wim•15h ago

postgres password problem

Hi, I am trying to run zitadel in a docker container on a vps. On the vps I also have a postgres db running, also in docker. I created two users for zitadel: zitadel_root and zitadel_user. When I try to connect to the database with those users using DBeaver, everything works fine. But the Zitadel container gives the following error:

time="2025-09-23T20:36:47Z" level=info msg="initialization started" caller="/home/runner/work/zitadel/zitadel/cmd/initialise/init.go:70" time="2025-09-23T20:36:47Z" level=fatal msg="unable to initialize the database" caller="/home/runner/work/zitadel/zitadel/cmd/initialise/init.go:63" error="failed to connect to user=zitadel_root database=postgres: 5.75.247.152:5432 (5.75.247.152): server error: FATAL: password authentication failed for user "zitadel_root" (SQLSTATE 28P01)"

When I go to the database container I see a corresponding log:

2025-09-23 20:36:47.626 UTC [71017] FATAL: password authentication failed for user "zitadel_root" 2025-09-23 20:36:47.626 UTC [71017] DETAIL: Password does not match for user "zitadel_root". Connection matched file "/data/postgres/pg_hba.conf" line 120: "host all all 172.19.0.1/8 password"

I have configured zitadel using config files: config.yaml:

# All possible options and their defaults: https://github.com/zitadel/zitadel/blob/main/cmd/defaults.yaml
Log:
  Level: 'info'

ExternalDomain: <DOMAIN>
ExternalPort: 443
ExternalSecure: true

TLS:
  Enabled: true

Database:
  postgres:
    Host: '<PUBLIC IP ADDRESS OF DATABASE>'
    Port: 5432
    Database: zitadel
    User:
      Username: 'zitadel_user'
    Admin:
      Username: 'zitadel_root'

# All possible options and their defaults: https://github.com/zitadel/zitadel/blob/main/cmd/defaults.yaml
Log:
  Level: 'info'

ExternalDomain: <DOMAIN>
ExternalPort: 443
ExternalSecure: true

TLS:
  Enabled: true

Database:
  postgres:
    Host: '<PUBLIC IP ADDRESS OF DATABASE>'
    Port: 5432
    Database: zitadel
    User:
      Username: 'zitadel_user'
    Admin:
      Username: 'zitadel_root'

and secrets.yaml:

# All possible options and their defaults: https://github.com/zitadel/zitadel/blob/main/cmd/defaults.yaml

Database:
  postgres:
    User:
      Password: '<USER PASSWORD>'
    Admin:
      Password: '<ROOT PASSWORD>'

# All possible options and their defaults: https://github.com/zitadel/zitadel/blob/main/cmd/defaults.yaml

Database:
  postgres:
    User:
      Password: '<USER PASSWORD>'
    Admin:
      Password: '<ROOT PASSWORD>'

Anyone any idea what is going on?

2 Replies

Ask Inkeep•15h ago

Hi @wim, I'm an AI assistant for ZITADEL. While a team member reviews this question, I'll see if I can find relevant sources for your question. Answer I wasn't able to find a direct answer, here are some relevant sources: 1. Database Configuration :
Covers ZITADEL's Postgres setup and user/role requirements, including permissions and password setup. 2. Configuration Options in ZITADEL :
Explains how to structure config and secrets YAML files for ZITADEL's database connection. Feel free to tag @Ask Inkeep with additional questions.

wimOP•15h ago

(same error when using the posgres user)

postgres password problem

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