---
title: "`recovery.conf` file merged into `postgresql.conf`"
id: recovery-config
pg_version: "20devel"
---

<a id="recovery-config"></a>

## O.1. `recovery.conf` file merged into `postgresql.conf`

PostgreSQL 11 and below used a configuration file named `recovery.conf`  to manage replicas and standbys. Support for this file was removed in PostgreSQL 12. See [the release notes for PostgreSQL 12](release-prior.md) for details on this change. 

On PostgreSQL 12 and above, [archive recovery, streaming replication, and PITR](continuous-archiving.md) are configured using [normal server configuration parameters](runtime-config-replication.md#runtime-config-replication-standby). These are set in `postgresql.conf` or via [ALTER SYSTEM](sql-altersystem.md) like any other parameter. 

The server will not start if a `recovery.conf` exists. 

PostgreSQL 15 and below had a setting `promote_trigger_file`, or `trigger_file` before 12. Use `pg_ctl promote` or call `pg_promote()` to promote a standby instead. 

The `standby_mode`  setting has been removed. A `standby.signal` file in the data directory is used instead. See [Section 26.2.2](warm-standby.md#standby-server-operation) for details.