Deploy n8n in canvas-only mode

In canvas-only mode, when you open a workflow you see only that workflow's canvas. Elements that would navigate away from it, like the command bar, are hidden.

Feature availability

Canvas-only mode is available from n8n 2.15.0.

Turn on canvas-only mode

Set N8N_CANVAS_ONLY to true:

export N8N_CANVAS_ONLY=true

Canvas-only mode applies to the whole instance. You can't turn it on for individual workflows or users.

What changes in canvas-only mode

On the workflow details route, canvas-only mode hides:

• The header's top menu. The workflow name, breadcrumbs, save controls, and tags no longer show.

• The sidebar. n8n's main navigation isn't visible.

• Overlay elements. The command bar and "Ask AI assistant" button are no longer shown.

• Keyboard shortcuts. The following keyboard shortcuts are disabled in canvas-only mode: Ctrl/Cmd + s (save), Ctrl/Cmd + Alt + n (create new workflow), Ctrl/Cmd + p (publish), Ctrl/Cmd + u (unpublish), Ctrl/Cmd + k (command bar)

n8n keeps the following visible:

• The workflow canvas and its nodes. You can still pan, zoom, and edit the workflow.

• The tab bar for switching between the editor, executions, and evaluations. It floats near the top of the screen instead of sitting inside the header.

• The logs panel to display execution logs of individual nodes.

• The node creator panel. The "Add a node" panel still opens from the canvas, repositioned to the top of the screen instead of below the header.