How to Install PostgreSQL on Debian 13

Looking to set up a powerful, free, and open-source database on your Debian server? PostgreSQL (often just called “Postgres”) is a fantastic choice, known for its reliability, robust features, and strong performance. In this tutorial, we will guide you how to install PostgreSQL on Debian 13. Don’t worry, if you are using previous Debian versions, this tutorial will still valid.

This guide will walk you through the simplest way to install and configure PostgreSQL on Debian. We’ll go from a fresh server to a fully functional database, ready for your application.

Step 1: Update Your System and Install PostgreSQL

First, it’s always a good idea to refresh your system’s package lists to ensure you get the latest software versions.

Update the package lists (run these commands as root)

apt update

Optional, but recommended: upgrade existing packages

apt upgrade -y

Now, we can install PostgreSQL. The default Debian repositories include a postgresql package, which provides the server, and postgresql-contrib, which includes extra utilities. We’ll install both.

apt install postgresql postgresql-contrib -y

This single command downloads and installs everything you need to run the database. Wait until the install process completed.

Now let’s check the service status

systemctl status postgresql

Make sure it is active

At this point, we have successfully installed PostgreSQL on Debian 13. Next, we will configure the remote connection to PostgreSQL.

Access the psql tool

PostgreSQL setup includes a default super-user named postgres. It’s set up to use ident authentication, which means it allows the Linux user postgres (also created during installation) to log in without a password. To access the PostgreSQL command-line shell (psql), you need to first switch to the postgres Linux user:

su - postgres
postgres@debian13:~$ psql

psql (17.6 (Debian 17.6-0+deb13u1))
Type "help" for help.

postgres=#

To exit psql, simply type \q and press Enter.

Step 2. Secure the postgres User

The postgres user is the database super-admin. It’s a good security practice to give it a strong password, even if you don’t plan to use it for your applications. While inside the psql shell (from Step 2), run the following command:

postgres=# ALTER USER postgres PASSWORD 'YourPassword.2025';

Step 3. Allow Remote Connection

By default, PostgreSQL only allows connections from the server it’s running on (localhost). If your application is on a different server, you’ll need to enable remote connections. This is a two-part process: first, tell PostgreSQL to “listen” for connections from the network, and second, tell it which users are allowed to connect from where.

Edit the postgresql.conf

Use this command to edit the file postgresql.conf

nano /etc/postgresql/17/main/postgresql.conf

nano /etc/postgresql/17/main/postgresql.conf

Find the following line in the file

#listen_addresses = 'localhost' 

#listen_addresses = 'localhost' 

Change it to

listen_addresses = '*' 

listen_addresses = '*' 

Close and save the file using CTRL + X

Edit pg_hba.conf file

nano /etc/postgresql/17/main/pg_hba.conf

nano /etc/postgresql/17/main/pg_hba.conf

Add this line to the bottom of the file

host    all             all             0.0.0.0 /0                md5

host    all             all             0.0.0.0 /0                md5

Close and save the file and then restart the postgresql service

systemctl restart postgresql

systemctl restart postgresql

Step 4. Set Up Firewall to Allow port 5432

In case your firewall is active, you need to allow port 5432 through the firewall. To do this simply execute this command

 /usr/sbin/ufw allow 5432/tcp

 /usr/sbin/ufw allow 5432/tcp

At this point, we have successfully installed PostgreSQL on Debian 13 and allow remote connection from the network.

Stay tuned on this blog for more tutorial like this. Cheers.