How to Uninstall BigQuery in PostgreSQL

Galaxy Glossary

How do I completely uninstall the BigQuery FDW extension from PostgreSQL?

Uninstalls the BigQuery FDW extension from PostgreSQL, removing its objects and metadata.

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Description

Example H2

Example H3

Why uninstall the BigQuery extension?

Remove the extension when you no longer query BigQuery from PostgreSQL, wish to clean dependencies, or must tighten security.

What objects must be removed first?

All foreign tables, servers, and user mappings that rely on bigquery_fdw must be dropped or cascaded; otherwise DROP EXTENSION fails.

How do I uninstall BigQuery FDW step-by-step?

1. List dependent objects

Run \dx+ bigquery_fdw in psql to view foreign tables, servers, and functions tied to the extension.

2.Drop foreign tables

Example: DROP FOREIGN TABLE IF EXISTS orders_bq; Repeat for each table.

3. Drop the foreign server

DROP SERVER IF EXISTS bq_server CASCADE; removes attached user mappings, simplifying cleanup.

4. Remove the extension

DROP EXTENSION IF EXISTS bigquery_fdw; completes the uninstall.

Can I force removal in one command?

Yes, append CASCADE to automatically drop dependent objects, but ensure nothing mission-critical is lost.

Best practices after uninstalling

Re-run tests, update documentation, and revoke any service accounts that previously authenticated to BigQuery.

Why How to Uninstall BigQuery in PostgreSQL is important

How to Uninstall BigQuery in PostgreSQL Example Usage


-- Uninstall BigQuery FDW in one shot, auto-dropping dependent objects
DROP EXTENSION IF EXISTS bigquery_fdw CASCADE;

How to Uninstall BigQuery in PostgreSQL Syntax


DROP EXTENSION [IF EXISTS] bigquery_fdw [CASCADE | RESTRICT];

-- Example workflow in an ecommerce context
-- 1. Remove BigQuery-backed tables
DROP FOREIGN TABLE IF EXISTS orders_bq;
DROP FOREIGN TABLE IF EXISTS customers_bq;

-- 2. Remove the server and mappings
DROP SERVER IF EXISTS bq_server CASCADE;

-- 3. Uninstall the extension itself
DROP EXTENSION IF EXISTS bigquery_fdw CASCADE;

Common Mistakes

Skipping dependent objects: Running DROP EXTENSION without first dropping foreign tables causes an error. Fix by dropping tables or using CASCADE.
Forgetting to revoke credentials: Leaving service-account keys active after uninstall exposes unused access. Revoke or rotate keys immediately.