n8n Form Trigger node#

Use the n8n Form trigger to start a workflow when a user submits a form, taking the input data from the form. The node generates the form web page for you to use.

You can add more pages to continue the form with the n8n Form node.

Build and test workflows#

While building or testing a workflow, use the Test URL. Using a test URL ensures that you can view the incoming data in the editor UI, which is useful for debugging.

There are two ways to test:

Select Test Step. n8n opens the form. When you submit the form, n8n runs the node, but not the rest of the workflow.
Select Test Workflow. n8n opens the form. When you submit the form, n8n runs the workflow.

Production workflows#

When your workflow is ready, switch to using the Production URL. You can then activate your workflow, and n8n runs it automatically when a user submits the form.

When working with a production URL, ensure that you have saved and activated the workflow. Data flowing through the Form trigger isn't visible in the editor UI with the production URL.

Set default selections with query parameters#

You can set the initial values for fields by using query parameters with the initial URL provided by the n8n Form Trigger. Every page in the form receives the same query parameters sent to the n8n Form Trigger URL.

Only for production

Query parameters are only available when using the form in production mode. n8n won't populate field values from query parameters in testing mode.

When using query parameters, percent-encode any field names or values that use special characters. This ensures n8n uses the initial values for the given fields. You can use tools like URL Encode/Decode to format your query parameters using percent-encoding.

As an example, imagine you have a form with the following properties:

Production URL: https://my-account.n8n.cloud/form/my-form
Fields:
- name: Jane Doe
- email: jane.doe@example.com

With query parameters and percent-encoding, you could use the following URL to set initial field values to the data above:

https://my-account.n8n.cloud/form/my-form?email=jane.doe%40example.com&name=Jane%20Doe

Here, percent-encoding replaces the at-symbol (@) with the string %40 and the space character () with the string %20. This will set the initial value for these fields no matter which page of the form they appear on.

Node parameters#

These are the main node configuration fields:

Authentication#

Basic Auth
None

Using basic auth#

To configure this credential, you'll need:

The Username you use to access the app or service your HTTP Request is targeting.
The Password that goes with that username.

Form URLs#

The Form Trigger node has two URLs: Test URL and Production URL. n8n displays the URLs at the top of the node panel. Select Test URL or Production URL to toggle which URL n8n displays.

Test URL: n8n registers a test webhook when you select Test Step or Test Workflow, if the workflow isn't active. When you call the URL, n8n displays the data in the workflow.
Production URL: n8n registers a production webhook when you activate the workflow. When using the production URL, n8n doesn't display the data in the workflow. You can still view workflow data for a production execution. Select the Executions tab in the workflow, then select the workflow execution you want to view.

Form Path#

Set a custom slug for the form.

Form Title#

Enter the title for your form. n8n displays the Form Title as the webpage title and main h1 title on the form.

Form Description#

Enter the description for your form. n8n displays the Form Description as a subtitle below the main h1 title on the form. Use \n or <br> to add a line break.

Form Fields#

Create the question fields for your form. Select Add Form Field to add a new field.

Every field has the following settings:

Field Label: Enter the label that appears above the input field.
Field Type: Choose from Date, Dropdown List, Email, File, Number, Password, Text, or Textarea.
- Select Date to include a date picker in the form. Refer to Date and time with Luxon for more information on formatting dates.
- Select Dropdown List > Add Field Option to add multiple options. By default, the dropdown is single-choice. To make it multiple-choice, turn on Multiple Choice.
Required Field: Turn on to require users to complete this field on the form.

Respond When#

Choose when n8n sends a response to the form submission. You can respond when:

Form Is Submitted: Send a response to the user as soon as they submit the form.
Workflow Finishes: Use this if you want the workflow to complete its execution before you send a response to the user. If the workflow errors, it sends a response to the user telling them there was a problem submitting the form.
Using 'Respond to Webhook' Node: Use this for the form trigger to respond as defined in the Respond to Webhook node.

Node options#

Select Add Option to view more configuration options:

Append n8n Attribution: Turn off to hide the Form automated with n8n attribute at the bottom of the form.
Form Response: Choose how to respond when the user submits the form.
- Respond With > Form Submitted Text: Show a message to the user.
- Respond With > Redirect URL: Send the user to a new page.
Ignore Bots: Turn on to ignore requests from bots like link previewers and web crawlers.
Use Workflow Timezone: Turn on to use the timezone in the Workflow settings instead of UTC (default). This affects the value of the submittedAt timestamp in the node output.