---

name: n8n description: Manage n8n workflows and automations via API. Use when working with n8n workflows, executions, or automation tasks - listing workflows, activating/deactivating, checking execution status, manually triggering workflows, or debugging automation issues.

n8n Workflow Management

Interact with n8n automation platform via REST API.

Setup

First-time setup:

1. API key must be stored in environment:

Copyexport N8N_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"

1. Verify connection:

Copypython3 scripts/n8n_api.py list-workflows --pretty

For persistent storage, add to ~/.bashrc or ~/.zshrc:

Copyecho 'export N8N_API_KEY="your-key"' >> ~/.bashrc

Quick Reference

List Workflows

Copypython3 scripts/n8n_api.py list-workflows --pretty
python3 scripts/n8n_api.py list-workflows --active true --pretty

Get Workflow Details

Copypython3 scripts/n8n_api.py get-workflow --id <workflow-id> --pretty

Activate/Deactivate

Copypython3 scripts/n8n_api.py activate --id <workflow-id>
python3 scripts/n8n_api.py deactivate --id <workflow-id>

Executions

Copy# List recent executions
python3 scripts/n8n_api.py list-executions --limit 10 --pretty

# Get execution details
python3 scripts/n8n_api.py get-execution --id <execution-id> --pretty

# Filter by workflow
python3 scripts/n8n_api.py list-executions --id <workflow-id> --limit 20 --pretty

Manual Execution

Copy# Trigger workflow
python3 scripts/n8n_api.py execute --id <workflow-id>

# With data
python3 scripts/n8n_api.py execute --id <workflow-id> --data '{"key": "value"}'

Python API

For programmatic access:

Copyfrom scripts.n8n_api import N8nClient

client = N8nClient()

# List workflows
workflows = client.list_workflows(active=True)

# Get workflow
workflow = client.get_workflow('workflow-id')

# Activate/deactivate
client.activate_workflow('workflow-id')
client.deactivate_workflow('workflow-id')

# Executions
executions = client.list_executions(workflow_id='workflow-id', limit=10)
execution = client.get_execution('execution-id')

# Execute workflow
result = client.execute_workflow('workflow-id', data={'key': 'value'})

Common Tasks

Debug Failed Workflows

1. List recent executions with failures
2. Get execution details to see error
3. Check workflow configuration
4. Deactivate if needed

Monitor Workflow Health

1. List active workflows
2. Check recent execution status
3. Review error patterns

Workflow Management

1. List all workflows
2. Review active/inactive status
3. Activate/deactivate as needed
4. Delete old workflows

API Reference

For detailed API documentation, see references/api.md.

Troubleshooting

Authentication error:

• Verify N8N_API_KEY is set: echo $N8N_API_KEY
• Check API key is valid in n8n UI

Connection error:

• Check N8N_BASE_URL if using custom URL

Command errors:

• Use --pretty flag for readable output
• Check --id is provided when required
• Validate JSON format for --data parameter