github.com/wikibal01/hashicorp-terraform@v0.11.12-beta1/website/docs/backends/init.html.md (about) 1 --- 2 layout: "docs" 3 page_title: "Backends: Init" 4 sidebar_current: "docs-backends-init" 5 description: |- 6 Terraform must initialize any configured backend before use. This can be done by simply running `terraform init`. 7 --- 8 9 # Backend Initialization 10 11 Terraform must initialize any configured backend before use. This can be 12 done by simply running `terraform init`. 13 14 The `terraform init` command should be run by any member of your team on 15 any Terraform configuration as a first step. It is safe to execute multiple 16 times and performs all the setup actions required for a Terraform environment, 17 including initializing the backend. 18 19 The `init` command must be called: 20 21 * On any new environment that configures a backend 22 * On any change of the backend configuration (including type of backend) 23 * On removing backend configuration completely 24 25 You don't need to remember these exact cases. Terraform will detect when 26 initialization is required and error in that situation. Terraform doesn't 27 auto-initialize because it may require additional information from the user, 28 perform state migrations, etc. 29 30 The `init` command will do more than just initialize the backend. Please see 31 the [init documentation](/docs/commands/init.html) for more information.