---
title: "Unable to upgrade Pharos Database, error \"Database master not recognized as a PHAROS database.\""
slug: "unable-to-upgrade-pharos-database-error-database-master-not-recognized-as-a-pharos-database"
updated: 2024-04-01T13:58:21Z
published: 2024-04-01T13:58:21Z
canonical: "kb.pharos.com/unable-to-upgrade-pharos-database-error-database-master-not-recognized-as-a-pharos-database"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://kb.pharos.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Unable to upgrade Pharos Database, error "Database master not recognized as a PHAROS database."

When trying to upgrade the Pharos Database it fails with the error:

"Database master not recognized as a PHAROS database. Database upgrade cancelled the Pharos Database cannot be upgraded."

---

Either one of two problems exist:

1. The Pharos SQL user does not have its default database set to "pharos". To solve this use SQL Enterprise Manager or DBAMgr to set the default database for the Pharos user to "pharos".
2. Within the Pharos registry, the key that specifies the Pharos SQL user is set to "sa" or some other user not associated to the Pharos database. To solve this, use regedit to modify the below keys to match the logon credentials of the Pharos SQL user:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Pharos\Database Server\Database\User Name]

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Pharos\Database Server\Database\Password]

## Related

- [How to manually upgrade a Pharos Uniprint Database](/how-to-manually-upgrade-a-pharos-uniprint-database.md)
- [Migrating Pharos database between two machines running SQL Server](/migrating-pharos-database-between-two-machines-running-sql-server.md)
- [Manual Install of the Pharos Database](/manual-install-of-the-pharos-database.md)