---
title: influxctl database update
description: The influxctl database update command updates a database’s retention period, tables, or columns.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/clustered/reference/cli/influxctl/database/update/
estimated_tokens: 1011
product: InfluxDB Clustered
version: clustered
---

# influxctl database update

The `influxctl database update` command updates a database’s retention period, table (measurement), or column limits in InfluxDB.

## Usage

```sh
influxctl database update [flags] <DATABASE_NAME>
```

## Arguments

| Argument | Description |
| --- | --- |
| DATABASE_NAME | Name of the database to update |

## Flags

| Flag |  | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
|  | --retention-period | Database retention period (default is 0s or infinite) |
|  | --max-tables | Maximum tables per database (default is 500, 0 uses default) |
|  | --max-columns | Maximum columns per table (default is 250, 0 uses default) |
| -h | --help | Output command help |

*Also see [`influxctl` global flags](/influxdb3/clustered/reference/cli/influxctl/#global-flags).*

## Examples

-   [Update a database’s retention period](#update-a-databases-retention-period)
-   [Update a database’s table limit](#update-a-databases-table-limit)
-   [Update a database’s column limit](#update-a-databases-column-limit)

### Update a database’s retention period

```sh
influxctl database update --retention-period 1mo mydb
```

##### Valid durations units

-   `m`: minute
-   `h`: hour
-   `d`: day
-   `w`: week
-   `mo`: month
-   `y`: year

##### Example retention period values

-   `0d`: infinite/none
-   `3d`: 3 days
-   `6w`: 6 weeks
-   `1mo`: 1 month (30 days)
-   `1y`: 1 year
-   `30d30d`: 60 days
-   `2.5d`: 60 hours

### Update a database’s table limit

```sh
influxctl database update --max-tables 300 mydb
```

### Update a database’s column limit

```sh
influxctl database update --max-columns 200 mydb
```