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max_worker_processes

Sets the maximum number of background processes that the cluster can support. This parameter can only be set at server start. The default is 8. When running a standby server, you must set this parameter to the same or higher value than on the primary server. Otherwise, queries will not be allowed in the standby server. When changing this value, consider also adjusting max_parallel_workers, max_parallel_maintenance_workers, and max_parallel_workers_per_gather.

English manual coverage begins with PostgreSQL 7.4. Source history and runtime observations have their own recorded version boundaries.

Reading PG 18·Select a recorded version

boot val
8
category
Resource Usage / Worker Processes
context
postmaster
documented
true
enumvals
Unknown
extra desc
Unknown
lang
en
max val
262143
metadata version
18
min val
0
name
max_worker_processes
short desc
Maximum number of concurrent worker processes.
source
pg-settings-source-snapshot
unit
Unknown
vartype
integer

Definition PG 18

Sets the maximum number of background processes that the cluster can support. This parameter can only be set at server start. The default is 8. When running a standby server, you must set this parameter to the same or higher value than on the primary server. Otherwise, queries will not be allowed in the standby server. When changing this value, consider also adjusting max_parallel_workers, max_parallel_maintenance_workers, and max_parallel_workers_per_gather.

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center · PostgreSQL 18 · wiki-repair-20261023:7c61552333c691b7316b98c40cf78999724d32e46ab3313e9ec62f33fafa60b0

Text language: en · wiki-repair-20261023:7c61552333c691b7316b98c40cf78999724d32e46ab3313e9ec62f33fafa60b0