Managing Users & Permissions

pgAdmin includes its own user and role system, which controls access to the pgAdmin interface, not the PostgreSQL database itself. This allows administrators to determine who can log in to pgAdmin and what tools or actions they are allowed to use. Roles group sets of permissions, making it simple to apply consistent access controls across multiple users.

Accessing the User Management tab

User and permission administration is done in the User Management tab, opened by clicking the User button in the upper-right corner of pgAdmin and selecting User Management from the dropdown menu.

The panel is organized into three sub-tabs, each focused on a different aspect of access control:

Sub-Tab	Description
Users	Manage pgAdmin accounts (create, edit, deactivate, unlock, or remove users).
Roles	Define and organize role groups used to control access to pgAdmin features.
Permissions	Assign capabilities to roles, determining what users with those roles can do.

Image credit: pgAdmin

Creating Roles

Roles group permissions so that access can be managed efficiently. Instead of configuring privileges for each user individually, roles make it easy to apply shared access levels, such as standard user or full administrator.

To create a new role, open the Roles sub-tab and select Create Role... (+). You’ll be prompted to supply the following fields:

Field	Description
Name	A unique label that identifies the role.
Description	A short explanation of the role’s purpose.

Once saved, the role becomes available for assignment to users and configuration in the Permissions tab.

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Assigning Permissions

Role permissions define what features users with that role can access, such as query tools, configuration menus, or administrative functions.

In the Permissions sub-tab, select a role to view and adjust its permissions. Each item can be toggled on or off to grant or revoke access. Changes take effect immediately and apply to every user assigned to that role.

This role-based approach helps maintain clarity, consistency, and security across multi-user pgAdmin environments.

Image credit: pgAdmin

Adding Users

Users represent individual people who log into pgAdmin. Their email address acts as their username, and each user must belong to at least one role. Users assigned the Administrator role have permission to manage pgAdmin accounts and settings.

From the Users sub-tab, select Create User... (+) to add a new account. The key fields include:

Field	Description
Email	The login identifier for the user (mandatory).
Role	Assign the user as either an Administrator or User.
Active	Enable or disable the account without removing it.
New Password / Confirm Password	Sets the login password.
Locked	Indicates whether the user is locked from failed login attempts; can be reset by an admin.

This interface can also be used to change a user’s role, update their password, or deactivate the account while keeping it available for later use.

Image credit: pgAdmin

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Next up: A quick glossary of key terms used in this guide.