{"record":{"id":"32b27b61e9ebccc3","repo":"hashicorp/terraform","slug":"error-checking-remote-terraform-version","errorCode":null,"errorMessage":"Error checking remote Terraform version","messagePattern":"Error checking remote Terraform version","errorType":"exception","errorClass":null,"httpStatus":null,"severity":"error","filePath":"internal/command/state_meta.go","lineNumber":54,"sourceCode":"\t\trealState = statemgr.NewFilesystem(c.statePath)\n\t} else {\n\n\t\t// Load the backend\n\t\tb, diags := c.backend(\".\", view)\n\t\tif diags.HasErrors() {\n\t\t\treturn nil, diags.Err()\n\t\t}\n\n\t\tworkspace, err := c.Workspace()\n\t\tif err != nil {\n\t\t\treturn nil, err\n\t\t}\n\n\t\t// Check remote Terraform version is compatible\n\t\tremoteVersionDiags := c.remoteVersionCheck(b, workspace)\n\t\tc.showDiagnostics(remoteVersionDiags)\n\t\tif remoteVersionDiags.HasErrors() {\n\t\t\treturn nil, fmt.Errorf(\"Error checking remote Terraform version\")\n\t\t}\n\n\t\t// Get the state\n\t\ts, sDiags := b.StateMgr(workspace)\n\t\tif sDiags.HasErrors() {\n\t\t\treturn nil, sDiags.Err()\n\t\t}\n\n\t\t// Get a local backend\n\t\tlocalRaw, backendDiags := c.Backend(&BackendOpts{ForceLocal: true})\n\t\tif backendDiags.HasErrors() {\n\t\t\t// This should never fail\n\t\t\tpanic(backendDiags.Err())\n\t\t}\n\t\tlocalB := localRaw.(*backendLocal.Local)\n\t\t_, stateOutPath, _ = localB.StatePaths(workspace)\n\t\tif err != nil {\n\t\t\treturn nil, err","sourceCodeStart":36,"sourceCodeEnd":72,"githubUrl":"https://github.com/hashicorp/terraform/blob/d32a084675427f5ac3f7d2868578ef8b2c1dc525/internal/command/state_meta.go#L36-L72","documentation":"Thrown by state_meta.go when c.remoteVersionCheck(b, workspace) produces diagnostics with errors. The wrapped tfdiags from the remote version compatibility check already were printed via c.showDiagnostics, so this fmt.Errorf has no %w and is a bare summary. The real reason is in the printed diagnostics, typically the local Terraform CLI version is older than the version that wrote the remote state.","triggerScenarios":"Remote state was written by a newer Terraform version than the CLI currently running; remote backend enforces a version constraint that the local binary violates; state version field is greater than the supported StateVersion constant.","commonSituations":"Downgrading Terraform locally after a teammate upgraded; CI pinned to an older terraform version than devs use; state written by 1.10.x being read by 1.5.x; remote backend (TFC/TFE) workspaces with a `terraform_version` setting newer than the caller.","solutions":["Upgrade the local Terraform binary to at least the version named in the printed diagnostic.","Use tfenv / mise / asdf to match the team's required_version: `tfenv use`.","If intentional downgrade, follow the documented state downgrade path (write state with the older binary, do not mix versions).","Check `required_version` in the root module and align the CLI to it."],"exampleFix":"# before\n terraform version   # 1.5.7\n terraform state pull   # fails\n\n# after\n tfenv use 1.10.5\n terraform state pull","handlingStrategy":"validation","validationCode":"// Compare local and remote versions before any state op.\nlocal := version.SemVer\nremote := readRemoteStateVersion(b, workspace) // state.TerraformVersion\nif remote.GreaterThan(local) {\n    return fmt.Errorf(\"local terraform %s < state writer %s; upgrade via tfenv\", local, remote)\n}","typeGuard":null,"tryCatchPattern":"remoteVersionDiags := c.remoteVersionCheck(b, workspace)\nif remoteVersionDiags.HasErrors() {\n    c.showDiagnostics(remoteVersionDiags)\n    return fmt.Errorf(\"Error checking remote Terraform version; local=%s — see diagnostics above\", version.Version)\n}","preventionTips":["Pin terraform version with `required_version` and enforce it via tfenv/mise in CI.","Match the team's terraform version before pulling remote state.","Do not downgrade terraform after a teammate has upgraded and pushed state.","Audit remote workspace `terraform_version` settings on TFC/TFE."],"tags":["terraform","version","state","compatibility","remote-backend"],"backgroundTag":null,"analyzedSha":"d32a084675427f5ac3f7d2868578ef8b2c1dc525","analyzedAt":"2026-08-11T18:43:52.779Z","contentChangedAt":null,"schemaVersion":2},"datasetVersion":"2026-09-23T08:17:48.524Z"}