Summary: The pg_dump -Fc export from Neon produces a custom-format Postgres archive that any standard Postgres toolchain can restore with pg_restore. Use this page when migrating a Neon database to another Postgres provider or self-hosted cluster and needing a provider-agnostic dump file. The export requires an unpooled connection string; the destination must run the same or a newer Postgres major version, and role ownership mismatches can be resolved with the -O flag on pg_restore.

Export your Neon database with pg_dump as a standard Postgres archive

This topic describes how to export your Neon database to a Postgres-compatible archive using the Postgres pg_dump utility. You get a normal custom-format dump (for example -Fc) that any Postgres toolchain can consume.

Once you have the archive, importing it is standard Postgres tooling. The Restore on your destination section below shows a pg_restore command that pairs with the -Fc export. You must still check your destination Postgres platform or provider. Their docs are authoritative for SSL, networking, extensions, roles, empty-database requirements, and any managed import UI they offer.

Important: Avoid using pg_dump over a pooled connection string. Use an unpooled connection string instead.

1. In the Neon Console, open Connect and turn Connection pooling off. Copy the connection string.

2. Run pg_dump in custom format (-Fc) and write a dump file:

   pg_dump -Fc -v -d "<neon_database_connection_string>" -f <dump_file_name>

   With your Neon URL and a file name filled in, a command looks like this:

   pg_dump -Fc -v -d "postgresql://alex:AbC123dEf@ep-cool-darkness-123456.us-east-2.aws.neon.tech/neondb?sslmode=require&channel_binding=require" -f mydatabase.bak

   The pg_dump arguments above:

   • -Fc: Custom-format archive for pg_restore.
   • -v: Verbose output during the dump.
   • -d: Your Neon database connection string.
   • -f: Output file path (for example mydatabase.bak).

3. Store the file where your restore environment can reach it securely.

Each pg_dump run covers one Neon database. If your project has multiple databases, run pg_dump again with the other connection strings (and separate dump files).

For installing pg_dump on your machine, see Backups with pg_dump. For advanced options, ownership, and piping, see Migrate data from Postgres with pg_dump and pg_restore.

A custom-format dump (-Fc) from Neon is restored with pg_restore. Use the same dump file you wrote with pg_dump -f in Export steps on Neon (the examples below use mydatabase.bak to match the export example).

Before you run this: Confirm with your destination's documentation that pg_restore against a custom-format (-Fc) archive is supported.

• Postgres version: Plan for the destination server to run a Postgres major version that matches your Neon database or is newer. Restoring into an older major version than the cluster you dumped from often fails. If versions differ, follow your provider's compatibility guidance and test first.
• Extensions and settings: The destination must support the extensions and features your Neon database uses, or you adjust before cutover.
• Roles: Source and destination role names often differ. Plan for -O / --no-owner on pg_restore (see below) so restores do not depend on matching role OIDs.

Install pg_dump and pg_restore builds that your Neon Postgres version and your destination provider support (if the two differ, follow each side's client guidance; see pg_restore in the Postgres manual).

1. Create or select a target database on your destination as their docs require (empty is typical so objects from the dump do not collide with existing schema or data).

2. Obtain a connection string for that database.

3. Run pg_restore against the destination, passing the dump file path last (same role as -f on pg_dump):

   pg_restore -v -d "<destination_database_connection_string>" <dump_file_name>

   With your destination URL and the same file name you used when exporting, a command looks like this:

   pg_restore -v -d "postgresql://user:password@db.example.com:5432/mydb?sslmode=require" mydatabase.bak

   The pg_restore arguments above:

   • -v: Verbose output while restoring.
   • -d: Target database connection string (your provider's URL format and query parameters).
   • <dump_file_name>: The custom-format archive from pg_dump (for example mydatabase.bak from the pg_dump command in Export steps on Neon).

If restore fails on ownership or role statements, try adding -O and consult Database object ownership considerations. For more flags (parallel jobs, schema-only, exclusions), see Advanced pg_dump and pg_restore options.

• Region migration
• Backups with pg_dump
• Migrate data from Postgres with pg_dump and pg_restore

• Overview
• Azure regions deprecation
• Neon to another region
• Neon to Lakebase

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