How to fix Error: Override values provided for resource without matching configuration in Terraform

Open your override file (_override.tf or override.tf) and note the exact resource address being overridden. The error message should tell you which resource is problematic.

# Example _override.tf file that causes the error
resource "aws_instance" "web_server" {
  instance_type = "t2.large"  # Override value
}

# This would fail if aws_instance.web_server doesn't exist in base config

Document the resource type and name exactly as it appears in the override block.

Search your base configuration files (.tf files excluding override files) to verify the resource is actually defined. Use grep to find the resource:

# Search for the resource in base config (non-override files)
grep -r "resource \"aws_instance\" \"web_server\"" . --include="*.tf" | grep -v override

# Or search more broadly
grep -r "aws_instance" . --include="*.tf" | grep -v override

The resource must exist in a file that does NOT end in _override.tf or override.tf.

If the resource doesn't exist in your base config, add it. The override file cannot create resources—it can only modify existing ones. Create the base resource definition first:

# main.tf - Add the missing resource
resource "aws_instance" "web_server" {
  ami           = "ami-12345678"
  instance_type = "t2.micro"  # Base value
  tags = {
    Name = "web-server"
  }
}

# _override.tf - Now you can override it
resource "aws_instance" "web_server" {
  instance_type = "t2.large"  # Override replaces this
}

The base resource must include at minimum the required arguments for the resource type.

Ensure the resource type and name in the override block exactly match the base configuration. Terraform resource addresses are case-sensitive and must be precise:

# INCORRECT - Names don't match
# main.tf
resource "aws_instance" "web_server" { ... }

# _override.tf (WRONG)
resource "aws_instance" "webserver" { ... }  # Missing underscore

# CORRECT - Exact match
# main.tf
resource "aws_instance" "web_server" { ... }

# _override.tf (RIGHT)
resource "aws_instance" "web_server" { ... }  # Exact match

Double-check for typos, missing underscores, or differences in capitalization between the two blocks.

If a resource no longer exists in your configuration and you no longer need the override, remove the override block entirely:

# _override.tf - DELETE EVERYTHING IN THIS BLOCK
resource "aws_instance" "old_server" {
  instance_type = "t2.small"
}

# If you don't need this override anymore, remove it completely

If the override file becomes empty, you can delete the file entirely. Terraform will warn if you have only override files and no base configuration.

After making corrections, validate your configuration and run a plan to confirm the error is resolved:

# Validate syntax and semantics
terraform validate

# Run plan to ensure no errors
terraform plan

The plan output should show no override-related errors. Review the changes Terraform intends to make to verify they match your expectations.