Problem

NOTE: 

This article applies to Variable Sets assigned to selected individual workspaces, NOT to entire projects.

If Variable Set is assigned to a project, you have only the "Edit" option on a workspace level.
 

Overview

Variable sets in HCP Terraform allow organizations to centrally manage variables and share them across multiple workspaces. When working with variable sets at the workspace level, users often encounter two actions:

• Edit Variable Set

• Remove Variable Set
  
  

Although these actions may appear similar, they have very different scopes and impacts. This article explains the difference to help you choose the correct action and avoid unintended changes.

NOTE: 

Remove Variable Set

What it does

Remove Variable Set simply detaches the variable set from the selected workspace.

• The variable set itself remains intact at the organization level.

• Other workspaces that use the same variable set are not affected.

• No variables are deleted or modified.

When to use it

Use Remove Variable Set when:

• You want a variable set to no longer apply to a specific workspace only.

• You are cleaning up workspace-specific configuration.

• You do not want to impact other workspaces.

Key takeaway

Variable set remove will just detach the Variable set from the workspace.
If you want to remove a variable set from a specific workspace, this is the correct option.

Edit Variable Set

What it does

Edit Variable Set redirects you to the organization-level configuration of the variable set.

From there, you can:

• Add, modify, or delete variables

• Change variable values or sensitivity

• Delete the entire variable set

Impact scope

• All workspaces that have this variable set assigned will be affected.

• Changes take effect globally wherever the variable set is in use.

When to use it

Use Edit Variable Set when:

• You want to update shared variables across multiple workspaces.

• You need to correct or rotate values centrally.

• You intentionally want consistent changes applied everywhere.

Key takeaway

Variable set edit will redirect the user to the Variable set configuration on organization level.
Editing or deleting variables from the variable set will affect all workspaces where the variable set is assigned.

Side-by-Side Comparison