n8n-docs/docs/reference/start-workflows-via-cli.md

CLI commands for n8n

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Start a workflow

Workflows can not only be started by triggers, webhooks, or manually via the Editor. It is also possible to start them directly via the CLI.

Execute a saved workflow by its ID:

n8n execute --id <ID>

Execute a workflow from a workflow file:

n8n execute --file <WORKFLOW_FILE>

Change the active status of a workflow

You can change the active status of a workflow via the CLI.

Set the active status of a workflow by its ID to false:

n8n update:workflow --id=<ID> --active=false

Set the active status of a workflow by its ID to true:

n8n update:workflow --id=<ID> --active=true

Set the active status to false for all the workflows:

n8n update:workflow --all --active=false

Set the active status to true for all the workflows:

n8n update:workflow --all --active=true

Export workflows and credentials

You can export your workflows and credentials from n8n via the CLI.

There are a couple of flags available for this.

Flag	Description
--help	Help prompt.
--all	Exports all workflows/credentials.
--backup	Sets --all --pretty --separate for simple backups. Only --output has to be set additionally.
--id	The ID of the workflow to export.
--output	Outputs file name or directory if using separate files.
--pretty	Formats the output in an easier to read fashion.
--separate	Exports one file per workflow (useful for versioning). Must inform a directory via --output.
--decrypted	Exports the credentials in a decrypted (plain text) format.

Workflows

Export all your workflows to the standard output (terminal):

n8n export:workflow --all

Export a workflow by its ID and specify the output file name:

n8n export:workflow --id=<ID> --output=file.json

Export all workflows to a specific directory in a single file:

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

Export all the workflows to a specific directory using the --backup flag (details above):

n8n export:workflow --backup --output=backups/latest/

Credentials

Export all your credentials to the standard output (terminal):

n8n export:credentials --all

Export credentials by their ID and specify the output file name:

n8n export:credentials --id=<ID> --output=file.json

Export all credentials to a specific directory in a single file:

n8n export:credentials --all --output=backups/latest/

Export all the credentials to a specific directory using the --backup flag (details above):

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

Export all the credentials in a decrypted (plain text) format. This can be used to migrate from one installation to another that has a different secret key (in the config file).

Note: All sensitive information will be visible in the files.

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

Import workflows and credentials

You can import your workflows and credentials from n8n via the CLI.

There are a couple of flags available for this.

Flag	Description
--help	Help prompt.
--input	Input file name or directory if --separate is used.
--separate	Imports *.json files from directory provided by --input.

Workflows

Import workflows from a specific file:

n8n import:workflow --input=file.json

Import all the workflow files (*.json) from the specified directory:

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

Credentials

Import credentials from a specific file:

n8n import:credentials --input=file.json

Import all the credentials files (*.json) from the specified directory:

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