---
title: "DROP ACCESS METHOD"
id: sql-drop-access-method
pg_version: "20devel"
---

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# DROP ACCESS METHOD — remove an access method

## Synopsis

```
DROP ACCESS METHOD [ IF EXISTS ] name [ CASCADE | RESTRICT ]
```

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## Description

`DROP ACCESS METHOD` removes an existing access method. Only superusers can drop access methods. 

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## Parameters

**`IF EXISTS`**

 Do not throw an error if the access method does not exist. A notice is issued in this case. **`name`**

 The name of an existing access method. **`CASCADE`**

 Automatically drop objects that depend on the access method (such as operator classes, operator families, and indexes), and in turn all objects that depend on those objects (see [Section 5.17](ddl-depend.md)). **`RESTRICT`**

 Refuse to drop the access method if any objects depend on it. This is the default. <a id="id-1.9.3.105.7"></a>

## Examples

Drop the access method `heptree`: 
DROP ACCESS METHOD heptree;


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## Compatibility

`DROP ACCESS METHOD` is a PostgreSQL extension. 

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## See Also

[CREATE ACCESS METHOD](sql-create-access-method.md)