{"kind": "tool", "major": "18", "item": {"slug": "dropuser", "name": "dropuser", "name_zh": "", "category": "Client applications", "summary": "dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account", "aliases": ["dropuser"], "content_hash": "f1bd4253d9579281f6cee86d8023e5626cea38b7a072b940650dceb199b4d72f", "versions": {"10": {"facts": [{"label": "Documented executable", "value": "dropuser"}, {"label": "Executable version", "value": "10.23"}, {"label": "Reference inventory", "value": "Client applications"}, {"label": "Option definition groups", "value": "10"}], "tables": [{"key": "options", "rows": [{"summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-e --echo"}}, {"summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-i --interactive"}}, {"summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-V --version"}}, {"summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "text": "--if-exists"}}, {"summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-? --help"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-h host --host= host"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-p port --port= port"}}, {"summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": {"url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-U username --username= username"}}, {"summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-w --no-password"}}, {"summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-W --password"}}], "title": "Documented options", "columns": [{"key": "signature", "label": "Option and arguments"}, {"key": "summary", "label": "Description"}]}, {"key": "environment", "rows": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}], "title": "Environment variables", "columns": [{"key": "name", "label": "Variable"}, {"key": "description", "label": "Meaning"}]}], "options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": "-e --echo", "source_url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": "-i --interactive", "source_url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": "-V --version", "source_url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": "--if-exists", "source_url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": "-? --help", "source_url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": "-h host --host= host", "source_url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": "-p port --port= port", "source_url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": "-U username --username= username", "source_url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": "-w --no-password", "source_url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": "-W --password", "source_url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "related": [], "release": {"ref": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v10.23/postgresql-10.23.tar.bz2", "label": "10.23", "major": "10", "channel": "historical", "manifest": {"pdf": {"A4": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/10/postgresql-10-A4.pdf", "bytes": 12631706, "pages": 2591, "sha256": "34497ab9efb45c5bdf1bd11b9016b5451354feb462fa029cf74557a5fa5fbbc1", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}, "US": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/10/postgresql-10-US.pdf", "bytes": 12531684, "pages": 2724, "sha256": "429cc7133ddf4f97c560aa466dc9caea4b718721a8321e293357037cf0af4733", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}}, "tree": "10", "index": "index.html", "major": "10", "pages": 1085, "release": "10.23", "source_url": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v10.23/postgresql-10.23.tar.bz2", "svg_assets": 0, "source_mode": "en HTML verified against the pinned official archive", "source_sha256": "94a4b2528372458e5662c18d406629266667c437198160a18cdfd2c4a4d6eee9"}, "revision": "f9301feba91e2e2566038a36b8cee0e4402db68989538f88670fddd20b1f78ea", "evidence_kind": "English manual and source declarations", "source_sha256": "94a4b2528372458e5662c18d406629266667c437198160a18cdfd2c4a4d6eee9"}, "sources": [{"url": "/docs/10/app-dropuser.html", "file": "app-dropuser.html", "label": "10.23 English manual \u00b7 app-dropuser.html", "anchor": "", "sha256": "9a4aeedd388b3898c7fc1726203c01bce1bbce38e539b7334ba13ea65903acbc"}, {"url": "/docs/10/reference-client.html", "file": "reference-client.html", "label": "Client applications inventory", "anchor": "", "sha256": "e4330732b6acd6c025a1fbdce45574b23d964de847a1b849ea88b98ab628d2e2"}], "sections": [], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "signature": "dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]", "description": ["dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}], "manual_html": "
\n
\n\n
\n

dropuser

\n

dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account

\n
\n
\n

Synopsis

\n
\n

dropuser [connection-option...] [option...] [username]

\n
\n
\n
\n

Description

\n

dropuser removes an existing PostgreSQL user. Only superusers and users with the CREATEROLE privilege can remove PostgreSQL users. (To remove a superuser, you must yourself be a superuser.)

\n

dropuser is a wrapper around the SQL command DROP ROLE. There is no effective difference between dropping users via this utility and via other methods for accessing the server.

\n
\n
\n

Options

\n

dropuser accepts the following command-line arguments:

\n
\n
\n
username
\n
\n

Specifies the name of the PostgreSQL user to be removed. You will be prompted for a name if none is specified on the command line and the -i/--interactive option is used.

\n
\n
-e
--echo
\n
\n

Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.

\n
\n
-i
--interactive
\n
\n

Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.

\n
\n
-V
--version
\n
\n

Print the dropuser version and exit.

\n
\n
--if-exists
\n
\n

Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.

\n
\n
-?
--help
\n
\n

Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.

\n
\n
\n
\n

dropuser also accepts the following command-line arguments for connection parameters:

\n
\n
\n
-h host
--host=host
\n
\n

Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.

\n
\n
-p port
--port=port
\n
\n

Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.

\n
\n
-U username
--username=username
\n
\n

User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).

\n
\n
-w
--no-password
\n
\n

Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.

\n
\n
-W
--password
\n
\n

Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.

\n

This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt.

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Environment

\n
\n
\n
PGHOST
PGPORT
PGUSER
\n
\n

Default connection parameters

\n
\n
\n
\n

This utility, like most other PostgreSQL utilities, also uses the environment variables supported by libpq (see Section\u00a033.14).

\n
\n
\n

Diagnostics

\n

In case of difficulty, see DROP ROLE and psql for discussions of potential problems and error messages. The database server must be running at the targeted host. Also, any default connection settings and environment variables used by the libpq front-end library will apply.

\n
\n
\n

Examples

\n

To remove user joe from the default database server:

\n
$ dropuser joe\n
\n

To remove user joe using the server on host eden, port 5000, with verification and a peek at the underlying command:

\n
$ dropuser -p 5000 -h eden -i -e joe\nRole \"joe\" will be permanently removed.\nAre you sure? (y/n) y\nDROP ROLE joe;\n
\n
\n

See Also

\ncreateuser, DROP ROLE
\n
", "manual_path": "app-dropuser.html", "comparison_data": {"options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "signature": "-e --echo", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "signature": "-i --interactive", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "signature": "-V --version", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "signature": "--if-exists", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "signature": "-? --help", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "signature": "-h host --host= host", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "signature": "-p port --port= port", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "signature": "-U username --username= username", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "signature": "-w --no-password", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "signature": "-W --password", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}]}, "comparison_hash": "b591bc061fff3d492357584a7586519bf32c0cd59b5ce58d7662b5e5400213e4"}, "11": {"facts": [{"label": "Documented executable", "value": "dropuser"}, {"label": "Executable version", "value": "11.22"}, {"label": "Reference inventory", "value": "Client applications"}, {"label": "Option definition groups", "value": "10"}], "tables": [{"key": "options", "rows": [{"summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-e --echo"}}, {"summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-i --interactive"}}, {"summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-V --version"}}, {"summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "text": "--if-exists"}}, {"summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-? --help"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-h host --host= host"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-p port --port= port"}}, {"summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": {"url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-U username --username= username"}}, {"summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-w --no-password"}}, {"summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-W --password"}}], "title": "Documented options", "columns": [{"key": "signature", "label": "Option and arguments"}, {"key": "summary", "label": "Description"}]}, {"key": "environment", "rows": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}], "title": "Environment variables", "columns": [{"key": "name", "label": "Variable"}, {"key": "description", "label": "Meaning"}]}], "options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": "-e --echo", "source_url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": "-i --interactive", "source_url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": "-V --version", "source_url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": "--if-exists", "source_url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": "-? --help", "source_url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": "-h host --host= host", "source_url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": "-p port --port= port", "source_url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": "-U username --username= username", "source_url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": "-w --no-password", "source_url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": "-W --password", "source_url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "related": [], "release": {"ref": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v11.22/postgresql-11.22.tar.bz2", "label": "11.22", "major": "11", "channel": "historical", "manifest": {"pdf": {"A4": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/11/postgresql-11-A4.pdf", "bytes": 13057499, "pages": 2732, "sha256": "41d75855e610d0d9b8802b87dc5b080bef8d7e91c7cf69401fbf8d3cf801b4b5", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}, "US": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/11/postgresql-11-US.pdf", "bytes": 12961189, "pages": 2883, "sha256": "6a8899ef36935a5b7ed2b436207564a567a4ef1eb1c2200195876b8de4d4fa30", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}}, "tree": "11", "index": "index.html", "major": "11", "pages": 1125, "release": "11.22", "source_url": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v11.22/postgresql-11.22.tar.bz2", "svg_assets": 0, "source_mode": "en HTML verified against the pinned official archive", "source_sha256": "2cb7c97d7a0d7278851bbc9c61f467b69c094c72b81740b751108e7892ebe1f0"}, "revision": "53315ddaf3b3f9e6669fd1edc096bbb2cd4a65ea3e836c89e542b43af9ba3a7f", "evidence_kind": "English manual and source declarations", "source_sha256": "2cb7c97d7a0d7278851bbc9c61f467b69c094c72b81740b751108e7892ebe1f0"}, "sources": [{"url": "/docs/11/app-dropuser.html", "file": "app-dropuser.html", "label": "11.22 English manual \u00b7 app-dropuser.html", "anchor": "", "sha256": "a47a4618ccf8da5b114c32c7fc819db09d3e33630f705b4179dc815e02305991"}, {"url": "/docs/11/reference-client.html", "file": "reference-client.html", "label": "Client applications inventory", "anchor": "", "sha256": "3a30e696058b118a55cc42892c39671d9bae86f77e1024d5ebcc4688ad9ab4c3"}], "sections": [], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "signature": "dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]", "description": ["dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}], "manual_html": "
\n
\n
\n

dropuser

\n

dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account

\n
\n
\n

Synopsis

\n
\n

dropuser [connection-option...] [option...] [username]

\n
\n
\n
\n

Description

\n

dropuser removes an existing PostgreSQL user. Only superusers and users with the CREATEROLE privilege can remove PostgreSQL users. (To remove a superuser, you must yourself be a superuser.)

\n

dropuser is a wrapper around the SQL command DROP ROLE. There is no effective difference between dropping users via this utility and via other methods for accessing the server.

\n
\n
\n

Options

\n

dropuser accepts the following command-line arguments:

\n
\n
\n
username
\n
\n

Specifies the name of the PostgreSQL user to be removed. You will be prompted for a name if none is specified on the command line and the -i/--interactive option is used.

\n
\n
-e
--echo
\n
\n

Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.

\n
\n
-i
--interactive
\n
\n

Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.

\n
\n
-V
--version
\n
\n

Print the dropuser version and exit.

\n
\n
--if-exists
\n
\n

Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.

\n
\n
-?
--help
\n
\n

Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.

\n
\n
\n
\n

dropuser also accepts the following command-line arguments for connection parameters:

\n
\n
\n
-h host
--host=host
\n
\n

Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.

\n
\n
-p port
--port=port
\n
\n

Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.

\n
\n
-U username
--username=username
\n
\n

User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).

\n
\n
-w
--no-password
\n
\n

Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.

\n
\n
-W
--password
\n
\n

Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.

\n

This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt.

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Environment

\n
\n
\n
PGHOST
PGPORT
PGUSER
\n
\n

Default connection parameters

\n
\n
\n
\n

This utility, like most other PostgreSQL utilities, also uses the environment variables supported by libpq (see Section\u00a034.14).

\n
\n
\n

Diagnostics

\n

In case of difficulty, see DROP ROLE and psql for discussions of potential problems and error messages. The database server must be running at the targeted host. Also, any default connection settings and environment variables used by the libpq front-end library will apply.

\n
\n
\n

Examples

\n

To remove user joe from the default database server:

\n
$ dropuser joe\n
\n

To remove user joe using the server on host eden, port 5000, with verification and a peek at the underlying command:

\n
$ dropuser -p 5000 -h eden -i -e joe\nRole \"joe\" will be permanently removed.\nAre you sure? (y/n) y\nDROP ROLE joe;\n
\n
\n
\n

See Also

createuser, DROP ROLE\n
\n
", "manual_path": "app-dropuser.html", "comparison_data": {"options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "signature": "-e --echo", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "signature": "-i --interactive", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "signature": "-V --version", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "signature": "--if-exists", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "signature": "-? --help", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "signature": "-h host --host= host", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "signature": "-p port --port= port", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "signature": "-U username --username= username", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "signature": "-w --no-password", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "signature": "-W --password", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}]}, "comparison_hash": "b591bc061fff3d492357584a7586519bf32c0cd59b5ce58d7662b5e5400213e4"}, "12": {"facts": [{"label": "Documented executable", "value": "dropuser"}, {"label": "Executable version", "value": "12.22"}, {"label": "Reference inventory", "value": "Client applications"}, {"label": "Option definition groups", "value": "10"}], "tables": [{"key": "options", "rows": [{"summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-e --echo"}}, {"summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-i --interactive"}}, {"summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-V --version"}}, {"summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "text": "--if-exists"}}, {"summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-? --help"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-h host --host= host"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-p port --port= port"}}, {"summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": {"url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-U username --username= username"}}, {"summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-w --no-password"}}, {"summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-W --password"}}], "title": "Documented options", "columns": [{"key": "signature", "label": "Option and arguments"}, {"key": "summary", "label": "Description"}]}, {"key": "environment", "rows": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. 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A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": "--if-exists", "source_url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": "-? --help", "source_url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": "-h host --host= host", "source_url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": "-p port --port= port", "source_url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": "-U username --username= username", "source_url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": "-w --no-password", "source_url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": "-W --password", "source_url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "related": [], "release": {"ref": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v12.22/postgresql-12.22.tar.bz2", "label": "12.22", "major": "12", "channel": "historical", "manifest": {"pdf": {"A4": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/12/postgresql-12-A4.pdf", "bytes": 13424351, "pages": 2803, "sha256": "7422cf53fd1939e7a3d2925231a88b0330e468afa5393627cac0ff86158a0621", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}, "US": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/12/postgresql-12-US.pdf", "bytes": 13322565, "pages": 2958, "sha256": "51f3b04e72907fc38512685946223452ea65f84419c60c66241dfa3396035e77", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}}, "tree": "12", "index": "index.html", "major": "12", "pages": 1131, "release": "12.22", "source_url": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v12.22/postgresql-12.22.tar.bz2", "svg_assets": 2, "source_mode": "en HTML verified against the pinned official archive", "source_sha256": "8df3c0474782589d3c6f374b5133b1bd14d168086edbc13c6e72e67dd4527a3b"}, "revision": "7a827e97cbfacd7febff75f34443e2043e40723de5b6d8c9d81a9430b65a37e4", "evidence_kind": "English manual and source declarations", "source_sha256": "8df3c0474782589d3c6f374b5133b1bd14d168086edbc13c6e72e67dd4527a3b"}, "sources": [{"url": "/docs/12/app-dropuser.html", "file": "app-dropuser.html", "label": "12.22 English manual \u00b7 app-dropuser.html", "anchor": "", "sha256": "3db2afafe34b82aa86bda9198edfef24d45e616fd8e4862de2fa8e6d502685d0"}, {"url": "/docs/12/reference-client.html", "file": "reference-client.html", "label": "Client applications inventory", "anchor": "", "sha256": "089624dd131f52eea682b304f87a1acb03392ee7bcf78b000699c9b17c7ca22d"}], "sections": [], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "signature": "dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]", "description": ["dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}], "manual_html": "
\n
\n
\n

dropuser

\n

dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account

\n
\n
\n

Synopsis

\n
\n

dropuser [connection-option...] [option...] [username]

\n
\n
\n
\n

Description

\n

dropuser removes an existing PostgreSQL user. Only superusers and users with the CREATEROLE privilege can remove PostgreSQL users. (To remove a superuser, you must yourself be a superuser.)

\n

dropuser is a wrapper around the SQL command DROP ROLE. There is no effective difference between dropping users via this utility and via other methods for accessing the server.

\n
\n
\n

Options

\n

dropuser accepts the following command-line arguments:

\n
\n
\n
username
\n
\n

Specifies the name of the PostgreSQL user to be removed. You will be prompted for a name if none is specified on the command line and the -i/--interactive option is used.

\n
\n
-e
--echo
\n
\n

Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.

\n
\n
-i
--interactive
\n
\n

Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.

\n
\n
-V
--version
\n
\n

Print the dropuser version and exit.

\n
\n
--if-exists
\n
\n

Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.

\n
\n
-?
--help
\n
\n

Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.

\n
\n
\n
\n

dropuser also accepts the following command-line arguments for connection parameters:

\n
\n
\n
-h host
--host=host
\n
\n

Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.

\n
\n
-p port
--port=port
\n
\n

Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.

\n
\n
-U username
--username=username
\n
\n

User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).

\n
\n
-w
--no-password
\n
\n

Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.

\n
\n
-W
--password
\n
\n

Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.

\n

This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt.

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Environment

\n
\n
\n
PGHOST
PGPORT
PGUSER
\n
\n

Default connection parameters

\n
\n
PG_COLOR
\n
\n

Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always, auto and never.

\n
\n
\n
\n

This utility, like most other PostgreSQL utilities, also uses the environment variables supported by libpq (see Section\u00a033.14).

\n
\n
\n

Diagnostics

\n

In case of difficulty, see DROP ROLE and psql for discussions of potential problems and error messages. The database server must be running at the targeted host. Also, any default connection settings and environment variables used by the libpq front-end library will apply.

\n
\n
\n

Examples

\n

To remove user joe from the default database server:

\n
$ dropuser joe\n
\n

To remove user joe using the server on host eden, port 5000, with verification and a peek at the underlying command:

\n
$ dropuser -p 5000 -h eden -i -e joe\nRole \"joe\" will be permanently removed.\nAre you sure? (y/n) y\nDROP ROLE joe;\n
\n
\n
\n

See Also

createuser, DROP ROLE\n
\n
", "manual_path": "app-dropuser.html", "comparison_data": {"options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "signature": "-e --echo", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "signature": "-i --interactive", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "signature": "-V --version", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "signature": "--if-exists", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "signature": "-? --help", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "signature": "-h host --host= host", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. 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A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/13/app-dropuser.html", "text": "--if-exists"}}, {"summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/13/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-? --help"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/13/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-h host --host= host"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/13/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-p port --port= port"}}, {"summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": {"url": "/docs/13/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-U username --username= username"}}, {"summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/13/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-w --no-password"}}, {"summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/13/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-W --password"}}], "title": "Documented options", "columns": [{"key": "signature", "label": "Option and arguments"}, {"key": "summary", "label": "Description"}]}, {"key": "environment", "rows": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. 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A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": "--if-exists", "source_url": "/docs/13/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": "-? --help", "source_url": "/docs/13/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": "-h host --host= host", "source_url": "/docs/13/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": "-p port --port= port", "source_url": "/docs/13/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": "-U username --username= username", "source_url": "/docs/13/app-dropuser.html", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. 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In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "related": [], "release": {"ref": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v13.23/postgresql-13.23.tar.bz2", "label": "13.23", "major": "13", "channel": "historical", "manifest": {"pdf": {"A4": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/13/postgresql-13-A4.pdf", "bytes": 13843239, "pages": 2826, "sha256": "171cc09f90936dbc1cbd503a98ff07ae72ea58ab9771ff051313f1217737799c", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}, "US": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/13/postgresql-13-US.pdf", "bytes": 13739572, "pages": 2984, "sha256": "48d09c6e197d9db4220f41afe83efe848a8661b1b168d3b89419751ecaf6c24d", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}}, "tree": "13", "index": "index.html", "major": "13", "pages": 1139, "release": "13.23", "source_url": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v13.23/postgresql-13.23.tar.bz2", "svg_assets": 3, "source_mode": "en HTML verified against the pinned official archive", "source_sha256": "6ec3c82726af92b7dec873fa1cdf881eca92a4219787dfad05acb6b10e041fd6"}, "revision": "614ee3133270254e476c118cdf6f72af78d4e4b8bbd9b28ed9ab1e14e4e9c0f6", "evidence_kind": "English manual and source declarations", "source_sha256": "6ec3c82726af92b7dec873fa1cdf881eca92a4219787dfad05acb6b10e041fd6"}, "sources": [{"url": "/docs/13/app-dropuser.html", "file": "app-dropuser.html", "label": "13.23 English manual \u00b7 app-dropuser.html", "anchor": "", "sha256": "40e01b4483c8ce9314fa989798edc7e772443ef18e530ac3dec377fe2176fad5"}, {"url": "/docs/13/reference-client.html", "file": "reference-client.html", "label": "Client applications inventory", "anchor": "", "sha256": "2a16c2982d9803edd4bd6920f76b66083e7f2959182d6a3bcec7ccfbac0a9ad8"}], "sections": [], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "signature": "dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]", "description": ["dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}], "manual_html": "
\n
\n
\n

dropuser

\n

dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account

\n
\n
\n

Synopsis

\n
\n

dropuser [connection-option...] [option...] [username]

\n
\n
\n
\n

Description

\n

dropuser removes an existing PostgreSQL user. Only superusers and users with the CREATEROLE privilege can remove PostgreSQL users. (To remove a superuser, you must yourself be a superuser.)

\n

dropuser is a wrapper around the SQL command DROP ROLE. There is no effective difference between dropping users via this utility and via other methods for accessing the server.

\n
\n
\n

Options

\n

dropuser accepts the following command-line arguments:

\n
\n
\n
username
\n
\n

Specifies the name of the PostgreSQL user to be removed. You will be prompted for a name if none is specified on the command line and the -i/--interactive option is used.

\n
\n
-e
--echo
\n
\n

Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.

\n
\n
-i
--interactive
\n
\n

Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.

\n
\n
-V
--version
\n
\n

Print the dropuser version and exit.

\n
\n
--if-exists
\n
\n

Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.

\n
\n
-?
--help
\n
\n

Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.

\n
\n
\n
\n

dropuser also accepts the following command-line arguments for connection parameters:

\n
\n
\n
-h host
--host=host
\n
\n

Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.

\n
\n
-p port
--port=port
\n
\n

Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.

\n
\n
-U username
--username=username
\n
\n

User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).

\n
\n
-w
--no-password
\n
\n

Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.

\n
\n
-W
--password
\n
\n

Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.

\n

This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt.

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Environment

\n
\n
\n
PGHOST
PGPORT
PGUSER
\n
\n

Default connection parameters

\n
\n
PG_COLOR
\n
\n

Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always, auto and never.

\n
\n
\n
\n

This utility, like most other PostgreSQL utilities, also uses the environment variables supported by libpq (see Section\u00a033.14).

\n
\n
\n

Diagnostics

\n

In case of difficulty, see DROP ROLE and psql for discussions of potential problems and error messages. The database server must be running at the targeted host. Also, any default connection settings and environment variables used by the libpq front-end library will apply.

\n
\n
\n

Examples

\n

To remove user joe from the default database server:

\n
$ dropuser joe\n
\n

To remove user joe using the server on host eden, port 5000, with verification and a peek at the underlying command:

\n
$ dropuser -p 5000 -h eden -i -e joe\nRole \"joe\" will be permanently removed.\nAre you sure? (y/n) y\nDROP ROLE joe;\n
\n
\n
\n

See Also

createuser, DROP ROLE\n
\n
", "manual_path": "app-dropuser.html", "comparison_data": {"options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "signature": "-e --echo", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "signature": "-i --interactive", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "signature": "-V --version", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "signature": "--if-exists", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "signature": "-? --help", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "signature": "-h host --host= host", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "signature": "-p port --port= port", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "signature": "-U username --username= username", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "signature": "-w --no-password", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "signature": "-W --password", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}]}, "comparison_hash": "712ee9383bd36a278d21d81369a24768c5af33f2e6afcd32706948a80cb277b8"}, "14": {"facts": [{"label": "Documented executable", "value": "dropuser"}, {"label": "Executable version", "value": "14.24"}, {"label": "Reference inventory", "value": "Client applications"}, {"label": "Option definition groups", "value": "10"}], "tables": [{"key": "options", "rows": [{"summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-e --echo"}}, {"summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-i --interactive"}}, {"summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-V --version"}}, {"summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "text": "--if-exists"}}, {"summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-? --help"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-h host --host= host"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-p port --port= port"}}, {"summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": {"url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-U username --username= username"}}, {"summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-w --no-password"}}, {"summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-W --password"}}], "title": "Documented options", "columns": [{"key": "signature", "label": "Option and arguments"}, {"key": "summary", "label": "Description"}]}, {"key": "environment", "rows": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}], "title": "Environment variables", "columns": [{"key": "name", "label": "Variable"}, {"key": "description", "label": "Meaning"}]}], "options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": "-e --echo", "source_url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": "-i --interactive", "source_url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": "-V --version", "source_url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": "--if-exists", "source_url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": "-? --help", "source_url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": "-h host --host= host", "source_url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": "-p port --port= port", "source_url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": "-U username --username= username", "source_url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. 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In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "related": [], "release": {"ref": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v14.24/postgresql-14.24.tar.bz2", "label": "14.24", "major": "14", "channel": "stable", "manifest": {"pdf": {"A4": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/14/postgresql-14-A4.pdf", "bytes": 14354704, "pages": 2944, "sha256": "8bc6b9dd7b246888bb77f0a5e8c39a2eae52e9926569832669c7d1600becb27c", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}, "US": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/14/postgresql-14-US.pdf", "bytes": 14242178, "pages": 3102, "sha256": "b7ecb5a5f62d8b9f73a69e25a7d26ba285373bc53168a553bff7b77955506db4", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}}, "tree": "14", "index": "index.html", "major": "14", "pages": 1158, "release": "14.24", "source_url": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v14.24/postgresql-14.24.tar.bz2", "svg_assets": 3, "source_mode": "en HTML verified against the pinned official archive", "source_sha256": "a7fa7ed3d558172355f51406097a7bd4f6b473be80f311ef7cda96bf383d8897"}, "revision": "588700d46356d8837c77c7c0a4e71e645fe6535983b8f1830aa8f2e4e41c40ae", "evidence_kind": "English manual and source declarations", "source_sha256": "a7fa7ed3d558172355f51406097a7bd4f6b473be80f311ef7cda96bf383d8897"}, "sources": [{"url": "/docs/14/app-dropuser.html", "file": "app-dropuser.html", "label": "14.24 English manual \u00b7 app-dropuser.html", "anchor": "", "sha256": "b8d0cd7fb74233926fadfab3760ff98afa284fb5b71038eb6e3642af17422bef"}, {"url": "/docs/14/reference-client.html", "file": "reference-client.html", "label": "Client applications inventory", "anchor": "", "sha256": "5a13567a052954dfe494dfaab9f50919faa1ae56023930fdbb78d45e53feccde"}], "sections": [], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "signature": "dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]", "description": ["dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}], "manual_html": "
\n
\n
\n

dropuser

\n

dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account

\n
\n
\n

Synopsis

\n
\n

dropuser [connection-option...] [option...] [username]

\n
\n
\n
\n

Description

\n

dropuser removes an existing PostgreSQL user. Only superusers and users with the CREATEROLE privilege can remove PostgreSQL users. (To remove a superuser, you must yourself be a superuser.)

\n

dropuser is a wrapper around the SQL command DROP ROLE. There is no effective difference between dropping users via this utility and via other methods for accessing the server.

\n
\n
\n

Options

\n

dropuser accepts the following command-line arguments:

\n
\n
\n
username
\n
\n

Specifies the name of the PostgreSQL user to be removed. You will be prompted for a name if none is specified on the command line and the -i/--interactive option is used.

\n
\n
-e
--echo
\n
\n

Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.

\n
\n
-i
--interactive
\n
\n

Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.

\n
\n
-V
--version
\n
\n

Print the dropuser version and exit.

\n
\n
--if-exists
\n
\n

Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.

\n
\n
-?
--help
\n
\n

Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.

\n
\n
\n
\n

dropuser also accepts the following command-line arguments for connection parameters:

\n
\n
\n
-h host
--host=host
\n
\n

Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.

\n
\n
-p port
--port=port
\n
\n

Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.

\n
\n
-U username
--username=username
\n
\n

User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).

\n
\n
-w
--no-password
\n
\n

Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.

\n
\n
-W
--password
\n
\n

Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.

\n

This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt.

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Environment

\n
\n
\n
PGHOST
PGPORT
PGUSER
\n
\n

Default connection parameters

\n
\n
PG_COLOR
\n
\n

Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always, auto and never.

\n
\n
\n
\n

This utility, like most other PostgreSQL utilities, also uses the environment variables supported by libpq (see Section\u00a034.15).

\n
\n
\n

Diagnostics

\n

In case of difficulty, see DROP ROLE and psql for discussions of potential problems and error messages. The database server must be running at the targeted host. Also, any default connection settings and environment variables used by the libpq front-end library will apply.

\n
\n
\n

Examples

\n

To remove user joe from the default database server:

\n
$ dropuser joe\n
\n

To remove user joe using the server on host eden, port 5000, with verification and a peek at the underlying command:

\n
$ dropuser -p 5000 -h eden -i -e joe\nRole \"joe\" will be permanently removed.\nAre you sure? (y/n) y\nDROP ROLE joe;\n
\n
\n
\n

See Also

createuser, DROP ROLE\n
\n
", "manual_path": "app-dropuser.html", "comparison_data": {"options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "signature": "-e --echo", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "signature": "-i --interactive", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "signature": "-V --version", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "signature": "--if-exists", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "signature": "-? --help", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "signature": "-h host --host= host", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. 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This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. 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A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/15/app-dropuser.html", "text": "--if-exists"}}, {"summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/15/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-? --help"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/15/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-h host --host= host"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/15/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-p port --port= port"}}, {"summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": {"url": "/docs/15/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-U username --username= username"}}, {"summary": "Never issue a password prompt. 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A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": "--if-exists", "source_url": "/docs/15/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": "-? --help", "source_url": "/docs/15/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": "-h host --host= host", "source_url": "/docs/15/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": "-p port --port= port", "source_url": "/docs/15/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": "-U username --username= username", "source_url": "/docs/15/app-dropuser.html", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": "-w --no-password", "source_url": "/docs/15/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": "-W --password", "source_url": "/docs/15/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "related": [], "release": {"ref": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v15.19/postgresql-15.19.tar.bz2", "label": "15.19", "major": "15", "channel": "stable", "manifest": {"pdf": {"A4": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/15/postgresql-15-A4.pdf", "bytes": 14609140, "pages": 2987, "sha256": "66228564a4d16efb47d6a914085716ecfe22ca1566db56bc7c3d82f790646d72", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}, "US": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/15/postgresql-15-US.pdf", "bytes": 14495690, "pages": 3153, "sha256": "645a498c2390d47a6223ec74770631185807a19c484edb0fc5a295d9f460bc02", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}}, "tree": "15", "index": "index.html", "major": "15", "pages": 1168, "release": "15.19", "source_url": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v15.19/postgresql-15.19.tar.bz2", "svg_assets": 3, "source_mode": "en HTML verified against the pinned official archive", "source_sha256": "e1a64a87a46b825b88c082e4518161a47aab53c45694964f8ba1df28f7859f89"}, "revision": "6af958c6520151fc7697d56e0616b03fb00522c4568158674d452ae0644ba545", "evidence_kind": "English manual and source declarations", "source_sha256": "e1a64a87a46b825b88c082e4518161a47aab53c45694964f8ba1df28f7859f89"}, "sources": [{"url": "/docs/15/app-dropuser.html", "file": "app-dropuser.html", "label": "15.19 English manual \u00b7 app-dropuser.html", "anchor": "", "sha256": "482e4ee34363deaf6692b17c5d2edf19464be86b4901f6260176d3068dcc910e"}, {"url": "/docs/15/reference-client.html", "file": "reference-client.html", "label": "Client applications inventory", "anchor": "", "sha256": "015b2ea2bd205946a55a1b837e735570631bac831c92074a6bf58444f9a3cb98"}], "sections": [], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "signature": "dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]", "description": ["dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}], "manual_html": "
\n
\n
\n

dropuser

\n

dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account

\n
\n
\n

Synopsis

\n
\n

dropuser [connection-option...] [option...] [username]

\n
\n
\n
\n

Description

\n

dropuser removes an existing PostgreSQL user. Only superusers and users with the CREATEROLE privilege can remove PostgreSQL users. (To remove a superuser, you must yourself be a superuser.)

\n

dropuser is a wrapper around the SQL command DROP ROLE. There is no effective difference between dropping users via this utility and via other methods for accessing the server.

\n
\n
\n

Options

\n

dropuser accepts the following command-line arguments:

\n
\n
\n
username
\n
\n

Specifies the name of the PostgreSQL user to be removed. You will be prompted for a name if none is specified on the command line and the -i/--interactive option is used.

\n
\n
-e
--echo
\n
\n

Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.

\n
\n
-i
--interactive
\n
\n

Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.

\n
\n
-V
--version
\n
\n

Print the dropuser version and exit.

\n
\n
--if-exists
\n
\n

Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.

\n
\n
-?
--help
\n
\n

Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.

\n
\n
\n
\n

dropuser also accepts the following command-line arguments for connection parameters:

\n
\n
\n
-h host
--host=host
\n
\n

Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.

\n
\n
-p port
--port=port
\n
\n

Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.

\n
\n
-U username
--username=username
\n
\n

User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).

\n
\n
-w
--no-password
\n
\n

Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.

\n
\n
-W
--password
\n
\n

Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.

\n

This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt.

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Environment

\n
\n
\n
PGHOST
PGPORT
PGUSER
\n
\n

Default connection parameters

\n
\n
PG_COLOR
\n
\n

Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always, auto and never.

\n
\n
\n
\n

This utility, like most other PostgreSQL utilities, also uses the environment variables supported by libpq (see Section\u00a034.15).

\n
\n
\n

Diagnostics

\n

In case of difficulty, see DROP ROLE and psql for discussions of potential problems and error messages. The database server must be running at the targeted host. Also, any default connection settings and environment variables used by the libpq front-end library will apply.

\n
\n
\n

Examples

\n

To remove user joe from the default database server:

\n
$ dropuser joe\n
\n

To remove user joe using the server on host eden, port 5000, with verification and a peek at the underlying command:

\n
$ dropuser -p 5000 -h eden -i -e joe\nRole \"joe\" will be permanently removed.\nAre you sure? (y/n) y\nDROP ROLE joe;\n
\n
\n
\n

See Also

createuser, DROP ROLE\n
\n
", "manual_path": "app-dropuser.html", "comparison_data": {"options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "signature": "-e --echo", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "signature": "-i --interactive", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "signature": "-V --version", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "signature": "--if-exists", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "signature": "-? --help", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "signature": "-h host --host= host", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "signature": "-p port --port= port", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "signature": "-U username --username= username", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "signature": "-w --no-password", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "signature": "-W --password", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}]}, "comparison_hash": "712ee9383bd36a278d21d81369a24768c5af33f2e6afcd32706948a80cb277b8"}, "16": {"facts": [{"label": "Documented executable", "value": "dropuser"}, {"label": "Executable version", "value": "16.15"}, {"label": "Reference inventory", "value": "Client applications"}, {"label": "Option definition groups", "value": "10"}], "tables": [{"key": "options", "rows": [{"summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-e --echo"}}, {"summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-i --interactive"}}, {"summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-V --version"}}, {"summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "text": "--if-exists"}}, {"summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-? --help"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-h host --host= host"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-p port --port= port"}}, {"summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": {"url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-U username --username= username"}}, {"summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-w --no-password"}}, {"summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-W --password"}}], "title": "Documented options", "columns": [{"key": "signature", "label": "Option and arguments"}, {"key": "summary", "label": "Description"}]}, {"key": "environment", "rows": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}], "title": "Environment variables", "columns": [{"key": "name", "label": "Variable"}, {"key": "description", "label": "Meaning"}]}], "options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": "-e --echo", "source_url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": "-i --interactive", "source_url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": "-V --version", "source_url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": "--if-exists", "source_url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": "-? --help", "source_url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": "-h host --host= host", "source_url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": "-p port --port= port", "source_url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": "-U username --username= username", "source_url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": "-w --no-password", "source_url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": "-W --password", "source_url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "related": [], "release": {"ref": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v16.15/postgresql-16.15.tar.bz2", "label": "16.15", "major": "16", "channel": "stable", "manifest": {"pdf": {"A4": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/16/postgresql-16-A4.pdf", "bytes": 15282337, "pages": 3055, "sha256": "4bb6c1f63deedac98736d8c4c7bc0fad0ac24e85b07e21ee10411872f06afd06", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}, "US": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/16/postgresql-16-US.pdf", "bytes": 15164148, "pages": 3220, "sha256": "5b6b6166c89991199e144bb0ae34c17a5f29826251dbf19db1abc0df3a3e771b", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}}, "tree": "16", "index": "index.html", "major": "16", "pages": 1169, "release": "16.15", "source_url": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v16.15/postgresql-16.15.tar.bz2", "svg_assets": 3, "source_mode": "en HTML verified against the pinned official archive", "source_sha256": "c1575341fa7bd40f5274ea465b34390f4dc64cdd0770af327005caaeb9f6b7ed"}, "revision": "3c21e58b35318021716440e67bb8bafd392b6a2b965a244d90e9e33c99e0bdef", "evidence_kind": "English manual and source declarations", "source_sha256": "c1575341fa7bd40f5274ea465b34390f4dc64cdd0770af327005caaeb9f6b7ed"}, "sources": [{"url": "/docs/16/app-dropuser.html", "file": "app-dropuser.html", "label": "16.15 English manual \u00b7 app-dropuser.html", "anchor": "", "sha256": "22da91e771cfbc9685c20b7992e6ac6962964a60fe2bb2a6ade962d28158e541"}, {"url": "/docs/16/reference-client.html", "file": "reference-client.html", "label": "Client applications inventory", "anchor": "", "sha256": "a28c30c3c0f8783e16d56413a0b6fd39487e336da1683b29b60abf1c229cef26"}], "sections": [], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "signature": "dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]", "description": ["dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}], "manual_html": "
\n
\n
\n

dropuser

\n

dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account

\n
\n
\n

Synopsis

\n
\n

dropuser [connection-option...] [option...] [username]

\n
\n
\n
\n

Description

\n

dropuser removes an existing PostgreSQL user. Superusers can use this command to remove any role; otherwise, only non-superuser roles can be removed, and only by a user who possesses the CREATEROLE privilege and has been granted ADMIN OPTION on the target role.

\n

dropuser is a wrapper around the SQL command DROP ROLE. There is no effective difference between dropping users via this utility and via other methods for accessing the server.

\n
\n
\n

Options

\n

dropuser accepts the following command-line arguments:

\n
\n
\n
username
\n
\n

Specifies the name of the PostgreSQL user to be removed. You will be prompted for a name if none is specified on the command line and the -i/--interactive option is used.

\n
\n
-e
--echo
\n
\n

Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.

\n
\n
-i
--interactive
\n
\n

Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.

\n
\n
-V
--version
\n
\n

Print the dropuser version and exit.

\n
\n
--if-exists
\n
\n

Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.

\n
\n
-?
--help
\n
\n

Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.

\n
\n
\n
\n

dropuser also accepts the following command-line arguments for connection parameters:

\n
\n
\n
-h host
--host=host
\n
\n

Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.

\n
\n
-p port
--port=port
\n
\n

Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.

\n
\n
-U username
--username=username
\n
\n

User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).

\n
\n
-w
--no-password
\n
\n

Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.

\n
\n
-W
--password
\n
\n

Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.

\n

This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt.

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Environment

\n
\n
\n
PGHOST
PGPORT
PGUSER
\n
\n

Default connection parameters

\n
\n
PG_COLOR
\n
\n

Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always, auto and never.

\n
\n
\n
\n

This utility, like most other PostgreSQL utilities, also uses the environment variables supported by libpq (see Section\u00a034.15).

\n
\n
\n

Diagnostics

\n

In case of difficulty, see DROP ROLE and psql for discussions of potential problems and error messages. The database server must be running at the targeted host. Also, any default connection settings and environment variables used by the libpq front-end library will apply.

\n
\n
\n

Examples

\n

To remove user joe from the default database server:

\n
$ dropuser joe\n
\n

To remove user joe using the server on host eden, port 5000, with verification and a peek at the underlying command:

\n
$ dropuser -p 5000 -h eden -i -e joe\nRole \"joe\" will be permanently removed.\nAre you sure? (y/n) y\nDROP ROLE joe;\n
\n
\n
\n

See Also

createuser, DROP ROLE\n
\n
", "manual_path": "app-dropuser.html", "comparison_data": {"options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "signature": "-e --echo", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "signature": "-i --interactive", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "signature": "-V --version", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "signature": "--if-exists", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "signature": "-? --help", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "signature": "-h host --host= host", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "signature": "-p port --port= port", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "signature": "-U username --username= username", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "signature": "-w --no-password", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "signature": "-W --password", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}]}, "comparison_hash": "712ee9383bd36a278d21d81369a24768c5af33f2e6afcd32706948a80cb277b8"}, "17": {"facts": [{"label": "Documented executable", "value": "dropuser"}, {"label": "Executable version", "value": "17.11"}, {"label": "Reference inventory", "value": "Client applications"}, {"label": "Option definition groups", "value": "10"}], "tables": [{"key": "options", "rows": [{"summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-e --echo"}}, {"summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-i --interactive"}}, {"summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-V --version"}}, {"summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "text": "--if-exists"}}, {"summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-? --help"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-h host --host= host"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-p port --port= port"}}, {"summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": {"url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-U username --username= username"}}, {"summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-w --no-password"}}, {"summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-W --password"}}], "title": "Documented options", "columns": [{"key": "signature", "label": "Option and arguments"}, {"key": "summary", "label": "Description"}]}, {"key": "environment", "rows": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}], "title": "Environment variables", "columns": [{"key": "name", "label": "Variable"}, {"key": "description", "label": "Meaning"}]}], "options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": "-e --echo", "source_url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": "-i --interactive", "source_url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": "-V --version", "source_url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": "--if-exists", "source_url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": "-? --help", "source_url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": "-h host --host= host", "source_url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": "-p port --port= port", "source_url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": "-U username --username= username", "source_url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": "-w --no-password", "source_url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": "-W --password", "source_url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "related": [], "release": {"ref": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v17.11/postgresql-17.11.tar.bz2", "label": "17.11", "major": "17", "channel": "stable", "manifest": {"pdf": {"A4": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/17/postgresql-17-A4.pdf", "bytes": 15521293, "pages": 3099, "sha256": "1991354df0dc89e70ec39328c28988ef8b19c6a93671dab3893650b63e9f4e36", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}, "US": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/17/postgresql-17-US.pdf", "bytes": 15398150, "pages": 3270, "sha256": "07696c8f38abf31babf22d2db337093936e7c472d2af36d050b000c49bbcf52c", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}}, "tree": "17", "index": "index.html", "major": "17", "pages": 1143, "release": "17.11", "source_url": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v17.11/postgresql-17.11.tar.bz2", "svg_assets": 3, "source_mode": "en SGML built with pinned official archive", "source_sha256": "dd27f2b3c59e73ed14aa3324901242bf69a032a6347805f274e6260322d42979"}, "revision": "58419c9b0dd42cb34c8d53695bb025a7e582edf55ccd4c5bcb1c2c7c71a37487", "evidence_kind": "English manual and source declarations", "source_sha256": "dd27f2b3c59e73ed14aa3324901242bf69a032a6347805f274e6260322d42979"}, "sources": [{"url": "/docs/17/app-dropuser.html", "file": "app-dropuser.html", "label": "17.11 English manual \u00b7 app-dropuser.html", "anchor": "", "sha256": "88db2723250f61fdfffa821b10e7c6cc7056c58844c768111dca321da46eb004"}, {"url": "/docs/17/reference-client.html", "file": "reference-client.html", "label": "Client applications inventory", "anchor": "", "sha256": "3194fc72ddad8e2fcba55f8e007f83413cb352146cb65aaa9457a18d0314ee1b"}], "sections": [], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "signature": "dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]", "description": ["dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}], "manual_html": "
\n
\n
\n

dropuser

\n

dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account

\n
\n
\n

Synopsis

\n
\n

dropuser [connection-option...] [option...] [username]

\n
\n
\n
\n

Description

\n

dropuser removes an existing PostgreSQL user. Superusers can use this command to remove any role; otherwise, only non-superuser roles can be removed, and only by a user who possesses the CREATEROLE privilege and has been granted ADMIN OPTION on the target role.

\n

dropuser is a wrapper around the SQL command DROP ROLE. There is no effective difference between dropping users via this utility and via other methods for accessing the server.

\n
\n
\n

Options

\n

dropuser accepts the following command-line arguments:

\n
\n
\n
username
\n
\n

Specifies the name of the PostgreSQL user to be removed. You will be prompted for a name if none is specified on the command line and the -i/--interactive option is used.

\n
\n
-e
--echo
\n
\n

Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.

\n
\n
-i
--interactive
\n
\n

Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.

\n
\n
-V
--version
\n
\n

Print the dropuser version and exit.

\n
\n
--if-exists
\n
\n

Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.

\n
\n
-?
--help
\n
\n

Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.

\n
\n
\n
\n

dropuser also accepts the following command-line arguments for connection parameters:

\n
\n
\n
-h host
--host=host
\n
\n

Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.

\n
\n
-p port
--port=port
\n
\n

Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.

\n
\n
-U username
--username=username
\n
\n

User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).

\n
\n
-w
--no-password
\n
\n

Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.

\n
\n
-W
--password
\n
\n

Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.

\n

This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt.

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Environment

\n
\n
\n
PGHOST
PGPORT
PGUSER
\n
\n

Default connection parameters

\n
\n
PG_COLOR
\n
\n

Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always, auto and never.

\n
\n
\n
\n

This utility, like most other PostgreSQL utilities, also uses the environment variables supported by libpq (see Section\u00a032.15).

\n
\n
\n

Diagnostics

\n

In case of difficulty, see DROP ROLE and psql for discussions of potential problems and error messages. The database server must be running at the targeted host. Also, any default connection settings and environment variables used by the libpq front-end library will apply.

\n
\n
\n

Examples

\n

To remove user joe from the default database server:

\n
$ dropuser joe\n
\n

To remove user joe using the server on host eden, port 5000, with verification and a peek at the underlying command:

\n
$ dropuser -p 5000 -h eden -i -e joe\nRole \"joe\" will be permanently removed.\nAre you sure? (y/n) y\nDROP ROLE joe;\n
\n
\n
\n

See Also

createuser, DROP ROLE\n
\n
", "manual_path": "app-dropuser.html", "comparison_data": {"options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "signature": "-e --echo", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "signature": "-i --interactive", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "signature": "-V --version", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "signature": "--if-exists", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "signature": "-? --help", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "signature": "-h host --host= host", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "signature": "-p port --port= port", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "signature": "-U username --username= username", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "signature": "-w --no-password", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "signature": "-W --password", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}]}, "comparison_hash": "712ee9383bd36a278d21d81369a24768c5af33f2e6afcd32706948a80cb277b8"}, "18": {"facts": [{"label": "Documented executable", "value": "dropuser"}, {"label": "Executable version", "value": "18.6"}, {"label": "Reference inventory", "value": "Client applications"}, {"label": "Option definition groups", "value": "10"}], "tables": [{"key": "options", "rows": [{"summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-e --echo"}}, {"summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-i --interactive"}}, {"summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-V --version"}}, {"summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "text": "--if-exists"}}, {"summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-? --help"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-h host --host= host"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-p port --port= port"}}, {"summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": {"url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-U username --username= username"}}, {"summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-w --no-password"}}, {"summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-W --password"}}], "title": "Documented options", "columns": [{"key": "signature", "label": "Option and arguments"}, {"key": "summary", "label": "Description"}]}, {"key": "environment", "rows": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}], "title": "Environment variables", "columns": [{"key": "name", "label": "Variable"}, {"key": "description", "label": "Meaning"}]}], "options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": "-e --echo", "source_url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": "-i --interactive", "source_url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": "-V --version", "source_url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": "--if-exists", "source_url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": "-? --help", "source_url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": "-h host --host= host", "source_url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": "-p port --port= port", "source_url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": "-U username --username= username", "source_url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.", "signature": "-w --no-password", "source_url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "summary": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.", "signature": "-W --password", "source_url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "related": [], "release": {"ref": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v18.6/postgresql-18.6.tar.bz2", "label": "18.6", "major": "18", "channel": "stable", "manifest": {"pdf": {"A4": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/18/postgresql-18-A4.pdf", "bytes": 15865106, "pages": 3154, "sha256": "19512c405da53f9f7fcf0abba359223aa65f021be025bf3411381918f92e3190", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}, "US": {"url": "/files/documentation/pdf/18/postgresql-18-US.pdf", "bytes": 15748059, "pages": 3328, "sha256": "facbe6c229e598b872d3d98bef53308f46e06746006fa4590de9a7de9dd46319", "built_at": "2026-09-26"}}, "tree": "18", "index": "index.html", "major": "18", "pages": 1148, "release": "18.6", "source_url": "https://ftp.postgresql.org/pub/source/v18.6/postgresql-18.6.tar.bz2", "svg_assets": 3, "source_mode": "en SGML built with pinned official archive", "source_sha256": "555610c24d53e4316da5b7d3fc25c279d96856d5e0e23ee308c328c5fa881d9f"}, "revision": "ee8d1a3612338fd9adf250730cb640fcc5233b5491337cc00a316a44e3a0b9f8", "evidence_kind": "English manual and source declarations", "source_sha256": "555610c24d53e4316da5b7d3fc25c279d96856d5e0e23ee308c328c5fa881d9f"}, "sources": [{"url": "/docs/18/app-dropuser.html", "file": "app-dropuser.html", "label": "18.6 English manual \u00b7 app-dropuser.html", "anchor": "", "sha256": "60e7e6a924ffccb20d39bdd2c9f597b0922a909c712340f573731a0b137b5e3b"}, {"url": "/docs/18/reference-client.html", "file": "reference-client.html", "label": "Client applications inventory", "anchor": "", "sha256": "68f726af77272fe73a827be2b7b5958d0f2239a6f8ed44264e9d42496bfa4fd0"}], "sections": [], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "signature": "dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]", "description": ["dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}], "manual_html": "
\n
\n
\n

dropuser

\n

dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account

\n
\n
\n

Synopsis

\n
\n

dropuser [connection-option...] [option...] [username]

\n
\n
\n
\n

Description

\n

dropuser removes an existing PostgreSQL user. Superusers can use this command to remove any role; otherwise, only non-superuser roles can be removed, and only by a user who possesses the CREATEROLE privilege and has been granted ADMIN OPTION on the target role.

\n

dropuser is a wrapper around the SQL command DROP ROLE. There is no effective difference between dropping users via this utility and via other methods for accessing the server.

\n
\n
\n

Options

\n

dropuser accepts the following command-line arguments:

\n
\n
\n
username
\n
\n

Specifies the name of the PostgreSQL user to be removed. You will be prompted for a name if none is specified on the command line and the -i/--interactive option is used.

\n
\n
-e
--echo
\n
\n

Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.

\n
\n
-i
--interactive
\n
\n

Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.

\n
\n
-V
--version
\n
\n

Print the dropuser version and exit.

\n
\n
--if-exists
\n
\n

Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.

\n
\n
-?
--help
\n
\n

Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.

\n
\n
\n
\n

dropuser also accepts the following command-line arguments for connection parameters:

\n
\n
\n
-h host
--host=host
\n
\n

Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.

\n
\n
-p port
--port=port
\n
\n

Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.

\n
\n
-U username
--username=username
\n
\n

User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).

\n
\n
-w
--no-password
\n
\n

Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.

\n
\n
-W
--password
\n
\n

Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.

\n

This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt.

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Environment

\n
\n
\n
PGHOST
PGPORT
PGUSER
\n
\n

Default connection parameters

\n
\n
PG_COLOR
\n
\n

Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always, auto and never.

\n
\n
\n
\n

This utility, like most other PostgreSQL utilities, also uses the environment variables supported by libpq (see Section\u00a032.15).

\n
\n
\n

Diagnostics

\n

In case of difficulty, see DROP ROLE and psql for discussions of potential problems and error messages. The database server must be running at the targeted host. Also, any default connection settings and environment variables used by the libpq front-end library will apply.

\n
\n
\n

Examples

\n

To remove user joe from the default database server:

\n
$ dropuser joe\n
\n

To remove user joe using the server on host eden, port 5000, with verification and a peek at the underlying command:

\n
$ dropuser -p 5000 -h eden -i -e joe\nRole \"joe\" will be permanently removed.\nAre you sure? (y/n) y\nDROP ROLE joe;\n
\n
\n
\n

See Also

createuser, DROP ROLE\n
\n
", "manual_path": "app-dropuser.html", "comparison_data": {"options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "signature": "-e --echo", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "signature": "-i --interactive", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "signature": "-V --version", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "signature": "--if-exists", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "signature": "-? --help", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "signature": "-h host --host= host", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "signature": "-p port --port= port", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "signature": "-U username --username= username", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "signature": "-w --no-password", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "signature": "-W --password", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}]}, "comparison_hash": "712ee9383bd36a278d21d81369a24768c5af33f2e6afcd32706948a80cb277b8"}, "19": {"facts": [{"label": "Documented executable", "value": "dropuser"}, {"label": "Executable version", "value": "19beta4"}, {"label": "Reference inventory", "value": "Client applications"}, {"label": "Option definition groups", "value": "10"}], "tables": [{"key": "options", "rows": [{"summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/19/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-e --echo"}}, {"summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/19/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-i --interactive"}}, {"summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/19/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-V --version"}}, {"summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/19/app-dropuser.html", "text": "--if-exists"}}, {"summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/19/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-? --help"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/19/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-h host --host= host"}}, {"summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/19/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-p port --port= port"}}, {"summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": {"url": "/docs/19/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-U username --username= username"}}, {"summary": "Never issue a password prompt. 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A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": "--if-exists", "source_url": "/docs/19/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": "-? --help", "source_url": "/docs/19/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": "-h host --host= host", "source_url": "/docs/19/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": "-p port --port= port", "source_url": "/docs/19/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": "-U username --username= username", "source_url": "/docs/19/app-dropuser.html", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. 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Possible values are always , auto and never ."}], "manual_html": "
\n
\n
\n

dropuser

\n

dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account

\n
\n
\n

Synopsis

\n
\n

dropuser [connection-option...] [option...] [username]

\n
\n
\n
\n

Description

\n

dropuser removes an existing PostgreSQL user. Superusers can use this command to remove any role; otherwise, only non-superuser roles can be removed, and only by a user who possesses the CREATEROLE privilege and has been granted ADMIN OPTION on the target role.

\n

dropuser is a wrapper around the SQL command DROP ROLE. There is no effective difference between dropping users via this utility and via other methods for accessing the server.

\n
\n
\n

Options

\n

dropuser accepts the following command-line arguments:

\n
\n
\n
username
\n
\n

Specifies the name of the PostgreSQL user to be removed. You will be prompted for a name if none is specified on the command line and the -i/--interactive option is used.

\n
\n
-e
--echo
\n
\n

Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.

\n
\n
-i
--interactive
\n
\n

Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.

\n
\n
-V
--version
\n
\n

Print the dropuser version and exit.

\n
\n
--if-exists
\n
\n

Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.

\n
\n
-?
--help
\n
\n

Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.

\n
\n
\n
\n

dropuser also accepts the following command-line arguments for connection parameters:

\n
\n
\n
-h host
--host=host
\n
\n

Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.

\n
\n
-p port
--port=port
\n
\n

Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.

\n
\n
-U username
--username=username
\n
\n

User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).

\n
\n
-w
--no-password
\n
\n

Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.

\n
\n
-W
--password
\n
\n

Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.

\n

This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt.

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Environment

\n
\n
\n
PGHOST
PGPORT
PGUSER
\n
\n

Default connection parameters

\n
\n
PG_COLOR
\n
\n

Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always, auto and never.

\n
\n
\n
\n

This utility, like most other PostgreSQL utilities, also uses the environment variables supported by libpq (see Section\u00a032.15).

\n
\n
\n

Diagnostics

\n

In case of difficulty, see DROP ROLE and psql for discussions of potential problems and error messages. The database server must be running at the targeted host. Also, any default connection settings and environment variables used by the libpq front-end library will apply.

\n
\n
\n

Examples

\n

To remove user joe from the default database server:

\n
$ dropuser joe\n
\n

To remove user joe using the server on host eden, port 5000, with verification and a peek at the underlying command:

\n
$ dropuser -p 5000 -h eden -i -e joe\nRole \"joe\" will be permanently removed.\nAre you sure? (y/n) y\nDROP ROLE joe;\n
\n
\n
\n

See Also

createuser, DROP ROLE\n
\n
", "manual_path": "app-dropuser.html", "comparison_data": {"options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "signature": "-e --echo", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "signature": "-i --interactive", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "signature": "-V --version", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "signature": "--if-exists", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "signature": "-? --help", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "signature": "-h host --host= host", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. 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This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}]}, "comparison_hash": "712ee9383bd36a278d21d81369a24768c5af33f2e6afcd32706948a80cb277b8"}, "20": {"facts": [{"label": "Documented executable", "value": "dropuser"}, {"label": "Executable version", "value": "20devel"}, {"label": "Reference inventory", "value": "Client applications"}, {"label": "Option definition groups", "value": "10"}], "tables": [{"key": "options", "rows": [{"summary": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/devel/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-e --echo"}}, {"summary": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/devel/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-i --interactive"}}, {"summary": "Print the dropuser version and exit.", "signature": {"url": "/docs/devel/app-dropuser.html", "text": "-V --version"}}, {"summary": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. 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A notice is issued in this case.", "signature": "--if-exists", "source_url": "/docs/devel/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "summary": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.", "signature": "-? --help", "source_url": "/docs/devel/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "summary": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.", "signature": "-h host --host= host", "source_url": "/docs/devel/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "summary": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.", "signature": "-p port --port= port", "source_url": "/docs/devel/app-dropuser.html", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "summary": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).", "signature": "-U username --username= username", "source_url": "/docs/devel/app-dropuser.html", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "summary": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. 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Possible values are always , auto and never ."}], "manual_html": "
\n
\n
\n

dropuser

\n

dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account

\n
\n
\n

Synopsis

\n
\n

dropuser [connection-option...] [option...] [username]

\n
\n
\n
\n

Description

\n

dropuser removes an existing PostgreSQL user. Superusers can use this command to remove any role; otherwise, only non-superuser roles can be removed, and only by a user who possesses the CREATEROLE privilege and has been granted ADMIN OPTION on the target role.

\n

dropuser is a wrapper around the SQL command DROP ROLE. There is no effective difference between dropping users via this utility and via other methods for accessing the server.

\n
\n
\n

Options

\n

dropuser accepts the following command-line arguments:

\n
\n
\n
username
\n
\n

Specifies the name of the PostgreSQL user to be removed. You will be prompted for a name if none is specified on the command line and the -i/--interactive option is used.

\n
\n
-e
--echo
\n
\n

Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.

\n
\n
-i
--interactive
\n
\n

Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.

\n
\n
-V
--version
\n
\n

Print the dropuser version and exit.

\n
\n
--if-exists
\n
\n

Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.

\n
\n
-?
--help
\n
\n

Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.

\n
\n
\n
\n

dropuser also accepts the following command-line arguments for connection parameters:

\n
\n
\n
-h host
--host=host
\n
\n

Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.

\n
\n
-p port
--port=port
\n
\n

Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.

\n
\n
-U username
--username=username
\n
\n

User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).

\n
\n
-w
--no-password
\n
\n

Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.

\n
\n
-W
--password
\n
\n

Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.

\n

This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt.

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Environment

\n
\n
\n
PGHOST
PGPORT
PGUSER
\n
\n

Default connection parameters

\n
\n
PG_COLOR
\n
\n

Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always, auto and never.

\n
\n
\n
\n

This utility, like most other PostgreSQL utilities, also uses the environment variables supported by libpq (see Section\u00a032.14).

\n
\n
\n

Diagnostics

\n

In case of difficulty, see DROP ROLE and psql for discussions of potential problems and error messages. The database server must be running at the targeted host. Also, any default connection settings and environment variables used by the libpq front-end library will apply.

\n
\n
\n

Examples

\n

To remove user joe from the default database server:

\n
$ dropuser joe\n
\n

To remove user joe using the server on host eden, port 5000, with verification and a peek at the underlying command:

\n
$ dropuser -p 5000 -h eden -i -e joe\nRole \"joe\" will be permanently removed.\nAre you sure? (y/n) y\nDROP ROLE joe;\n
\n
\n
\n

See Also

createuser, DROP ROLE\n
\n
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Possible values are always , auto and never ."}], "manual_html": "
\n
\n
\n

dropuser

\n

dropuser \u2014 remove a PostgreSQL user account

\n
\n
\n

Synopsis

\n
\n

dropuser [connection-option...] [option...] [username]

\n
\n
\n
\n

Description

\n

dropuser removes an existing PostgreSQL user. Superusers can use this command to remove any role; otherwise, only non-superuser roles can be removed, and only by a user who possesses the CREATEROLE privilege and has been granted ADMIN OPTION on the target role.

\n

dropuser is a wrapper around the SQL command DROP ROLE. There is no effective difference between dropping users via this utility and via other methods for accessing the server.

\n
\n
\n

Options

\n

dropuser accepts the following command-line arguments:

\n
\n
\n
username
\n
\n

Specifies the name of the PostgreSQL user to be removed. You will be prompted for a name if none is specified on the command line and the -i/--interactive option is used.

\n
\n
-e
--echo
\n
\n

Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server.

\n
\n
-i
--interactive
\n
\n

Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line.

\n
\n
-V
--version
\n
\n

Print the dropuser version and exit.

\n
\n
--if-exists
\n
\n

Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case.

\n
\n
-?
--help
\n
\n

Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit.

\n
\n
\n
\n

dropuser also accepts the following command-line arguments for connection parameters:

\n
\n
\n
-h host
--host=host
\n
\n

Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket.

\n
\n
-p port
--port=port
\n
\n

Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections.

\n
\n
-U username
--username=username
\n
\n

User name to connect as (not the user name to drop).

\n
\n
-w
--no-password
\n
\n

Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password.

\n
\n
-W
--password
\n
\n

Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database.

\n

This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt.

\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

Environment

\n
\n
\n
PGHOST
PGPORT
PGUSER
\n
\n

Default connection parameters

\n
\n
PG_COLOR
\n
\n

Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always, auto and never.

\n
\n
\n
\n

This utility, like most other PostgreSQL utilities, also uses the environment variables supported by libpq (see Section\u00a032.15).

\n
\n
\n

Diagnostics

\n

In case of difficulty, see DROP ROLE and psql for discussions of potential problems and error messages. The database server must be running at the targeted host. Also, any default connection settings and environment variables used by the libpq front-end library will apply.

\n
\n
\n

Examples

\n

To remove user joe from the default database server:

\n
$ dropuser joe\n
\n

To remove user joe using the server on host eden, port 5000, with verification and a peek at the underlying command:

\n
$ dropuser -p 5000 -h eden -i -e joe\nRole \"joe\" will be permanently removed.\nAre you sure? (y/n) y\nDROP ROLE joe;\n
\n
\n
\n

See Also

createuser, DROP ROLE\n
\n
", "manual_path": "app-dropuser.html", "comparison_data": {"options": [{"names": ["-e", "--echo"], "signature": "-e --echo", "description": "Echo the commands that dropuser generates and sends to the server."}, {"names": ["-i", "--interactive"], "signature": "-i --interactive", "description": "Prompt for confirmation before actually removing the user, and prompt for the user name if none is specified on the command line."}, {"names": ["-V", "--version"], "signature": "-V --version", "description": "Print the dropuser version and exit."}, {"names": ["--if-exists"], "signature": "--if-exists", "description": "Do not throw an error if the user does not exist. A notice is issued in this case."}, {"names": ["-?", "--help"], "signature": "-? --help", "description": "Show help about dropuser command line arguments, and exit."}, {"names": ["-h host", "--host= host"], "signature": "-h host --host= host", "description": "Specifies the host name of the machine on which the server is running. If the value begins with a slash, it is used as the directory for the Unix domain socket."}, {"names": ["-p port", "--port= port"], "signature": "-p port --port= port", "description": "Specifies the TCP port or local Unix domain socket file extension on which the server is listening for connections."}, {"names": ["-U username", "--username= username"], "signature": "-U username --username= username", "description": "User name to connect as (not the user name to drop)."}, {"names": ["-w", "--no-password"], "signature": "-w --no-password", "description": "Never issue a password prompt. If the server requires password authentication and a password is not available by other means such as a .pgpass file, the connection attempt will fail. This option can be useful in batch jobs and scripts where no user is present to enter a password."}, {"names": ["-W", "--password"], "signature": "-W --password", "description": "Force dropuser to prompt for a password before connecting to a database. This option is never essential, since dropuser will automatically prompt for a password if the server demands password authentication. However, dropuser will waste a connection attempt finding out that the server wants a password. In some cases it is worth typing -W to avoid the extra connection attempt."}], "synopsis": ["dropuser [ connection-option ...] [ option ...] [ username ]"], "environment": [{"name": "PGHOST PGPORT PGUSER", "description": "Default connection parameters"}, {"name": "PG_COLOR", "description": "Specifies whether to use color in diagnostic messages. Possible values are always , auto and never ."}]}, "comparison_hash": "712ee9383bd36a278d21d81369a24768c5af33f2e6afcd32706948a80cb277b8"}, "comparison": {"left": "17", "right": "18", "status": "unchanged", "diff": ""}}