PostgreSQL raises config_file_error (SQLSTATE F0000) when it fails to parse postgresql.conf or any included configuration file during startup or reload.
config_file_error (SQLSTATE F0000) occurs when PostgreSQL cannot parse postgresql.conf or an included file. Check the line number in the server log, correct the syntax or value, then reload or restart the server after fixing the file.
config_file_error
config_file_error (SQLSTATE F0000) tells you PostgreSQL could not parse its main configuration file or one of the include files during startup or a reload. The server aborts the operation to avoid booting with unknown settings.
The error appears in server logs and sometimes in client messages when a connection attempt fails because the server never started.
Fixing the broken parameter and reloading the configuration restores normal service.
PostgreSQL reports config_file_error when syntax, value, or file path mistakes break the postgresql.conf grammar.
A single character can invalidate the whole file.
Locate the exact line reported in the log, open the configuration file with a text editor, correct the typo or invalid value, then run SELECT pg_reload_conf(); or restart the service.
Adding shared_preload_libraries without quotes, copying Windows style CRLF into a Linux config, or including a non existing file all trigger this error.
Matching the parameter name and quoting paths solves each case.
Always edit configuration with version control, validate with pg_validateconf (PostgreSQL 16+) or postgres -C before reloading, and apply changes in a staging environment first.
invalid_parameter_value and parameter_file_error look similar but refer to run time value problems and postgresql.auto.conf issues. They share the same debugging approach: inspect logs and fix the parameter.
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Yes. PostgreSQL refuses to start or reload if it cannot parse the configuration.
The server log records the absolute path and exact line that failed.
From PostgreSQL 16 you can run postgres -C to validate the configuration without starting the server.
Galaxy keeps configuration related queries, reload commands, and log inspection snippets in one shared Collection, so teams fix errors faster.
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