reference/sql/ALTER-USER.html.md.erb

---
title: ALTER USER
---

Changes the definition of a database role (user).

## <a id="alteruser__section2"></a>Synopsis

``` pre
ALTER USER <name> RENAME TO <newname>

ALTER USER <name> SET <config_parameter> {TO | =} {<value> | DEFAULT}

ALTER USER <name> RESET <config_parameter>

ALTER USER <name> [ [WITH] <option> [ ... ] ]
```

where \<option\> can be:

``` pre
      SUPERUSER | NOSUPERUSER
    | CREATEDB | NOCREATEDB
    | CREATEROLE | NOCREATEROLE
    | CREATEUSER | NOCREATEUSER
    | INHERIT | NOINHERIT
    | LOGIN | NOLOGIN
    | [ ENCRYPTED | UNENCRYPTED ] PASSWORD '<password>'
    | VALID UNTIL '<timestamp>'
```

## <a id="alteruser__section3"></a>Description

`ALTER USER` is a deprecated command but is still accepted for historical reasons. It is an alias for `ALTER ROLE`. See `ALTER ROLE` for more information.

## <a id="alteruser__section4"></a>Compatibility

The `ALTER USER` statement is a HAWQ extension. The SQL standard leaves the definition of users to the implementation.

## <a id="see"></a>See Also

[ALTER ROLE](ALTER-ROLE.html)