Skip to main content

Manage Aiven for PostgreSQL® extensions

Install, update, and remove PostgreSQL® extensions on Aiven for PostgreSQL using SQL commands.

Aiven for PostgreSQL supports a curated set of extensions that you install, update, and remove using SQL commands. All database users can manage extensions, including the default avnadmin user and any other database user created through the Aiven Console, Aiven CLI, Aiven API, or Aiven Provider for Terraform. Aiven for PostgreSQL applies an extension allowlist at the service level, so managing extensions doesn't require elevated database privileges.

tip

Instead of running SQL commands, you can also manage extensions using an AI assistant connected to Aiven MCP, or using the extensions manager in PG Studio.

Install an extension​

To install an extension, run:

CREATE EXTENSION EXTENSION_NAME CASCADE;

Update an extension​

To upgrade an already-installed extension to the latest version, run:

ALTER EXTENSION EXTENSION_NAME UPDATE;

Delete an extension​

To delete an extension, run:

DROP EXTENSION EXTENSION_NAME;

Request an extension​

Aiven welcomes suggestions for additional extensions, and some extensions can be enabled on request. For any extension that's not on the list of approved extensions, open a support ticket and include:

  • The extension you're requesting.
  • The database service and user database that need it.

FAQ​

  • Do you need extra configuration before installing pg_stat_plans or pg_stat_monitor? Yes. Enable the matching advanced configuration parameter for your service, pg_stat_plans_enable or pg_stat_monitor_enable, before you install either extension. Enabling either parameter applies a service restart.
  • Does a maintenance update also update your extensions? No. User schemas and functions often rely on specific extension versions, so Aiven for PostgreSQL doesn't assume that every extension is safe to upgrade automatically. To test an extension upgrade before applying it to your live database, fork your service and run the upgrade on the copy.
  • Can you install untrusted language extensions, such as plpythonu? No. Aiven for PostgreSQL doesn't support untrusted language extensions because they would compromise the ability to guarantee the highest possible service level.

Related pages