active_sql_transaction Active Sql Transaction — SQLSTATE 25001

A command was run that is not allowed inside a transaction block.

• The error is written to the server log and returned to the client carrying SQLSTATE 25001.
• Any driver (libpq, JDBC, psycopg, npgsql, pgx) surfaces this code in its error object so you can branch on it programmatically.
• PL/pgSQL can trap it by name: EXCEPTION WHEN active_sql_transaction THEN.

Severity: ERROR  |  PostgreSQL versions: 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17

Reproduce with the exact statement and read the full message in the server log (raise log_min_messages / set log_min_error_statement for more context).

Commands such as CREATE DATABASE, DROP DATABASE, VACUUM, CREATE INDEX CONCURRENTLY, and ALTER SYSTEM cannot run inside an explicit transaction.

Steps to resolve 25001:

1. Run the command outside BEGIN ... COMMIT (in autocommit mode).
2. In migration tools, mark the step as non-transactional.

Reference: PostgreSQL error codes — Class 25 (Invalid Transaction State).