Metabase: Common Installation Issues

• v0.54.9.4

Metabase is an open-source business intelligence tool that’s popular for quickly visualizing and querying data. However, local installations can be prone to certain setup issues. Below are some frequent problems and their solutions, with links to relevant Stack Overflow threads.

Problem 1: Database Connection Errors

• Description: Metabase needs a database (often PostgreSQL or MySQL) to store metadata. A common issue is connection failures due to misconfigured database URIs or network settings.
• Solution: Double-check the database connection string format in the Metabase configuration. For example, PostgreSQL URIs should be in the form: postgres://username:password@localhost:5432/metabase. Ensure the database service is running, and that the port (5432 for PostgreSQL) is accessible.
• Stack Overflow Thread: Database connection issues in Metabase

Problem 2: Port Conflicts on Localhost

• Description: By default, Metabase runs on port 3000, which may conflict with other services.
• Solution: Change the port by setting the MB_JETTY_PORT environment variable before starting Metabase. For example, in a Linux terminal, run export MB_JETTY_PORT=3001. Confirm the port change by accessing Metabase on localhost:3001.
• Stack Overflow Thread: Port conflict solutions for Metabase

Problem 3: Java Runtime Environment (JRE) Issues

• Description: Metabase requires a compatible Java Runtime Environment (JRE), often resulting in errors if Java is missing or incompatible.
• Solution: Ensure Java 8 or higher is installed and that the JAVA_HOME environment variable points to the correct Java path. Run java -version to confirm the version, and update JAVA_HOME if needed. On Linux/macOS, this can be done with export JAVA_HOME=/path/to/java.
• Stack Overflow Thread: JRE setup for Metabase

Problem 4: Slow Initial Load Times

• Description: Users often report slow loading during the first-time setup of Metabase, especially when it initializes a large database.
• Solution: This can be alleviated by optimizing the server’s resources or limiting Metabase’s initial data queries. Check memory usage and consider increasing the memory allocated to Java. For instance, set JAVA_OPTS="-Xms512m -Xmx2g" to adjust the heap size for better performance.
• Stack Overflow Thread: Improving load times in Metabase

Last Releases

• v0.54.9.4May 23, 2025
  url-encode parameters substituted into link and iframe cards (#58429)…   Source: https://github.com/metabase/metabase/releases/tag/v0.54.9.4
• v0.53.16.3May 23, 2025
  cross versions tests: skip @oss tests and use prod build for the FE (…   Source: https://github.com/metabase/metabase/releases/tag/v0.53.16.3
• v0.54.9.3May 22, 2025
  Co-authored-by: Edward Paget edpaget@users.noreply.github.com   Source: https://github.com/metabase/metabase/releases/tag/v0.54.9.3