# CLI commands for n8n
# Start a workflow
Workflows can not only be started by triggers, webhooks, or manually via the Editor. It is also possible to start them directly via the CLI.
Execute a saved workflow by its ID:
n8n execute --id <ID>
Execute a workflow from a workflow file:
n8n execute --file <WORKFLOW_FILE>
# Change the active status of a workflow
You can change the active status of a workflow via the CLI.
Set the active status of a workflow by its ID to false:
n8n update:workflow --id=<ID> --active=false
Set the active status of a workflow by its ID to true:
n8n update:workflow --id=<ID> --active=true
Set the active status to false for all the workflows:
n8n update:workflow --all --active=false
Set the active status to true for all the workflows:
n8n update:workflow --all --active=true
# Export workflows and credentials
You can export your workflows and credentials from n8n via the CLI.
There are a couple of flags available for this.
Flag | Description |
---|---|
--help | Help prompt. |
--all | Export all workflows/credentials. |
--backup | Sets --all --pretty --separate for simple backups. Only --output has to be set additionally. |
--id | The ID of the workflow to export. |
--output | Output file name or directory if using separate files. |
--pretty | Format the output in an easier to read fashion. |
--separate | Exports one file per workflow (useful for versioning). Must inform a directory via --output. |
# Workflows
Export all your workflows to the standard output (terminal):
n8n export:workflow --all
Export a workflow by its ID and specify the output file name:
n8n export:workflow --id=<ID> --output=file.json
Export all workflows to a specific directory in a single file:
n8n export:workflow --all --output=backups/latest/
Export all the workflows to a specific directory using the --backup
flag (details above):
n8n export:workflow --backup --output=backups/latest/
# Credentials
Export all your credentials to the standard output (terminal):
n8n export:credentials --all
Export credentials by their ID and specify the output file name:
n8n export:credentials --id=<ID> --output=file.json
Export all credentials to a specific directory in a single file:
n8n export:credentials --all --output=backups/latest/
Export all the credentials to a specific directory using the --backup
flag (details above):
n8n export:credentials --backup --output=backups/latest/
# Import workflows and credentials
You can import your workflows and credentials from n8n via the CLI.
There are a couple of flags available for this.
Flag | Description |
---|---|
--help | Help prompt. |
--input | Input file name or directory if --separate is used. |
--separate | Imports *.json files from directory provided by --input. |
# Workflows
Import workflows from a specific file:
n8n import:workflow --input=file.json
Import all the workflow files (*.json) from the specified directory:
n8n import:workflow --separate --input=backups/latest/
# Credentials
Import credentials from a specific file:
n8n import:credentials --input=file.json
Import all the credentials files (*.json) from the specified directory:
n8n import:credentials --separate --input=backups/latest/