---
name: n8n-81aceaa61186
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:
```bash
export N8N_API_KEY="your-api-key-here"
```

2. Verify connection:
```bash
python3 scripts/n8n_api.py list-workflows --pretty
```

For persistent storage, add to `~/.bashrc` or `~/.zshrc`:
```bash
echo 'export N8N_API_KEY="your-key"' >> ~/.bashrc
```

## Quick Reference

### List Workflows
```bash
python3 scripts/n8n_api.py list-workflows --pretty
python3 scripts/n8n_api.py list-workflows --active true --pretty
```

### Get Workflow Details
```bash
python3 scripts/n8n_api.py get-workflow --id <workflow-id> --pretty
```

### Activate/Deactivate
```bash
python3 scripts/n8n_api.py activate --id <workflow-id>
python3 scripts/n8n_api.py deactivate --id <workflow-id>
```

### Executions
```bash
# 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
```bash
# 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:

```python
from 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](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


---
Source attribution: kbarbel640-del
Original project: https://github.com/kbarbel640-del/skills/blob/e7e336ac628c3e3bd771aff1aaa469c93778f94a/skills/thomasansems/n8n/SKILL.md
License: MIT
License information: https://opensource.org/license/mit
Original upstream instructions; downloaded from Mega AI Hub.

## Upstream license notice

MIT License

Copyright (c) 2026 clawdbot

Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:

The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
copies or substantial portions of the Software.

THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
SOFTWARE.



# Mega AI Hub resource metadata

Creator / publisher: kbarbel640-del
Original project: https://github.com/kbarbel640-del/skills/blob/e7e336ac628c3e3bd771aff1aaa469c93778f94a/skills/thomasansems/n8n/SKILL.md
Attribution basis: Source repository record

Fields of work: Marketing, Operations, Product Management, Sales
Roles: Business Development, Growth Marketer, Marketing Analyst, Operations Manager, Product Manager
Specialties: API
Tools: N8N
Country applicability: Country not specified
Classification basis: Source catalog labels
Instruction SHA-256: 5d64335cb246a964181da0006bfe4cdb842375fa78f329919a2f10dc75643370