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28P01

PostgreSQL 28P01: invalid_password

Verified with sources2 sourcesReviewed Aug 23, 2026
Trace

Evidence linked to this decision

View source: PostgreSQL 18 Appendix A: Error Codes

Risk level

High

Professional inspection is recommended.

Urgency

Medium

Quick answer

SQLSTATE 28P01 (invalid_password) means PostgreSQL rejected the password for the requested role. Diagnose the named condition before retrying.

Safety first

Stop and check this first

  • Never paste a database password, connection URI or unredacted environment dump into logs or support forms.

Safe checks you can perform

  • Verify credential identity without exposing it

What a technician must be able to justify

A technician is coming

These are the steps they must carry out and show you. Tick them as they work: if steps are skipped, do not accept a part swap.

These are not instructions for opening or handling the equipment yourself. They are the checks that should support a technical conclusion.

    Before accepting a part or repair

    Nothing has been shown yet. Do not accept a part swap based on the code alone.

    Follow these steps

    Note: Follow the documented order. An error code identifies the affected system, but it does not prove by itself which part has failed.

    1. Verify credential identity without exposing it

      Tools required

      Confirm the effective username, host, port, database and secret version used by the failing runtime, but never print the password. Compare secret rollout time with role-password rotation and test a controlled new credential; if compromise is possible, rotate and revoke through the normal incident path.

      Evidence: PostgreSQL 18 Appendix A: Error Codes · PostgreSQL client authentication

    Still not solved

    If the error persists, stop here. See what the technician must do and show you.

    Virtual technician

    Does 28P01 still appear after these checks?

    This guided flow uses the exact code and your answers to choose a test, an expected result and the next branch.

    Where this code applies

    A code is meaningful only inside the right product and version context.

    Primary scope

    System
    Software and systems
    Brand
    PostgreSQL
    Product type
    Database

    Known code variants

    • invalid_password
    • PostgreSQL 28P01
    • SQLSTATE 28P01

    What it means

    PostgreSQL assigns 28P01 to invalid_password in Class 28 — Invalid Authorization Specification. Applications should branch on the stable SQLSTATE and structured error fields, not localized message text.

    Warnings and stop conditions

    • Higheditorial warning

      Never paste a database password, connection URI or unredacted environment dump into logs or support forms.

      Evidence: PostgreSQL 18 Appendix A: Error Codes · PostgreSQL client authentication

    Symptoms and causes

    Probable causes · in order

    • Likely trigger in this requestCommon

      The deployed secret, username, target cluster or password state does not match the server's authentication record.

      Evidence: PostgreSQL 18 Appendix A: Error Codes · PostgreSQL client authentication

    Sources and technical references

    1. 1

      PostgreSQL 18 Appendix A: Error Codes

      PostgreSQL Global Development Group · 2026 · official_doc

    2. 2

      PostgreSQL client authentication

      PostgreSQL Global Development Group · 2026 · official_doc

    Sources: PostgreSQL 18 Appendix A: Error Codes · PostgreSQL client authenticationreviewed 2026-08-23 · verified

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