.

```sql
\password
```

Enter and confirm your new superuser password.

If you are on Windows you do not have access to `su` and may need to change your localhost machine to trusted in the file `pg_hba.conf`.

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*Source: [sentry.io/answers/how-to-change-user-password-in-postgresql/](https://sentry.io/answers/how-to-change-user-password-in-postgresql/)*