---
title: influxdb3 update database
description: The influxdb3 update database command updates an existing database.
url: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/update/database/
estimated_tokens: 1144
product: InfluxDB 3 Enterprise
version: enterprise
publisher: InfluxData
canonical: https://docs.influxdata.com/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/cli/influxdb3/update/database/
date: '2026-04-20T11:26:19-05:00'
lastmod: '2026-04-20T11:26:19-05:00'
---

The `influxdb3 update database` command updates an existing database in your InfluxDB 3 Enterprise instance.

Use this command to update a database’s retention period.

## Usage

```bash
influxdb3 update database [OPTIONS] --database <DATABASE_NAME>
```

## Arguments

* **`DATABASE_NAME`**: (Required) The name of the database to update.

You can also set the database name using the `INFLUXDB3_DATABASE_NAME` environment variable.

## Options

|Option|                    |                                                                 Description                                                                 |
|------|--------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| `-H` |      `--host`      |                          Host URL of the running InfluxDB 3 Enterprise server (default is `http://127.0.0.1:8181`)                          |
| `-d` |    `--database`    |                                                     The name of the database to update                                                      |
|      |     `--token`      |                                                            Authentication token                                                             |
| `-r` |`--retention-period`|The retention period as a [duration](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/glossary/#duration) value (for example: `30d`, `24h`) or `none` to clear|
|      |     `--tls-ca`     |                            Path to a custom TLS certificate authority (for testing or self-signed certificates)                             |
|      | `--tls-no-verify`  |                Disable TLS certificate verification (**Not recommended in production**, useful for self-signed certificates)                |
| `-h` |      `--help`      |                                                           Print help information                                                            |
|      |    `--help-all`    |                                                       Print detailed help information                                                       |

### Option environment variables

You can use the following environment variables instead of providing CLI options directly:

|  Environment Variable   |     Option      |
|-------------------------|-----------------|
|  `INFLUXDB3_HOST_URL`   |    `--host`     |
|`INFLUXDB3_DATABASE_NAME`|  `--database`   |
| `INFLUXDB3_AUTH_TOKEN`  |    `--token`    |
|   `INFLUXDB3_TLS_CA`    |   `--tls-ca`    |
|`INFLUXDB3_TLS_NO_VERIFY`|`--tls-no-verify`|

## Examples

The following examples show how to update a database.

In your commands replace the following:

* `DATABASE_NAME`:
  Database name
* `AUTH_TOKEN`:
  Authentication token

### Update a database retention period

Updates a database retention period to 30 days.

```bash
influxdb3 update database --retention-period 30d --database DATABASE_NAME
```

### Clear a database retention period

Removes the retention period from a database by setting it to `none`.

```bash
influxdb3 update database --retention-period none --database DATABASE_NAME
```

### Update a database with authentication

Updates a database using an authentication token.

```bash
influxdb3 update database --token AUTH_TOKEN --retention-period 7d --database DATABASE_NAME
```

#### Related

* [Update database API](/influxdb3/enterprise/api/database/#operation/update_database)
* [Data retention in InfluxDB 3 Enterprise](/influxdb3/enterprise/reference/internals/data-retention/)
| Option |  | Description |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Option |  | Description |
| -H | --host | Host URL of the running InfluxDB 3 Enterprise server (default is  http://127.0.0.1:8181 ) |
| -d | --database | The name of the database to update |
|  | --token | Authentication token |
| -r | --retention-period | The retention period as a  duration  value (for example:  30d ,  24h ) or  none  to clear |
|  | --tls-ca | Path to a custom TLS certificate authority (for testing or self-signed certificates) |
|  | --tls-no-verify | Disable TLS certificate verification ( Not recommended in production , useful for self-signed certificates) |
| -h | --help | Print help information |
|  | --help-all | Print detailed help information |

| Environment Variable | Option |
| --- | --- |
| Environment Variable | Option |
| INFLUXDB3_HOST_URL | --host |
| INFLUXDB3_DATABASE_NAME | --database |
| INFLUXDB3_AUTH_TOKEN | --token |
| INFLUXDB3_TLS_CA | --tls-ca |
| INFLUXDB3_TLS_NO_VERIFY | --tls-no-verify |