pgvector Error: extension "vector" is not available

How to fix it

// try these in order, the most common fix is first

1. FIX 1Use the right name

   Copy steps
   1. 01Run CREATE EXTENSION vector;
   2. 02The project is called pgvector but the extension is registered as vector
   Did this fix it? Yes No

2. FIX 2Check availability

   Copy steps
   1. 01Run SELECT * FROM pg_available_extensions WHERE name = 'vector';
   2. 02If empty, the files are missing for this server
   Did this fix it? Yes No

3. FIX 3Install for your Postgres version

   Copy steps
   1. 01On Debian or Ubuntu install the package for your major version, for example postgresql-16-pgvector
   2. 02Or use the pgvector Docker image
   3. 03Restart Postgres and retry
   Did this fix it? Yes No

4. FIX 4Managed hosts

   Copy steps
   1. 01Supabase: enable vector on the Extensions page
   2. 02Neon: run CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS vector;
   3. 03If your host does not offer it, ask support or switch template (Railway and Vultr threads show this)
   Did this fix it? Yes No

Symptoms

ERROR: extension "vector" is not available or could not open extension control file vector.control.

Why it happens

• C-01Using CREATE EXTENSION pgvector instead of vector
• C-02pgvector package not installed for your Postgres major version
• C-03Postgres upgraded and old extension files left behind
• C-04Managed host or template that does not ship it

// this guide also covers

• extension vector is not available
• could not open extension control file vector.control
• pgvector extension not found

Other pgvector errors

• pgvector HNSW Index Build Slow
• pgvector "operator does not exist: vector <=>" Error
• pgvector Dimension Limit: Cannot Index More Than 2000 Dimensions
• pgvector "different vector dimensions" Error
• pgvector Query Returns Fewer Results Than LIMIT With Filter
• pgvector Index Not Being Used
• pgvector HNSW Build Out of Memory or Shared Memory Error
• How to Enable pgvector on Supabase