How to fix pg_dump "aborting because of server version mismatch"

Error Message#

pg_dump: server version: 15.1; pg_dump version: 14.5
pg_dump: aborting because of server version mismatch

Description#

This error occurs when the version of pg_dump client tool doesn't match the PostgreSQL server version you're trying to back up. PostgreSQL requires pg_dump to be the same version or newer than the target server.

Version Compatibility Rules#

• Newer pg_dump with older server: Works fine
• Older pg_dump with newer server: Will fail
• Same versions: Recommended for best compatibility

Solutions#

1. Check versions:

   # Check server version
   psql -c "SELECT version();"
   
   # Check pg_dump version
   pg_dump --version

2. Install matching PostgreSQL client tools:

   # Debian/Ubuntu
   sudo apt-get install postgresql-client-15
   
   # RHEL/CentOS
   sudo yum install postgresql15

3. Use full path to correct version:

   # Find correct pg_dump binary
   find /usr -name "pg_dump" | grep postgres
   
   # Use full path
   /usr/lib/postgresql/15/bin/pg_dump -h hostname -U username -d dbname > backup.sql

4. Use Docker with matching version:

   docker run --rm -v "$PWD":/backup postgres:15 pg_dump -h host -U username -d dbname > backup.sql

Prevention#

• Use package managers that maintain version consistency
• Document PostgreSQL versions in your infrastructure
• Consider using containerized backup solutions for version isolation