terraform-provider-google/website/docs/provider_versions.html.markdown

---
layout: "google"
page_title: "Google Provider Versions"
sidebar_current: "docs-google-provider-versions"
description: |-
  How to use the different Google Provider versions
---

# Google Provider Versions

Starting with version `1.19.0`, there are two versions of the Google provider:

* `google`

* `google-beta`

This documentation (https://www.terraform.io/docs/providers/google/) is shared
between both providers, and all generally available (GA) products and features
are available in both versions of the provider.

The `google-beta` provider is distinct from the `google` provider in that it
supports GCP products and features that are in beta, while `google` does not.
Fields and resources that are only present in `google-beta` will be marked as
such in the shared provider documentation.

`1.X` versions of the `google` provider supported beta features; from `2.0.0`
onwards, beta features are only supported in `google-beta`.

Beta GCP features have no deprecation policy and no SLA, but are otherwise considered to be feature-complete
with only minor outstanding issues after their Alpha period. Beta is when GCP
features are publicly announced, and is when they generally become publicly
available. For more information see [the official documentation on GCP launch stages](https://cloud.google.com/terms/launch-stages).

The `google-beta` provider sends all requests to the beta endpoint for GCP if
one exists for that product, regardless of whether the request contains any beta
features.

-> In short, using `google-beta` over `google` is similar to using `gcloud beta`
over `gcloud`. Features that are exclusively available in `google-beta` are GCP
features that are not yet GA, and they will be made available in `google` after
their GA launch.

## Using the `google-beta` provider

To use the `google-beta` provider, explicitly define a `google-beta` provider
block, and state on the resource which provider you wish to use.

```hcl
provider "google-beta" {
  credentials = "${file("account.json")}"
  project     = "my-project-id"
  region      = "us-central1"
}

resource "google_compute_instance" "beta-instance" {
  provider = "google-beta"

  # ...
}
```

~> If the `provider` field is omitted, Terraform will implicitly use the `google`
 provider by default even if you have only defined a `google-beta` provider block.

## Using both provider versions together

To have resources at different API versions, set up provider blocks for each version:

```hcl
provider "google" {
  credentials = "${file("account.json")}"
  project     = "my-project-id"
  region      = "us-central1"
}

provider "google-beta" {
  credentials = "${file("account.json")}"
  project     = "my-project-id"
  region      = "us-central1"
}
```

In each resource, state which provider that resource should be used with:

```hcl
resource "google_compute_instance" "ga-instance" {
  provider = "google"

  # ...
}

resource "google_compute_instance" "beta-instance" {
  provider = "google-beta"

  # ...
}
```

## Importing resources with `google-beta`
By default, Terraform will always import resources using the `google` provider.
To import resources with `google-beta`, you need to explicitly specify a provider
with the `-provider` flag, similarly to if you were using a provider alias.


```bash
terraform import -provider=google-beta google_compute_instance.beta-instance my-instance
```

## Converting resources between versions

Resources can safely be converted from one version to the other without needing to rebuild infrastructure.

To go from GA to beta, change the `provider` field from `"google"` to `"google-beta"`.

To go from beta to GA, do the reverse. If you were previously using beta fields that you no longer wish to use:

1. (Optional) Explicitly set the fields back to their default values in your Terraform config file, and run `terraform apply`.
1. Change the `provider` field to `"google"`.
1. Remove any beta fields from your Terraform config.
1. Run  `terraform plan` or `terraform refresh`+`terraform show` to see that the beta fields are no longer in state.