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Install n8n

2025-07-05
Guide
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Introduction

Welcome to this beginner-friendly guide on installing n8n, an open-source workflow automation tool, from scratch across various operating systems. Whether you’re using Windows, macOS, Linux, or prefer Docker, this tutorial will walk you through each step in clear, easy-to-follow instructions.

Prerequisites

Before diving in, make sure you have:

  • A stable internet connection
  • Basic familiarity with the command line/terminal
  • Administrator (or sudo) privileges on your machine

Tip for absolute beginners: The “command line” (Windows PowerShell, macOS Terminal, or Linux shell) is like typing instructions directly to your computer. Don’t worry if it feels unfamiliar—you’ll pick it up quickly!

Installation on Windows

1. Install Node.js (which includes npm)

  1. Go to the Node.js official download page.
  2. Download the LTS (Long-Term Support) Windows installer.
  3. Run the installer and follow the prompts, ensuring Add to PATH is checked.

Verify installation:

node --version
npm --version

You should see version numbers printed.

2. Install n8n globally

In PowerShell (run as Administrator):

npm install -g n8n

Alternative (no global install):

npx n8n

Installation on macOS

1. Install Homebrew (if not already installed)

Homebrew simplifies package management on macOS. In Terminal, paste:

/bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

2. Install Node.js via Homebrew

brew update
brew install node

Verify:

node --version
npm --version

3. Install n8n

npm install -g n8n

Or with npx:

npx n8n

Installation on Linux (Ubuntu)

1. Update package lists

sudo apt update

2. Install Node.js and npm

Ubuntu’s repos often have an older Node.js. To get the latest LTS:

curl -fsSL https://deb.nodesource.com/setup_lts.x | sudo -E bash -
sudo apt install -y nodejs

Check versions:

node --version
npm --version

3. Install n8n

sudo npm install -g n8n

Alternatively, run on-demand:

npx n8n

Installation with Docker

Using Docker is a clean way to isolate n8n from your system setup.

  1. Install Docker Desktop (Windows/macOS) or Docker Engine (Linux) from docker.com.

  2. Pull and run the n8n image:

    docker run -it --rm \
  --name n8n \
  -p 5678:5678 \
  n8nio/n8n

This command downloads the official n8nio/n8n image and starts n8n, exposing the web interface on port 5678.

Starting n8n and Accessing the UI

Once installed (by any method), launch n8n:

n8n start

Then open your browser to:

http://localhost:5678

You’ll see the visual workflow builder where you can start creating automations!

Basic Configuration

  • Environment variables: Create a .env file in your working directory to set variables like N8N_HOST, N8N_PORT, or database creds.
  • Saving workflows: By default, workflows are stored locally. For production, consider an external database (Postgres/MySQL).

Example .env snippet:

# Change default port
N8N_PORT=8080

# Persistent storage with SQLite (default)
DB_SQLITE_VACUUM_ON_STARTUP=true

Troubleshooting Tips

  • “Command not found” errors: Ensure Node.js/npm are in your PATH or use npx n8n.

  • Port conflicts: If port 5678 is in use, change it via export N8N_PORT=XXXX (macOS/Linux) or setting env vars in PowerShell.

  • Permissions issues (Linux): Avoid using sudo with n8n start. Instead, fix permissions on your global npm folder:

    sudo chown -R $(whoami) $(npm config get prefix)/{lib/node_modules,bin,share}

Conclusion

You’ve now installed n8n on Windows, macOS, Linux, and via Docker! From here, explore n8n’s rich node library to automate tasks—whether it’s sending emails, integrating APIs, or processing data. If you run into any issues or have questions, feel free to ask. Happy automating!

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