---
layout: default
title: PostgreSQL Commands
parent: Development
grand_parent: Miscellaneous
nav_order: 2
---

# PostgreSQL Commands

## Backup database to file
To backup the database to a file, you can use the following command:

```bash
docker compose exec postgres pg_dump -U aliasvault aliasvault | gzip > aliasvault.sql.gz
```

## Import database from file
To drop the existing database and restore the database from a file, you can use the following command:

{: .warning }
Executing this command will drop the existing database and restore the database from the file. Make sure to have a backup of the existing database before running this command.

```bash
docker compose exec postgres psql -U aliasvault postgres -c "DROP DATABASE aliasvault;" && \
docker compose exec postgres psql -U aliasvault postgres -c "CREATE DATABASE aliasvault;" && \
gunzip < aliasvault.sql.gz | docker compose exec -iT postgres psql -U aliasvault aliasvault
```

## Change master password
By default during initial installation the PostgreSQL master password is set to a random string that is
stored in the `.env` file with the `POSTGRES_PASSWORD` variable.

If you wish to change the master password, you can do so by running the following command:

1. Open a terminal and navigate to the root of the AliasVault repository.
2. Run the following command to connect to the PostgreSQL container:
    ```bash
    docker compose exec -it postgres psql -U aliasvault -d aliasvault
    ```
3. Once connected to the database, you can change the master password by running the following command:
    ```sql
    ALTER USER aliasvault WITH PASSWORD 'new_password';
    ```
4. Press Enter to confirm the changes.
5. Exit the PostgreSQL shell by running `\q`.
6. Manually update the `.env` file variable `POSTGRES_PASSWORD` with the new password.
7. Restart the AliasVault containers by running the following command:
    ```bash
    docker compose restart
    ```