How to Uninstall MariaDB in PostgreSQL

Galaxy Glossary

How do I completely uninstall MariaDB without leaving residual files?

Completely removes MariaDB packages, data directories, and configuration files so you can free resources or switch fully to PostgreSQL.

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Table of Contents

What does “uninstall MariaDB” mean?

Uninstalling MariaDB removes the server, client tools, libraries, log files, and data directories from your machine. It also frees port 3306 so PostgreSQL or other services can use it.

Why back up before uninstalling?

Backups let you migrate existing data—such as an Orders table—to PostgreSQL later. Dump everything with mysqldump --all-databases > mariadb_backup.sql before removal.

How to uninstall MariaDB on Debian/Ubuntu?

Stop the service, purge packages, and delete data:

sudo systemctl stop mariadb sudo apt-get purge --auto-remove mariadb-server mariadb-client sudo rm -rf /var/lib/mysql /etc/mysql

How to uninstall on RHEL/CentOS/Fedora?

Use dnf (or yum):

sudo systemctl stop mariadb sudo dnf remove mariadb-server mariadb sudo rm -rf /var/lib/mysql /etc/my.cnf.d

How to uninstall on macOS (Homebrew)?

Run:

brew services stop mariadb brew uninstall mariadb rm -rf /usr/local/var/mysql /usr/local/etc/my.cnf

How to uninstall on Windows?

Use "Apps & Features" to remove MariaDB <version>, then delete C:\Program Files\MariaDB and C:\ProgramData\MySQL.

How to clean residual configuration files?

Search for my.cnf, my.ini, and .my.cnf in your home directory and remove them to avoid client-side conflicts.

How to free port 3306?

After uninstalling, verify with sudo lsof -i :3306. If nothing appears, the port is free for PostgreSQL.

Example: migrate `Orders` data to PostgreSQL

# 1. Dump MariaDB data (done before uninstall) mysqldump ecommerce Orders > Orders.sql # 2. Convert SQL if needed, then restore into PostgreSQL psql -d ecommerce -f Orders.sql

Best practices after removal

Update documentation, disable any automation that expected MariaDB, and monitor your PostgreSQL logs to confirm no residual MySQL clients are still connecting.

Common mistakes to avoid

Not purging config – simply removing packages leaves my.cnf. Always delete config directories.
Forgetting backups – once deleted, data directories are unrecoverable. Always dump databases first.

Why How to Uninstall MariaDB in PostgreSQL is important

How to Uninstall MariaDB in PostgreSQL Example Usage


-- Verify that PostgreSQL now owns the ecommerce data
SELECT id, customer_id, order_date, total_amount
FROM Orders
WHERE order_date >= CURRENT_DATE - INTERVAL '30 days';

-- Confirm that no MariaDB service is running
-- (run in shell)
ps aux | grep -i 'mariad[b]'

How to Uninstall MariaDB in PostgreSQL Syntax


# Debian / Ubuntu
sudo systemctl stop mariadb
sudo apt-get purge --auto-remove mariadb-server mariadb-client
sudo rm -rf /var/lib/mysql /etc/mysql

# Red Hat / CentOS / Fedora
a. Stop service: sudo systemctl stop mariadb
b. Remove packages: sudo dnf remove mariadb-server mariadb
c. Delete data/config: sudo rm -rf /var/lib/mysql /etc/my.cnf.d

# macOS (Homebrew)
brew services stop mariadb
brew uninstall mariadb
rm -rf /usr/local/var/mysql /usr/local/etc/my.cnf

# Windows (PowerShell)
Stop-Service MariaDB
choco uninstall mariadb  # if installed via Chocolatey
Remove-Item -Recurse -Force "C:\Program Files\MariaDB" "C:\ProgramData\MySQL"

Options & flags:
--purge/--auto-remove : also delete dependent packages (APT)
--no-preserve : force removal of config files (APT)
--allmatches : remove all matching packages (YUM)

Prerequisites:
• Root/sudo privileges
• Backup generated with mysqldump

Common Mistakes

Removing only the server package but leaving <code>libmariadb3</code> libraries installed. These orphaned libs can cause port conflicts. Always use the package manager’s purge or remove-deps option.
Deleting <code>/var/lib/mysql</code> first, then trying to stop the service. The running daemon recreates the directory, causing confusion. Always stop the service before deleting data.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Is uninstalling MariaDB risky?

Not if you back up first. Use mysqldump --all-databases, verify the SQL file, then proceed.

Can I reinstall MariaDB later?

Yes. Simply install via your package manager again. Remember to restore your backup into the fresh instance.

Does uninstalling MariaDB affect PostgreSQL?

No. They are separate services. Removal only frees resources previously held by MariaDB.

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