Import & Export

The n8n CLI provides powerful commands for importing and exporting workflows and credentials. This is useful for backups, migrations, version control, and moving data between environments.

Export Workflows

Export workflows from your n8n instance to JSON files.

Basic Usage

n8n export:workflow --id=WORKFLOW_ID --output=file.json

Export Flags

--all

boolean

default:"false"

Export all workflows from the database.

--id

string

The ID of a specific workflow to export.

--output

string

Output file path or directory (when using --separate).

--pretty

boolean

default:"false"

Format JSON output for easier reading.

--separate

boolean

default:"false"

Export each workflow to a separate file. Requires --output to be a directory.

--backup

boolean

default:"false"

Shortcut that enables --all --pretty --separate. Only requires --output.

--version

string

The version ID to export (for workflow versioning).

--published

boolean

default:"false"

Export the published/active version of workflows.

Export Examples

Single Workflow
All Workflows
Separate Files
Backup
Version Export

Export one workflow:

n8n export:workflow --id=5 --output=workflow.json

With pretty formatting:

n8n export:workflow --id=5 --output=workflow.json --pretty

Export all workflows to a single file:

n8n export:workflow --all --output=all-workflows.json

Export to stdout (no file):

n8n export:workflow --all

Export each workflow to its own file:

n8n export:workflow --all --separate --output=workflows/

This creates files like:

workflows/abc123.json
workflows/def456.json
workflows/ghi789.json

Quick backup of all workflows:

n8n export:workflow --backup --output=backups/2024-01-15/

Equivalent to:

n8n export:workflow --all --pretty --separate --output=backups/2024-01-15/

Export specific version:

n8n export:workflow --id=5 --version=abc-123-def --output=workflow-v2.json

Export published version:

n8n export:workflow --id=5 --published --output=workflow-published.json

Export all published versions:

n8n export:workflow --all --published --output=backups/published/

Import Workflows

Import workflows from JSON files into your n8n instance.

Basic Usage

n8n import:workflow --input=file.json

Import Flags

--input

string

required

Input file path or directory (when using --separate).

--separate

boolean

default:"false"

Import all *.json files from the specified directory.

--userId

string

Assign imported workflows to a specific user ID.

--projectId

string

Assign imported workflows to a specific project ID.

Import Examples

Single File
Multiple Files
Assign to User
Assign to Project
Restore Backup

Import one workflow file:

n8n import:workflow --input=workflow.json

Import all workflows from a directory:

n8n import:workflow --separate --input=backups/latest/

Import and assign to specific user:

n8n import:workflow \
  --input=workflow.json \
  --userId=1d64c3d2-85fe-4a83-a649-e446b07b3aae

Import and assign to specific project:

n8n import:workflow \
  --input=workflow.json \
  --projectId=Ox8O54VQrmBrb4qL

Restore from backup directory:

n8n import:workflow \
  --separate \
  --input=backups/2024-01-15/ \
  --userId=1d64c3d2-85fe-4a83-a649-e446b07b3aae

Ownership Rules: You cannot use --userId and --projectId together. If a workflow already exists and is owned by another user/project, the import will fail to prevent accidental ownership changes.

Export Credentials

Export credentials from your n8n instance.

Security Warning: By default, credentials are exported in encrypted form. Use the --decrypted flag only when migrating between instances with different encryption keys.

Basic Usage

n8n export:credentials --id=CREDENTIAL_ID --output=file.json

Export Credential Flags

--all

boolean

default:"false"

Export all credentials from the database.

--id

string

The ID of a specific credential to export.

--output

string

Output file path or directory (when using --separate).

--pretty

boolean

default:"false"

Format JSON output for easier reading.

--separate

boolean

default:"false"

Export each credential to a separate file.

--backup

boolean

default:"false"

Shortcut that enables --all --pretty --separate.

--decrypted

boolean

default:"false"

Export credentials in plain text. USE WITH CAUTION! All sensitive information will be visible.

Export Credential Examples

Single Credential
All Credentials
Backup
Decrypted Export

Export one credential (encrypted):

n8n export:credentials --id=5 --output=credential.json

Export all credentials:

n8n export:credentials --all --output=all-credentials.json

Backup all credentials:

n8n export:credentials --backup --output=backups/credentials/

Export with plain text data:

n8n export:credentials \
  --all \
  --decrypted \
  --output=backups/decrypted.json

Warning: The decrypted file will contain all passwords, API keys, and tokens in plain text. Store it securely and delete after use!

Import Credentials

Import credentials from JSON files into your n8n instance.

Basic Usage

n8n import:credentials --input=file.json

Import Credential Flags

--input

string

required

Input file path or directory (when using --separate).

--separate

boolean

default:"false"

Import all *.json files from the specified directory.

--userId

string

Assign imported credentials to a specific user ID.

--projectId

string

Assign imported credentials to a specific project ID.

Import Credential Examples

Single File
Directory Import
Assign to User
Assign to Project

Import one credential file:

n8n import:credentials --input=credential.json

Import all credentials from directory:

n8n import:credentials --separate --input=backups/credentials/

Import and assign to user:

n8n import:credentials \
  --input=credential.json \
  --userId=1d64c3d2-85fe-4a83-a649-e446b07b3aae

Import and assign to project:

n8n import:credentials \
  --input=credential.json \
  --projectId=Ox8O54VQrmBrb4qL

Encryption Handling: If you import decrypted credentials (plain text), n8n automatically encrypts them using the instance’s encryption key before storing.

Migration Workflow

Same Encryption Key

If both instances use the same encryption key:

# On source instance
n8n export:workflow --backup --output=/backup/workflows/
n8n export:credentials --backup --output=/backup/credentials/

Different Encryption Keys

If instances have different encryption keys:

# On source instance
n8n export:workflow --all --output=workflows.json
n8n export:credentials --all --decrypted --output=credentials-plain.json

Security Best Practice: Always delete decrypted credential files immediately after import. Never commit them to version control or store them unencrypted.

Backup Strategy

Recommended backup approach:

#!/bin/bash

# Set backup directory with timestamp
BACKUP_DIR="/backups/n8n/$(date +%Y-%m-%d)"
mkdir -p "$BACKUP_DIR"

# Export workflows
n8n export:workflow --backup --output="$BACKUP_DIR/workflows/"

# Export credentials (encrypted)
n8n export:credentials --backup --output="$BACKUP_DIR/credentials/"

# Create compressed archive
tar -czf "$BACKUP_DIR.tar.gz" "$BACKUP_DIR"

# Remove uncompressed backup
rm -rf "$BACKUP_DIR"

echo "Backup completed: $BACKUP_DIR.tar.gz"

Version Control Integration

Export workflows for Git version control:

# Export with pretty formatting and separate files
n8n export:workflow \
  --all \
  --separate \
  --pretty \
  --output=workflows/

# Add to git
git add workflows/
git commit -m "Update workflow definitions"
git push

Never commit credentials to version control! Only export and version control workflows. Store credentials separately using secure secret management.

Export/Import Best Practices

Regular Backups

Schedule automated daily/weekly backups
Store backups in multiple locations
Test restore procedure regularly
Keep backups for at least 30 days

Security

Never export decrypted credentials unless necessary
Delete decrypted files immediately after use
Store backup files securely with encryption
Use separate credentials for each environment

Version Control

Use --pretty --separate for readable diffs
Only commit workflows, never credentials
Review changes before committing
Tag releases with version numbers

Migration

Test migration in staging first
Verify workflow IDs and references
Check credential mappings
Update environment-specific values

Troubleshooting

Import fails with ownership error

Problem: Workflow/credential already exists with different owner.Solution: Remove --userId or --projectId flag to keep existing ownership, or delete the existing item first.

Credentials not working after import

Problem: Imported credentials don’t work in target instance.Solutions:

Ensure same encryption key if importing encrypted
Use --decrypted export if keys are different
Re-enter credentials manually if issues persist

Cannot export: directory not found

Problem: Output directory doesn’t exist.Solution: Create directory first or n8n will create it automatically.

Next Steps

CLI Commands

View all CLI commands

User Management

Manage users via CLI

Configuration

Configure n8n settings

Backup & Restore

Complete backup strategies

Getting Started

Self-Hosting

Building Workflows

AI Workflows

Node Development

CLI Reference

Import & Export

Export Workflows

Basic Usage

Export Flags

Export Examples

Import Workflows

Basic Usage

Import Flags

Import Examples

Export Credentials

Basic Usage

Export Credential Flags

Export Credential Examples

Import Credentials

Basic Usage

Import Credential Flags

Import Credential Examples

Migration Workflow

Same Encryption Key

Different Encryption Keys

Backup Strategy

Version Control Integration

Export/Import Best Practices

Troubleshooting

Next Steps

CLI Commands

User Management

Configuration

Backup & Restore

Getting Started

Self-Hosting

Building Workflows

AI Workflows

Node Development

CLI Reference

​Export Workflows

​Basic Usage

​Export Flags

​Export Examples

​Import Workflows

​Basic Usage

​Import Flags

​Import Examples

​Export Credentials

​Basic Usage

​Export Credential Flags

​Export Credential Examples

​Import Credentials

​Basic Usage

​Import Credential Flags

​Import Credential Examples

​Migration Workflow

​Same Encryption Key

​Different Encryption Keys

​Backup Strategy

​Version Control Integration

​Export/Import Best Practices

​Troubleshooting

​Next Steps

CLI Commands

User Management

Configuration

Backup & Restore

Export Workflows

Basic Usage

Export Flags

Export Examples

Import Workflows

Basic Usage

Import Flags

Import Examples

Export Credentials

Basic Usage

Export Credential Flags

Export Credential Examples

Import Credentials

Basic Usage

Import Credential Flags

Import Credential Examples

Migration Workflow

Same Encryption Key

Different Encryption Keys

Backup Strategy

Version Control Integration

Export/Import Best Practices

Troubleshooting

Next Steps