⚙️ Transfer workflows with credentials & sub-workflow management between n8n instances

⚡ 421 views · ⚙️ DevOps & CI/CD

Description

This workflow contains community nodes that are only compatible with the self-hosted version of n8n.

Copy workflows between n8n instances — with optional credential export and automatic sub-workflow adjustments.

This workflow copies a selected workflow from a SOURCE n8n server to a TARGET server and guides you through safe checks:

Name conflict check: If a workflow with the same name exists on the target the export is stopped.
Sub-workflows: Detects calls to sub-workflows.
- If all sub-workflows exist on the target (same names), references are auto-updated and the export continues.
- If any are missing, the form shows what’s missing and lets you cancel or proceed anyway.
Credentials: Detects nodes using credentials and lets you export those credentials along with the workflow.
- The workflow can only apply credential corrections for the credentials that you choose to export with it.
- At the end, the form lists which credentials were successfully exported.

💡 For in-depth behavior and edge cases, see the Notes inside the workflow (Setup, How It Works, and Credential Issues).

Run this workflow on your SOURCE server.
Follow the step-by-step form: pick the workflow to export, choose whether to include credentials, and review sub-workflow checks. Done.

Create an n8n API key on both servers (SOURCE and TARGET).
On the SOURCE server, create two n8n API credentials in n8n: one for SOURCE and one for TARGET (using the respective base URL and key).
Configure the nodes in this workflow with these two credentials.
Detailed step-by-step instructions are available in the workflow notes.

✅ Once configured, you’ll be ready to migrate workflows between servers in just a few clicks.

n8n, Filter, n8n Form Trigger, Read/Write Files from Disk, Extract from File, n8n Form

Download workflow.json and import into n8n: Workflow menu → Import from File