How to Install PostgreSQL on Ubuntu 25.10

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PostgreSQL is a powerful, open-source object-relational database system with over 30 years of active development that has earned it a strong reputation for reliability, feature robustness, and performance.

Install PostgreSQL

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To install the latest PostgreSQL version on Ubuntu 25.10, we’ll use the official PostgreSQL repository to ensure we get the newest release (currently PostgreSQL 18).

apt update && apt upgrade -y

Install required dependencies to add the PostgreSQL repository:

apt install -y ca-certificates curl gnupg lsb-release

Add the PostgreSQL GPG key and repository:

install -d /usr/share/postgresql-common/pgdg
curl -o /usr/share/postgresql-common/pgdg/apt.postgresql.org.asc https://www.postgresql.org/media/keys/ACCC4CF8.asc
echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/postgresql-common/pgdg/apt.postgresql.org.asc] https://apt.postgresql.org/pub/repos/apt $(. /etc/os-release && echo $VERSION_CODENAME)-pgdg main" | tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/pgdg.list

Update the package list again:

apt update

Now, install PostgreSQL and the additional contributed modules:

apt install -y postgresql postgresql-contrib

Output:

root@server:~# apt install -y postgresql postgresql-contrib
Installing:
  postgresql  postgresql-contrib

Installing dependencies:
  libcommon-sense-perl  libjson-xs-perl  libpq5  postgresql-18  postgresql-client-18  postgresql-client-common  postgresql-common  ssl-cert

Start and Enable PostgreSQL Service

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Enable and start the PostgreSQL service to ensure it runs automatically on system boot:

systemctl enable postgresql
systemctl start postgresql

Access PostgreSQL Shell

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Switch to the default PostgreSQL user account:

sudo -i -u postgres

Access the PostgreSQL interactive shell:

psql

Output:

postgres@server:~$ psql
psql (18.0 (Ubuntu 18.0-1.pgdg25.10+3))
Type "help" for help.

postgres=#

Exit the PostgreSQL shell:

\q

Create PostgreSQL Role

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To create a new user/role that can interact with the database:

createuser --interactive

Output:

postgres@server:~$ createuser --interactive
Enter name of role to add: adam
Shall the new role be a superuser? (y/n) y

Create a Database

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Create a new database owned by your user:

createdb database_name

Example:

postgres@server:~$ createdb my_db

Add a Matching Linux User

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For simplicity, you can create a Linux user with the same name as your PostgreSQL role:

adduser adam

Output:

root@server:~# adduser adam
Adding user `adam' ...
Adding new group `adam' (1000) ...
Adding new user `adam' (1000) with group `adam' ...
Creating home directory `/home/adam' ...
Copying files from `/etc/skel' ...
New password:
Retype new password:
passwd: password updated successfully

Switch to the new user and connect to PostgreSQL:

su - adam
psql -d my_db

Output:

adam@server:~$ psql -d my_db
psql (18.0 (Ubuntu 18.0-1.pgdg25.10+1))
Type "help" for help.

my_db=#

Check connection info:

\conninfo

Output:

my_db=# \conninfo
You are connected to database "my_db" as user "adam" via socket in "/var/run/postgresql" at port "5432".

Secure PostgreSQL

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Set a strong password for the postgres user:

psql -U postgres
ALTER USER postgres WITH ENCRYPTED PASSWORD 'your_secure_password';
\q

Enable Remote Connections (Optional)

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To allow external connections, edit PostgreSQL configuration files:

nano /etc/postgresql/18/main/postgresql.conf

Uncomment and modify the line:

listen_addresses = '*'

Then edit the host-based authentication file:

nano /etc/postgresql/18/main/pg_hba.conf

Add the following line at the end:

host    all             all             0.0.0.0/0               md5

Restart PostgreSQL to apply changes:

systemctl restart postgresql

Conclusion

You have successfully installed PostgreSQL 18 on Ubuntu 25.10. The PostgreSQL service is now active, and you can manage databases and roles as needed. For enhanced security, remember to restrict access via firewall or network configuration when enabling remote access.