PGROUTING extension fails to deploy when added to postgres 16

Question

PGROUTING extension fails to deploy when added to postgres 16

Christian Shardey 0

PGROUTING extension was added recently to the extension list for postgres 16.
However when I add that extension to my postgres v16 this is failing to deploy.

User's image

Abhisek Mishra 1,020 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-23T15:43:49.6866667+00:00
Hi Christian Shardey,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A and thank you for posting your questions here.

Although pgRouting was recently added to the extension list for PostgreSQL 16, the error occurs because Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server requires extensions to be allowlisted and fully supported in the managed environment. Even if the extension appears in documentation, deployment can fail if:

The extension binaries are not yet available in the Azure-managed image.
Try checking the supported extension using SELECT * FROM pg_available_extensions WHERE name = 'pgrouting'; If the extension appears but has a NULL or empty version, it means the binary is not yet installed on that image.

The extension is not properly allowlisted in the azure.extensions parameter.
Follow Microsoft Learn: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/postgresql/extensions/how-to-allow-extensions?tabs=allow-extensions-portal

I hope this information is helpful! If you still have questions or you come across issues, please let us know what is needed in the comments so this question can be answered.

Thanks,

Abhisek
Abhisek Mishra 1,020 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-24T08:55:20.6333333+00:00

Hi Christian Shardey,

I hope you had a chance to review the information shared earlier, and I hope this information has been helpful! If you still have questions, please let us know what is needed in the comments so the question can be answered.

Thanks,

Abhisek
Christian Shardey 0 Reputation points

2025-10-24T09:07:41.8+00:00

Hi @Abhisek Mishra , thanks for responding to this.

When will the binary image be fully available in azure managed image?
Abhisek Mishra 1,020 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-29T13:15:08.4633333+00:00

Hi Christian Shardey,

Thank you for asking this follow up question. As of now, there is nothing in public domain regarding when the binary image will be fully made available in azure managed image (Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server).
Christian Shardey 0 Reputation points

2025-11-04T10:25:02.1933333+00:00

The server was upgraded to v17 and I still cannot install pgrouting on it.
Manoj Kumar Boyini 1,250 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-09T15:04:56.01+00:00

Hi Christian Shardey,

The pgrouting extension is not yet fully available in the managed PostgreSQL image for versions 16 and 17, which causes the deployment to fail even though it appears in the documentation.

To confirm this from your server, please run the following and share the results in Private message:

1.SELECT name, default_version, installed_version, comment

FROM pg_available_extensions WHERE name = 'pgrouting';

2.CREATE EXTENSION pgrouting;

3.SELECT version();

Also, please note the time (UTC) when the error occurred and whether your server uses a private or public endpoint. This will help us verify the current image status and guide you on the next steps.
Robin Wilson 0 Reputation points

2025-11-17T22:46:12.8066667+00:00

I'm having the same problem here. We have a Postgres 16 server and get the same error as the OP when trying to enable pgRouting.

The page listing currently available extension versions lists pgRouting as supported for Postgres 16, so I'm a bit confused about your previous responses to the OP. Is the documentation wrong?

Strangely, if I create a new Postgres server from scratch then the pgRouting extension can be enabled. I've tried with servers for Postgres 16, 17 and 18, and it all works fine. But it won't work for our existing server.

Is there something I need to do to force my existing server to use some sort of new image?

Best regards,

Robin

2 answers

Your answer

Abhisek Mishra 1,020 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-23T15:43:49.6866667+00:00

Hi Christian Shardey,

Welcome to the Microsoft Q&A and thank you for posting your questions here.

Although pgRouting was recently added to the extension list for PostgreSQL 16, the error occurs because Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server requires extensions to be allowlisted and fully supported in the managed environment. Even if the extension appears in documentation, deployment can fail if:

The extension binaries are not yet available in the Azure-managed image.
Try checking the supported extension using SELECT * FROM pg_available_extensions WHERE name = 'pgrouting'; If the extension appears but has a NULL or empty version, it means the binary is not yet installed on that image.

The extension is not properly allowlisted in the azure.extensions parameter.
Follow Microsoft Learn: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/postgresql/extensions/how-to-allow-extensions?tabs=allow-extensions-portal

I hope this information is helpful! If you still have questions or you come across issues, please let us know what is needed in the comments so this question can be answered.

Thanks,

Abhisek
Abhisek Mishra 1,020 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-24T08:55:20.6333333+00:00

Hi Christian Shardey,

I hope you had a chance to review the information shared earlier, and I hope this information has been helpful! If you still have questions, please let us know what is needed in the comments so the question can be answered.

Thanks,

Abhisek
Christian Shardey 0 Reputation points

2025-10-24T09:07:41.8+00:00

Hi @Abhisek Mishra , thanks for responding to this.

When will the binary image be fully available in azure managed image?
Abhisek Mishra 1,020 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-10-29T13:15:08.4633333+00:00

Hi Christian Shardey,

Thank you for asking this follow up question. As of now, there is nothing in public domain regarding when the binary image will be fully made available in azure managed image (Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server).
Christian Shardey 0 Reputation points

2025-11-04T10:25:02.1933333+00:00

The server was upgraded to v17 and I still cannot install pgrouting on it.
Manoj Kumar Boyini 1,250 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-11-09T15:04:56.01+00:00

Hi Christian Shardey,

The pgrouting extension is not yet fully available in the managed PostgreSQL image for versions 16 and 17, which causes the deployment to fail even though it appears in the documentation.

To confirm this from your server, please run the following and share the results in Private message:

1.SELECT name, default_version, installed_version, comment

FROM pg_available_extensions WHERE name = 'pgrouting';

2.CREATE EXTENSION pgrouting;

3.SELECT version();

Also, please note the time (UTC) when the error occurred and whether your server uses a private or public endpoint. This will help us verify the current image status and guide you on the next steps.
Robin Wilson 0 Reputation points

2025-11-17T22:46:12.8066667+00:00

I'm having the same problem here. We have a Postgres 16 server and get the same error as the OP when trying to enable pgRouting.

The page listing currently available extension versions lists pgRouting as supported for Postgres 16, so I'm a bit confused about your previous responses to the OP. Is the documentation wrong?

Strangely, if I create a new Postgres server from scratch then the pgRouting extension can be enabled. I've tried with servers for Postgres 16, 17 and 18, and it all works fine. But it won't work for our existing server.

Is there something I need to do to force my existing server to use some sort of new image?

Best regards,

Robin

Answer 1

Hi Christian Shardey,

When upgrading to PostgreSQL 17, the following extensions are not supported and must be removed before upgrade. You may re-enable them only if supported on the target version: age, azure_ai, hll, pg_diskann, pgrouting.

Its documented here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/postgresql/flexible-server/concepts-major-version-upgrade#extension-limitations

Please let me know if this helps and If you still have questions, please let us know what is needed in the comments so this question can be answered.

Answer 2

Christian Shardey 0

If this is the issue why do you publish on your website that pgrouting is supported???
I think the documentation on the website is a bit misleading

Robin Wilson 0 Reputation points

2025-11-18T08:42:54.34+00:00

The weird thing I've found @Christian Shardey is that it works for Postgres 16, 17 and 18 if you create a new server and try and enable the extension - but it doesn't work for our existing servers. I don't quite understand what the Microsoft person here is saying, but it sounds like existing servers might need to be migrated to support it? I wish I knew how we could do that though.
Christian Shardey 0 Reputation points

2025-11-18T08:48:45.9366667+00:00

The only possible solution is create a new server and restore your database in the new one
Robin Wilson 0 Reputation points

2025-11-18T14:59:41.22+00:00

Yeah I guess so, that just seems like a lot of unnecessary work.
VRISHABHANATH PATIL 1,820 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2025-12-02T06:01:51.49+00:00

Hi @Christian Shardey

Kindly refer the below snippet for your reference -

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PGROUTING extension fails to deploy when added to postgres 16

2 answers

Your answer