Supported databases

By default, n8n uses SQLite to save credentials, past executions, and workflows. n8n also supports PostgresDB.

Shared settings

The following environment variables get used by all databases:

DB_TABLE_PREFIX (default: -) - Prefix for table names

PostgresDB

To use PostgresDB as the database, you can provide the following environment variables:

DB_TYPE=postgresdb
DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE (default: 'n8n')
DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST (default: 'localhost')
DB_POSTGRESDB_PORT (default: 5432)
DB_POSTGRESDB_USER (default: 'root')
DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD (default: empty)
DB_POSTGRESDB_SCHEMA (default: 'public')
DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_CA (default: undefined): Path to the server's CA certificate used to validate the connection (opportunistic encryption isn't supported)
DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_CERT (default: undefined): Path to the client's TLS certificate
DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_KEY (default: undefined): Path to the client's private key corresponding to the certificate
DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED (default: true): If TLS connections that fail validation should be rejected

export DB_TYPE=postgresdb
export DB_POSTGRESDB_DATABASE=n8n
export DB_POSTGRESDB_HOST=postgresdb
export DB_POSTGRESDB_PORT=5432
export DB_POSTGRESDB_USER=n8n
export DB_POSTGRESDB_PASSWORD=n8n
export DB_POSTGRESDB_SCHEMA=n8n

# optional:
export DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_CA=$(pwd)/ca.crt
export DB_POSTGRESDB_SSL_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=false

n8n start

TLS

You can choose between these configurations:

Not declaring (default): Connect with SSL=off
Declaring only the CA and unauthorized flag: Connect with SSL=on and verify the server's signature
Declaring _{CERT,KEY} and the above: Use the certificate and key for client TLS authentication

MySQL / MariaDB

!!! warning "Deprecated" n8n deprecated MySQL and MariaDB as backend databases in version 0.227.0.

n8n recommends using PostgreSQL. 

Refer to [how to export and import workflows and credentials](/hosting/cli-commands/) for instructions.

To use MySQL or MariaDB, provide the following environment variables:

DB_TYPE=mysqldb or DB_TYPE=mariadb
DB_MYSQLDB_DATABASE (default: 'n8n')
DB_MYSQLDB_HOST (default: 'localhost')
DB_MYSQLDB_PORT (default: 3306)
DB_MYSQLDB_USER (default: 'root')
DB_MYSQLDB_PASSWORD (default: empty)

export DB_TYPE=mysqldb
export DB_MYSQLDB_DATABASE=n8n
export DB_MYSQLDB_HOST=mysqldb
export DB_MYSQLDB_PORT=3306
export DB_MYSQLDB_USER=n8n
export DB_MYSQLDB_PASSWORD=n8n

n8n start

SQLite

This is the default database that gets used if nothing is defined.

The database file is located at: ~/.n8n/database.sqlite

Other databases

n8n officially supports SQLite and PostgresDB.

n8n internally uses TypeORM{:target=_blank .external-link}, so adding support for the following databases should be possible:

CockroachDB
Microsoft SQL
Oracle

If you can't use any of the supported databases for some reason and you can code, consider submitting a pull request{:target=_blank .external-link}. You can also request support here{:target=_blank .external-link}.

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