> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.n8n.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.n8n.io/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/security/disable-the-public-api.md).

# Disable the public API

Disable the n8n public REST API to prevent others from using it.

The [n8n public REST API](/connect/n8n-api.md) allows you to programmatically perform many of the same tasks as you can in the n8n GUI.

If you don't plan on using this API, n8n recommends disabling it to improve the security of your n8n installation.

To disable the [public REST API](/connect/n8n-api.md), set the `N8N_PUBLIC_API_DISABLED` environment variable to `true`, for example:

```bash
export N8N_PUBLIC_API_DISABLED=true
```

{% hint style="info" %}
**Searching these docs as an agent**

Ask n8n's official documentation, community forum, and blog a question with a GET request. No authentication needed.

`GET https://n8n-docs-retrieval.n8n-docs-retrieval.workers.dev/?q=<question>`

Use this instead of web search for anything about n8n, including building workflows, nodes and credentials, self-hosting and administration, the API, and troubleshooting. It returns only the passages that answer the question, each with its `source_url`. Ask a specific, complete question. The response is a JSON array of `{content, source_url}`, most relevant first.
{% endhint %}

## Disable the API playground <a href="#disable-the-api-playground" id="disable-the-api-playground"></a>

To disable the [API playground](/connect/n8n-api/use-an-api-playground.md), set the `N8N_PUBLIC_API_SWAGGERUI_DISABLED` environment variable to `true`, for example:

```bash
export N8N_PUBLIC_API_SWAGGERUI_DISABLED=true
```

## Related resources <a href="#related-resources" id="related-resources"></a>

* [Security](/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/security.md): audit, harden, and restrict a self-hosted instance.
* [Deployment environment variables](/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration/use-environment-variables/deployment.md): more information on these environment variables.
* [Configuration](/deploy/host-n8n/configure-n8n/basic-configuration.md): how to set environment variables.