Set password in postgreSQL

 The error is
Unable to connect to server: connection failed: connection to server at "127.0.0.1", port 5432 failed: FATAL: password authentication failed for user "postgres" connection to server at "127.0.0.1", port 5432 failed: FATAL: password authentication failed for user "postgres"

The "password authentication failed for user 'postgres'" error usually happens when:

• The password is incorrect.
• The PostgreSQL server is not configured properly.
• The pg_hba.conf file is blocking the connection.

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✅ Fix the Error Step-by-Step:

1. Restart PostgreSQL Service

First, make sure PostgreSQL is running.

sudo systemctl restart postgresql
sudo systemctl status postgresql

If it's not running, start it:

sudo systemctl start postgresql

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2. Login as postgres User and Reset Password

Switch to the postgres user:

sudo -i -u postgres

Now open psql:

psql

Reset the password:

ALTER USER postgres PASSWORD 'newpassword';

Exit psql:

\q

Exit user:

exit

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3. Update Authentication Method

If the problem is still there, configure pg_hba.conf.

Open the configuration file:

sudo nano /etc/postgresql/*/main/pg_hba.conf

Find this line:

local   all             postgres                                peer

Replace peer with md5:

local   all             postgres                                md5

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4. Restart PostgreSQL Again

sudo systemctl restart postgresql

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5. Test the Connection

Try connecting again from pgAdmin with the new password.

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🎯 Final Tip

If you still can't connect, check the PostgreSQL logs:

sudo journalctl -u postgresql

✅ This solution should fix the password authentication failed error!