---
title: "ALTER SCHEMA"
id: sql-alterschema
pg_version: "20devel"
---

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# ALTER SCHEMA — change the definition of a schema

## Synopsis

```
ALTER SCHEMA name RENAME TO new_name
ALTER SCHEMA name OWNER TO { new_owner | CURRENT_ROLE | CURRENT_USER | SESSION_USER }
```

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## Description

`ALTER SCHEMA` changes the definition of a schema. 

You must own the schema to use `ALTER SCHEMA`. To rename a schema you must also have the `CREATE` privilege for the database. To alter the owner, you must be able to `SET ROLE` to the new owning role, and that role must have the `CREATE` privilege for the database. (Note that superusers have all these privileges automatically.) 

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## Parameters

**`name`**

 The name of an existing schema. **`new_name`**

 The new name of the schema. The new name cannot begin with `pg_`, as such names are reserved for system schemas. **`new_owner`**

 The new owner of the schema. <a id="id-1.9.3.30.7"></a>

## Compatibility

There is no `ALTER SCHEMA` statement in the SQL standard. 

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## See Also

[CREATE SCHEMA](sql-createschema.md), [DROP SCHEMA](sql-dropschema.md)