PostgreSQL: could not connect to server - Connection refused error

Question

I've failed to set up postgreSQL to work with my Ruby-on-Rails project for the past week.
I've tried to uninstall and reinstall, postgreSQL, twice now.
But when I try to launch postgreSQL I keep getting the error below:

could not connect to server: Connection refused (0x0000274D/10061)
         Is the server running on host "localhost" (::1) and
         accepting TCP/IP connections on port 5432? 
could not connect to server: Connection refused (0x0000274D/10061) 
         Is the server running on host "localhost" (127.0.0.1) and 
         accepting TCP/IP connections on port 5432?"

I've looked at many online resources, including stackoverflow and none seem helpful.
The key parts of my pg_hba.conf file looks like this:

# TYPE  DATABASE        USER            ADDRESS                 METHOD

# IPv4 local connections:
host    all             all             127.0.0.1/32            md5
# IPv6 local connections:
host    all             all             ::1/128                 md5
# Allow replication connections from localhost, by a user with the
# replication privilege.
#host    replication     postgres        127.0.0.1/32            md5
#host    replication     postgres        ::1/128                 md5

And the key part of my postgresql.conf file is as follows:

listen_addresses = '*'      # what IP address(es) to listen on;
                    # comma-separated list of addresses;
                    # defaults to 'localhost'; use '*' for all
                    # (change requires restart)
port = 5432             # (change requires restart)
max_connections = 100           # (change requires restart)
#superuser_reserved_connections = 3 # (change requires restart)
#unix_socket_directories = ''   # comma-separated list of directories
                    # (change requires restart)
#unix_socket_group = ''         # (change requires restart)
#unix_socket_permissions = 0777     # begin with 0 to use octal notation

Most of the suggestions, I've seen so far, were based on those two files. (For my case, they were already configured correctly). I also tried disabling the firewall and restarting postgreSQL but it didn't help. Does anyone have any suggestions for me? Thanks!

are you on the same pc as the db server? If not you need setup firewall — Juan Carlos Oropeza, Dec 13 '16 at 15:53
Yes, I'm using the same PC as the db server. How do I setup firewall? I've tried disabling it as well as enabling the postgres app on windows firewall. — Jonathan Corrin, Dec 13 '16 at 16:11
Firewall only is an issue if you are in a different pc. Can you connect using `pgAdmin`? Check the service is up and you are using the right port — Juan Carlos Oropeza, Dec 13 '16 at 16:13
I tried connecting using pgAdmin, it was running the same error as above. The port # is correct an matches across all files. — Jonathan Corrin, Dec 13 '16 at 16:38
check the services to see if is running. First install should be very easy. I suggest you try another pc. — Juan Carlos Oropeza, Dec 13 '16 at 16:46
It doesn't seem to be running. it's refusing my connection with the same error as above after trying to login with the correct password. I don't have access to another PC to try and download it. I was just hoping it was an issue I could solve by changing the config file around. — Jonathan Corrin, Dec 13 '16 at 16:57
But is service running? Try to start it. https://i.stack.imgur.com/6wGSw.png — Juan Carlos Oropeza, Dec 13 '16 at 17:00
Services is not running. When I tried to start service it gave me an Error 5: Access is denied . — Jonathan Corrin, Dec 13 '16 at 17:06
That is very weirds, maybe you wrote the wrong password? I would try reinstalling postgres again. You can run multiple servers just assign a different port and install folder. — Juan Carlos Oropeza, Dec 13 '16 at 17:18
Im redownloading now and will assign the port to 5433 as opposed to 5432 and will install under a different folder. Hopefully this resolves the issue. — Jonathan Corrin, Dec 13 '16 at 17:29
I've reinstalled, there was an error that I've experienced everytime aside from the first time downloading that I forgot to mention. A popup window states " Problem installing post-install step. Installation may not complete correctly. Failed to start the database server." Is this part of the issue as well? — Jonathan Corrin, Dec 13 '16 at 18:05
Yes, looks like you cant install it, do you have administrator privilege? — Juan Carlos Oropeza, Dec 13 '16 at 18:07
You shouldnt need it, but try right click over install file and select run as administrator. — Juan Carlos Oropeza, Dec 13 '16 at 18:19
Just ran as administrator but received the same error upon install completion. It still lets me finish install and the data/files have been installed. The server just isn't running. — Jonathan Corrin, Dec 13 '16 at 18:39
Then you have to investigate about that error. May I suggest create a virtual pc https://www.virtualbox.org/ is easy setup to have an empty pc? — Juan Carlos Oropeza, Dec 13 '16 at 18:42
I downloaded the software. What exactly do I have to do with virtual pc? — Jonathan Corrin, Dec 13 '16 at 18:48
Just create a virtual pc, install windows, download postgre and try to install it. Install postgres should be very easy in a virgin pc. Just next next. — Juan Carlos Oropeza, Dec 13 '16 at 18:50

score 8 · Answer 1 · edited Nov 25 '19 at 14:45

8

Got the same issue while settings up PostgreSQL 9.6.16 to work with Python/Django, but this is purely a database issue.

The solution lies in the error: In fact, I found this error mentioned within the official PostgreSQL documentation thus it's a common error.

And here is how I resolved this issue:

Always first start the postgres database server, use postgres or the wrapper program pg_ctl.
I used the command, below, on windows 10.
Remember, whatever comes after -D should be the path to where you installed PostgreSQL, to the data folder, which holds the pg_hba.conf and postgresql.conf files.

> pg_ctl start -D "C:/Program Files/PostgreSQL/9.6/data"

If that runs well, you are ready to access the database server.
Open another cmd shell, and type the command below.
Remember the password you entered while installing PostgreSQL?
Enter that password when asked Password for user postgres:

> psql -U postgres

Once done, you can now go ahead to CREATE ROLE and CREATE DATABASE accordingly.

edited Nov 25 '19 at 14:45

answered Nov 25 '19 at 13:38

MwamiTovi

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where to run these commands? SQL shell? Windows CMD? what is "wrapper program pg_ctl" ?? – nishi Aug 19 '20 at 21:53
Hi, @nishi. Yes, the sign `>` means you comfortably run this in windows `cmd`. And true, `pg_ctl` is a wrapper/utility program to help you run a couple of tasks on the `PostgreSQL` server. [Here's a good read on that](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/9.6/app-pg-ctl.html) – MwamiTovi Aug 20 '20 at 14:42
1

thanks @MwamiTovi. well, the problem when I was trying to run this command was cuz not always the psql command is set in the windows environment path. I solved the issue by editing the postgres server. Mine was on port 5433 and i my db was sending info on 5432 if it helps any further readers. but i still cant run pg_ctl on my cmd. – nishi Aug 20 '20 at 15:23

PostgreSQL: could not connect to server - Connection refused error

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