Fix database connection refused and timeout errors

Database connection failures happen when your application can't reach the database server. This is caused by incorrect connection strings, network/firewall rules, SSL requirements, or the database server being down.

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Error messages you might see

Error: connect ECONNREFUSED 127.0.0.1:5432
Error: P1001: Can't reach database server at `host`:`port`

Why this happens in AI-generated code

1

Incorrect DATABASE_URL connection string

AI-generated database configurations use placeholder connection strings or localhost URLs that don't match your actual database host, port, or credentials.

2

Firewall or network access not configured

AI tools don't configure network access rules. Cloud databases (Supabase, PlanetScale, Neon) require allowlisting your application's IP or enabling public access.

3

SSL required but not configured

AI-generated connection strings omit the ?sslmode=require parameter that most cloud database providers mandate, causing connections to be rejected.

How to fix it

1

Verify and fix your connection string

Check that your DATABASE_URL includes the correct username, password, host, port, database name, and SSL parameters. Copy the connection string directly from your database provider's dashboard.

2

Configure network access and SSL

In your database provider's dashboard, add your application's IP to the allowlist (or enable public access for development). Add ?sslmode=require to your connection string for cloud databases.

3

Get professional help

Still stuck? Our engineers can diagnose and fix your database connectivity issues. Visit /products to get started.

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Frequently asked questions

Why can I connect from my machine but not from Vercel?

Your local machine's IP is likely allowlisted but Vercel's serverless function IPs are not. Either add Vercel's IP ranges to your database allowlist or use a connection pooler like PgBouncer that supports wider access.

What is connection pooling and do I need it?

Connection pooling reuses database connections instead of opening a new one for each request. Serverless environments (Vercel, AWS Lambda) need pooling because each function invocation would otherwise create a new connection, quickly exhausting the database limit.

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