export and import n8n workflows in 4 easy steps
and backup your workflows wisely
Workflow automation becomes mission-critical infrastructure once integrated into business processes.
Without proper backup procedures, organizations risk losing valuable automation development work and facing operational disruptions during system failures or updates.
This comprehensive guide shows you exactly how to protect your N8N workflows through proper export, import, and backup procedures.
You'll learn to create secure JSON backups, transfer workflows between instances, and establish a disaster recovery system that maintains automation continuity.
✅ What You'll Accomplish
✔️ Export any N8N workflow as a secure JSON backup file ✔️ Import workflows from files to restore or duplicate automations ✔️ Establish a reliable backup system for workflow disaster recovery ✔️ Transfer workflows between N8N instances or share with team members
🧰 What You Need Before Starting
Skill level: Beginner
Required tools/accounts:
Self-hosted version of N8N installed and running (cloud version has limited export capabilities)(check how to setup selfhosting in this guide)
At least one workflow created and configured in N8N
Administrative access to your N8N instance
File system access on your local computer for storing backup files
Basic familiarity with N8N's workflow editor interface
Important note: Export and import functionality is only available in self-hosted N8N installations. Cloud-hosted versions have restricted backup capabilities.
Step 1: Access Your Target Workflow in N8N
Objective: Navigate to and open the specific workflow you want to export, ensuring it's fully configured and ready for backup.
Action items:
Open your web browser and navigate to your self-hosted N8N instance URL
Log in using your N8N administrator credentials
From the main dashboard, locate the "Workflows" section in the left sidebar
Click on the specific workflow you want to export from the workflow list
Wait for the workflow editor to fully load, displaying all nodes and connections
✅ Checkpoint: Your target workflow is open in the editor with all nodes visible and properly connected, showing no configuration errors.
Step 2: Export Your Workflow as JSON Backup
Objective: Use N8N's built-in export functionality to download your workflow configuration as a JSON file that preserves all settings, connections, and node configurations.
Action items:
With your workflow open in the editor, locate the workflow settings menu in the top-right corner of the interface
Click the three-dot menu icon (⋮) or "Settings" dropdown menu next to the workflow name
Select "Download" or "Export workflow" from the dropdown options
Choose "Download as JSON" when prompted for export format
Save the file to your designated backup folder with a descriptive filename (e.g., "customer-onboarding-workflow-2024-01-15.json")
Naming convention best practices:
Include workflow name, version, and export date in filename
Use consistent naming patterns for easy organization and retrieval
Avoid special characters that might cause file system issues
✅ Checkpoint: The exported JSON file is saved in your backup folder with a clear, descriptive filename and contains valid workflow configuration data.
Step 3: Import Workflows from JSON Files
Objective: Create a new workflow in N8N by importing a previously exported JSON file, demonstrating the complete backup and restoration cycle.
Action items:
Return to the main N8N dashboard by clicking the “Home” icon in the sidebar
Click the "Create Workflow" button to start a new automation
In the new workflow editor, locate the workflow settings menu (three-dot icon)
Select "Import from File"
Navigate to your backup folder and select the JSON file you want to import
Click "Open" to load the workflow configuration
Review the imported workflow to ensure all nodes and connections appear correctly
✅ Checkpoint: Your imported workflow displays correctly with all automation steps and settings matching the original, and no configuration errors are present.
Step 4: Establish Systematic Backup Procedures
Objective: Create a reliable, repeatable process for regularly backing up your N8N workflows to prevent data loss and enable disaster recovery.
Action items:
Create a structured folder system on your computer: "N8N-Backups/[Year]/[Month]" for organized storage
Document a backup schedule (weekly for active workflows, monthly for stable ones)
Export all critical workflows using the process from Steps 1-2
Store backup files in multiple locations (local computer, cloud storage, network drives)
Test your backup system by importing a workflow on a test N8N instance
Create a backup inventory spreadsheet tracking workflow names, export dates, and file locations
✅ Checkpoint: Your backup system is established with organized storage, documented procedures, and tested restoration capabilities for business continuity.
🔍 Testing Your Backup and Recovery System
Validation steps:
Export verification: Open exported JSON files in a text editor to confirm they contain readable workflow configuration data with all node definitions and connections
Import functionality: Test imported workflows by executing them with sample data to verify complete functionality matches the original
Backup integrity: Compare original and imported workflows side-by-side to ensure all configurations, credentials, and connections transfer correctly
Recovery procedures: Practice complete workflow restoration on a test N8N instance to validate your disaster recovery process
What’s next?
Up next, we have:
How you can create credentials for different service and connect different apps (Gmail, X, Slack, etc.).
Setting up n8n environmental variables in your Render instance