# recovery.conf file merged into postgresql.conf

PostgreSQL 11 and below used a configuration file named `recovery.conf`
to manage replicas and standbys. Support for this file was removed in PostgreSQL 12. See the release notes for PostgreSQL 12 for details on this change.

On PostgreSQL 12 and above, archive recovery, streaming replication, and PITR are configured using normal server configuration parameters. These are set in `postgresql.conf` or via ALTER SYSTEM like any other parameter.

The server will not start if a `recovery.conf` exists.

PostgreSQL 15 and below had a setting `promote_trigger_file`, or `trigger_file` before 12. Use `pg_ctl promote` or call `pg_promote()` to promote a standby instead.

The `standby_mode`
setting has been removed. A `standby.signal` file in the data directory is used instead. See standby-server-operation for details.