There are a few ways to update and add GUC parameters. This document covers the
most fundamental way, which is to edit your postgresql.conf file. For more
information, see
Setting parameters
in PostgreSQL documentation.
To add or update a GUC parameter by editing the postgresql.config file, do the
following:
Locate the postgresql.conf configuration file for your installation of
AlloyDB Omni.
Use a text editor to add or update a database flag in postgresql.conf.
After your database flags are added or edited, reload the postgresql.conf
file for the changes to take effect. For example, if you
installed AlloyDB Omni using Docker,
run the following to restart your Docker instance and reload
postgresql.conf:
[[["Easy to understand","easyToUnderstand","thumb-up"],["Solved my problem","solvedMyProblem","thumb-up"],["Other","otherUp","thumb-up"]],[["Hard to understand","hardToUnderstand","thumb-down"],["Incorrect information or sample code","incorrectInformationOrSampleCode","thumb-down"],["Missing the information/samples I need","missingTheInformationSamplesINeed","thumb-down"],["Other","otherDown","thumb-down"]],["Last updated 2025-08-29 UTC."],[[["\u003cp\u003eDatabase flags for AlloyDB Omni are configured by adding or updating Grand Unified Configuration (GUC) parameters in the \u003ccode\u003epostgresql.conf\u003c/code\u003e file.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eThe primary method for modifying GUC parameters is through direct edits to the \u003ccode\u003epostgresql.conf\u003c/code\u003e file.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eTo update a flag, locate the \u003ccode\u003epostgresql.conf\u003c/code\u003e file, use a text editor to add or modify the desired GUC parameter, such as \u003ccode\u003epassword.enforce_expiration = ON\u003c/code\u003e to enforce password expiration.\u003c/p\u003e\n"],["\u003cp\u003eAfter modifying \u003ccode\u003epostgresql.conf\u003c/code\u003e, the file must be reloaded for changes to take effect, which may involve restarting the Docker instance in some cases.\u003c/p\u003e\n"]]],[],null,["# Configure AlloyDB Omni database flags\n\nSelect a documentation version: 15.5.5keyboard_arrow_down\n\n- [Current (16.8.0)](/alloydb/omni/current/docs/configure-database-flags)\n- [16.8.0](/alloydb/omni/16.8.0/docs/configure-database-flags)\n- [16.3.0](/alloydb/omni/16.3.0/docs/configure-database-flags)\n- [15.12.0](/alloydb/omni/15.12.0/docs/configure-database-flags)\n- [15.7.1](/alloydb/omni/15.7.1/docs/configure-database-flags)\n- [15.7.0](/alloydb/omni/15.7.0/docs/configure-database-flags)\n- [15.5.5](/alloydb/omni/15.5.5/docs/configure-database-flags)\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nTo configure a database flag for AlloyDB Omni, you add or update [Grand Unified Configuration (GUC)](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/config-setting.html) parameters in the `postgresql.conf` file.\n\n\u003cbr /\u003e\n\nAdd or update a GUC parameter\n-----------------------------\n\nThere are a few ways to update and add GUC parameters. This document covers the\nmost fundamental way, which is to edit your `postgresql.conf` file. For more\ninformation, see\n[Setting parameters](https://www.postgresql.org/docs/current/config-setting.html)\nin PostgreSQL documentation.\n\nTo add or update a GUC parameter by editing the `postgresql.config` file, do the\nfollowing:\n\n1. Locate the `postgresql.conf` configuration file for your installation of\n AlloyDB Omni.\n\n2. Use a text editor to add or update a database flag in `postgresql.conf`.\n\n For example, to\n [enforce password expiration](/alloydb/omni/15.5.5/docs/manage-password-policy#enforce-password-expiration),\n set the following flag in the `postgresql.conf` file: \n\n password.enforce_expiration = ON\n\n3. After your database flags are added or edited, reload the `postgresql.conf`\n file for the changes to take effect. For example, if you\n [installed AlloyDB Omni using Docker](/alloydb/omni/15.5.5/docs/quickstart#install-using-docker),\n run the following to restart your Docker instance and reload\n `postgresql.conf`:\n\n docker restart \u003cvar translate=\"no\"\u003eCONTAINER-NAME\u003c/var\u003e"]]