# Waiting for PostgreSQL 19 - Online enabling and disabling of data checksums

DevFeed: [Waiting for PostgreSQL 19 - Online enabling and disabling of data checksums](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/waiting-for-postgresql-19-online-enabling-and-disabling-of-data-checksums-33687.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://www.depesz.com/2026/04/15/waiting-for-postgresql-19-online-enabling-and-disabling-of-data-checksums/>)

Author: depesz

Published: 2026-04-15T18:05:36Z

Content type: article

Language: en

Sources: [select \* from depesz;](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/select-from-depesz.md>)

Topics: [PostgreSQL](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/postgresql.md>), [postgresql clusters](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/postgresql-clusters.md>), [async](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/async.md>), [IO](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/io.md>)

Tags: [async](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/async.md>), [background](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/background.md>), [background-work](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/background-work.md>), [checksums](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/checksums.md>), [data-checksum](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/data-checksum.md>), [io](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/io.md>), [pg19](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/pg19.md>), [postgresql](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/postgresql.md>), [uncategorized](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/uncategorized.md>), [vacuum](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/vacuum.md>), [waiting](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/waiting.md>)

## AI overview

This article examines a PostgreSQL 19 patch that allows data checksums to be enabled or disabled while a cluster is running. The command is immediate, but rewriting every table and index occurs in the background and can require substantial I/O. The article also discusses cost-delay options for controlling the background worker.

## Source excerpt

On 3rd of April 2026, Daniel Gustafsson committed patch: Online enabling and disabling of data checksums This allows data checksums to be enabled, or disabled, in a running cluster without restricting access to the cluster during processing. Data checksums could prior to this only be enabled during initdb or when the cluster is ... Continue reading "Waiting for PostgreSQL 19 - Online enabling and disabling of data checksums"