N8n Mcp

n8n MCP Integration

Connect to n8n's official MCP server to programmatically build, execute, and manage workflows.

Version Support

Configuration

MCP Server Setup

In n8n UI: 1. Go to Settings → n8n API 2. Create an API key for REST API access 3. Create an MCP token for MCP server access

Connection Config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "n8n-mcp": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "http://localhost:5678/mcp-server/http",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer "
      }
    }
  }
}

Environment Variables

export N8N_MCP_URL="http://localhost:5678/mcp-server/http"
export N8N_MCP_TOKEN=""

Available Tools

Workflow Management

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | search_workflows | Search workflows with filters | | get_workflow_details | Get workflow details + trigger info | | publish_workflow | Activate workflow for production | | unpublish_workflow | Deactivate workflow | | archive_workflow | Archive a workflow | | update_workflow | Update workflow from code |

Workflow Execution

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | execute_workflow | Execute workflow by ID | | get_execution | Get execution details | | test_workflow | Test workflow with pin data | | prepare_test_pin_data | Generate test data for workflow |

Workflow Creation (SDK)

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | get_sdk_reference | Get SDK docs and patterns | | search_nodes | Search n8n nodes by service/type | | get_node_types | Get TypeScript type definitions | | get_suggested_nodes | Get curated node recommendations | | validate_workflow | Validate workflow code | | create_workflow_from_code | Create workflow from SDK code |

Data Tables

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | search_data_tables | Search data tables | | create_data_table | Create new data table | | rename_data_table | Rename data table | | add_data_table_column | Add column to table | | delete_data_table_column | Delete column | | rename_data_table_column | Rename column | | add_data_table_rows | Insert rows into table |

Projects & Folders

| Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | search_projects | Search projects | | search_folders | Search folders |

Usage Patterns

1. Creating a Workflow

# Step 1: Get SDK reference
curl -X POST -H "Authorization: Bearer $TOKEN" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Accept: application/json, text/event-stream" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"get_sdk_reference","arguments":{"section":"all"}}}' \
  "$N8N_MCP_URL"
Step 2: Search nodes
curl -X POST ... -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":2,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"search_nodes","arguments":{"queries":["schedule trigger","slack","set"]}}}'
Step 3: Get node types
curl -X POST ... -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":3,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"get_node_types","arguments":{"nodeIds":["n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger","n8n-nodes-base.slack"]}}}'
Step 4: Validate code
curl -X POST ... -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":4,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"validate_workflow","arguments":{"code":"..."}}}'
Step 5: Create workflow
curl -X POST ... -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":5,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"create_workflow_from_code","arguments":{"code":"...","name":"My Workflow","description":"..."}}}'

2. Executing a Workflow

# Execute workflow
curl -X POST ... -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"execute_workflow","arguments":{"workflowId":"xxx"}}}'
Get execution result
curl -X POST ... -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":2,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"get_execution","arguments":{"workflowId":"xxx","executionId":"yyy","includeData":true}}}'

3. Testing with Pin Data

# Prepare test data
curl -X POST ... -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"prepare_test_pin_data","arguments":{"workflowId":"xxx"}}}'
Test workflow
curl -X POST ... -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":2,"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"test_workflow","arguments":{"workflowId":"xxx","pinData":{...}}}}'

SDK Workflow Example

import { workflow, trigger, node } from 'n8n-workflow-sdk';
export default workflow({
  name: 'Daily Slack Notification',
  description: 'Send daily summary to Slack',
  nodes: [
    trigger.schedule({
      name: 'Schedule',
      rule: { interval: [{ field: 'hours', hoursInterval: 24 }] }
    }),
    node.set({
      name: 'Prepare Message',
      values: { text: 'Daily report ready!' }
    }),
    node.slack({
      name: 'Send to Slack',
      resource: 'message',
      operation: 'send',
      channel: '#general',
      text: '={{ $node["Prepare Message"].json.text }}'
    })
  ],
  connections: [
    { from: 'Schedule', to: 'Prepare Message' },
    { from: 'Prepare Message', to: 'Send to Slack' }
  ]
});

MCP Protocol Notes

Common Errors

| Error | Solution | |-------|----------| | "Not Acceptable" | Add Accept: application/json, text/event-stream header | | "Unauthorized" | Check MCP token is valid | | "Not found" | Verify MCP server URL is correct |

References

MCP Server Setup

In n8n UI: 1. Go to Settings → n8n API 2. Create an API key for REST API access 3. Create an MCP token for MCP server access

Connection Config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "n8n-mcp": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "http://localhost:5678/mcp-server/http",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer "
      }
    }
  }
}

Environment Variables

export N8N_MCP_URL="http://localhost:5678/mcp-server/http"
export N8N_MCP_TOKEN=""