Postgres "psql not recognized as an internal or external command"

For Postgres, I keep getting this error multiple times even though I have already set the location of the bin folder to the path variable in Windows 8. Is there something else I'm missing?

(I can't post pictures since I don't have enough reputation)

Solution 1:

Just an update because I was trying it on Windows 10 you do need to set the path to the following: ;C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.5\bin ;C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.5\lib

You can do that either through the CMD by using set PATH [the path] or from my

computer => properties => advanced system settings=> Environment Variables => System Variables

Then search for path.

Important: don't replace the PATHs that are already there just add one beside them as follows ;C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.5\bin ;C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\9.5\lib

Please note: On windows 10, if you follow this: computer => properties => advanced system settings=> Environment Variables => System Variables> select PATH, you actually get the option to add new row. Click Edit, add the /bin and /lib folder locations and save changes.

Then close your command prompt if it's open and then start it again try psql --version If it gives you an answer then you are good to go if not try echo %PATH% and see if the path you set was added or not and if it's added is it added correctly or not.

Important note:

Replace 9.5 with your current version number. As of 2021, that is 13

Solution 2:

Windows 10

It could be that your server doesn't start automatically on windows 10 and you need to start it yourself after setting your Postgresql path using the following command in cmd:

pg_ctl -D "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\11.4\data" start

You need to be inside "C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\11.4\bin" directory to execute the above command.

EX:

You still need to be inside the bin directory to work with psql

Solution 3:

Enter this path in your System environment variable.

C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\[YOUR PG VERSION]\bin

In this case i'm using version 10. If you check the postgres folder you are going to see your current versions.

In my own case i used the following on separate lines:

C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\10\bin
C:\Program Files\PostgreSQL\10\lib