DB failing to connect
ianm2401
HOBBYOP

22 days ago

Our Postgres service's own Database tab fails to connect with 'no PostgreSQL user name specified in startup packet,' and PGUSER/PGPASSWORD show empty on the production environment, but the app itself is still running on an existing connection.

Solved$10 Bounty

Pinned Solution

manuproject
HOBBY

22 days ago

you do have the credentials - your app is still connecting, so they're in its DATABASE_URL. go to your app service → Variables, reveal DATABASE_URL, it looks like postgresql://USER:PASSWORD@host:5432/railway. the user is usually postgres.

copy that user and password into PGUSER and PGPASSWORD on the postgres service (check POSTGRES_USER / POSTGRES_PASSWORD there too if they're also blank), then redeploy the postgres service. the database tab uses those vars to connect, that's why it says "no user name in startup packet" while your app keeps working.

dont touch the app's DATABASE_URL while doing this and your data is safe, its on the volume.

4 Replies

Railway
BOT

22 days ago

The Postgres service logs confirm repeated "no PostgreSQL user name specified in startup packet" errors, which means connection attempts are arriving without credentials. Our tools can see that PGUSER and PGPASSWORD variables are defined on the service but cannot confirm their values. If they are genuinely blank in your dashboard's Variables tab, you can re-set them to valid credentials (the username and password your Postgres instance was provisioned with) and redeploy, which will also fix the Database tab connection.


Status changed to Awaiting User Response Railway 22 days ago


Railway

The Postgres service logs confirm repeated "no PostgreSQL user name specified in startup packet" errors, which means connection attempts are arriving without credentials. Our tools can see that PGUSER and PGPASSWORD variables are defined on the service but cannot confirm their values. If they are genuinely blank in your dashboard's Variables tab, you can re-set them to valid credentials (the username and password your Postgres instance was provisioned with) and redeploy, which will also fix the Database tab connection.

ianm2401
HOBBYOP

22 days ago

I don't have the username and password your Postgres instance was provisioned with


Status changed to Awaiting Railway Response Railway 22 days ago


Railway
BOT

22 days ago

This thread has been opened as a bounty so the community can help solve it.

Status changed to Open Railway 22 days ago


22 days ago

Hey, try re-generating credentials on the Database tab

CleanShot 2026-07-30 at 12.35.17@2x.png

Attachments


ianm2401

I don't have the username and password your Postgres instance was provisioned with

manuproject
HOBBY

22 days ago

you do have the credentials - your app is still connecting, so they're in its DATABASE_URL. go to your app service → Variables, reveal DATABASE_URL, it looks like postgresql://USER:PASSWORD@host:5432/railway. the user is usually postgres.

copy that user and password into PGUSER and PGPASSWORD on the postgres service (check POSTGRES_USER / POSTGRES_PASSWORD there too if they're also blank), then redeploy the postgres service. the database tab uses those vars to connect, that's why it says "no user name in startup packet" while your app keeps working.

dont touch the app's DATABASE_URL while doing this and your data is safe, its on the volume.


Status changed to Solved brody 21 days ago


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