How can I remove PostgreSQL@14 references after upgrading to PostgreSQL@17 with Homebrew?

Below is an explanation and some steps to help you remove the references to PostgreSQL 14 and have only PostgreSQL 17 show up in your Homebrew services.

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Why the Reference to PostgreSQL 14?

Even though you’ve removed PostgreSQL 14 from your installed formulas, Homebrew might still have a lingering reference if, for example:

• A launch agent (plist file) is still installed on your system.
• Cached service definitions have not been cleaned up.

The message:

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Warning: Service `postgresql@14` is not started

indicates that Homebrew knows about the old PostgreSQL 14 service, but since it isn’t running, it warns you when you try to stop “postgresql” (which may be aliased to the older formula).

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How to Remove PostgreSQL 14 References

1. Check for Leftover Launch Agents

   Homebrew services for PostgreSQL are managed via launchd. Look for any PostgreSQL 14 plist files in your user LaunchAgents directory:

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   ls ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.postgresql@14.plist

   If the file exists, remove it:

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   rm ~/Library/LaunchAgents/homebrew.mxcl.postgresql@14.plist

2. Uninstall and Cleanup

   Even if you think PostgreSQL 14 is uninstalled, it’s a good idea to run a cleanup:

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   brew cleanup
   brew services cleanup

   The above commands remove outdated symlinks and references from Homebrew’s service management.

3. Verify Your Installed Services

   Run the following command to list services recognized by Homebrew:

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   brew services list

   At this point you should only see PostgreSQL 17 (or postgresql@17) listed.

4. Check for Any Manual References

   Sometimes scripts or manual configuration files might refer to the old version. Search your Homebrew configuration directories:

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   grep -R "postgresql@14" $(brew --prefix)

   If you find any relevant files, consider removing or updating them.

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Verifying Your PATH

Your .zshrc already contains:

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export PATH="/opt/homebrew/opt/postgresql@17/bin:$PATH"

So your shell is correctly set up to reference PostgreSQL 17. By also cleaning up Homebrew’s service configurations, your system should no longer reference PostgreSQL 14 when managing the services.

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By following these steps, you should be left with only PostgreSQL 17 references in Homebrew services. Let me know if you need further assistance!